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for all you iHaters out there get the driving test software for free right here http://www.anzhi.com/soft_64001.html (android only, mwuahahahaaa)
you're welcome. No bike night anyone?
edit: just got fully legal this week, after about 6 months of waiting & pushing. never give up!!! There's aways a way as you'll see if you look through my papers. Took three different bikes to get plated, it's a long story.
Just came across this forum, awesome info! While reading through this post I noticed some confusion on what type of Visa is required to obtain a Chinese driver's license. Some say the type doesn't matter it just needs to be longer than 90 days in duration, others say it must be a resident type Visa. Wondering if anyone can say for sure one way or the other. I guess if anyone can confirm that they got their license on a tourist Visa longer than 90 days that would in theory do the trick. Also I was in China for a year before so I know how hard this can be!
The real problem I have is that I'll be there on a 6-month Visa and so I don't have the length required to register a bike in my own name. I see that a lot of people have talked about getting around this by registering in someone else's name, how exactly does that work? Is there any reason someone wouldn't want your bike registered in their name, like liability issues or something? I'm coming from Canada and I know liability stuff would pop up here. I've also seen a few people saying you just get the dealer to do the registration for you. That true? What type of documentation do they need?
Any insight on this would be amazing. I want to try and get a plan going before I arrive so that I'm riding as soon as possible!! Cheers guys!
I can confirm that at the moment you register/apply for getting your driving license, you still need to have 90 days or more left on your visa. So you will have to carefully plan it! This is the reason why I did my driving test in freezing december. So the type and the total duration of the Visa don't matter! At least that's how it was December 2010, though I haven't heard from anyone that this has changed.
Second that. Problem is that you normally don't get a tourist visa that is valid more than 90 days, so try to obtain a 6 months F (business) visa. Maybe you have to go through an agency.Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
As for registering your bike on another person's name: normally the dealer can register it on his name. If you buy 2nd hand, the process is much more difficult and you have to find a friend who lends his name or involve an agent, who will cut the red tape and tale the registration in his name. As far as I know, the person on which name the bike is registered faces no consequences if you are involved in an accident (assuming you have a proper chinese licence). BUT he will receive all the points that might be handed to the bike for speeding etc due to surveilance cameras. This is counterballnced though as in China, you can call up the traffic managment bureau and take points from another person on your credit.
Hope this helps.
Cool thanks for that info, super helpful. Really good news for me about the dealer being able to register in his name. I know a few people I could possibly ask from my last time in China but if the dealer can take care of it that's even better. Also thanks for confirming about the Visa length.
I'm trying to get a work Visa lined up right now, but if I don't get it in time it looks like I can get a 6 month Visa in Honk Kong. I'm still a bit skeptical about that cause in Canada all I can get is a 30 day tourist Visa, but I called the company and they assured me 6 months was no problem, just a bit more pricey! I might even start looking over those exam questions now, appears there's a lot of em!
I'd be really surprised if you could not get a six-month multiple-entry business visa there in Hongkouver. As a last resort, see if you can find a third-party commercial visa service to submit your application rather than going directly to the consulate. Yes, the longer-term, multiple-entry visas generally cost more.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Cheers!
The long term/multiple entry visas are probably not going to help you as the MAXIMUM LENGTH OF EACH STAY is limited to 30 days....Which is why it's almost impossible to get a license on a visa that's not a long term residence type. Absolutely verify that whatever visa you are going to get will allow you to stay in the country for 90 consecutive days.
Cheers!
ChinaV
Good point, ChinaV. Unless your company will second you to China for a project, or you perhaps sign on with a school to teach English, it's hard to imagine how you'll have a visa that permits stays of longer than 30 days.
Ain't China grand!
You could think about getting a temp 2 month driving license then renewing it.. If you are only here for 3months it could be easier
I didn't even know there was such a thing as a temporary two month license! If my plans go sour I'll look into that for sure.
As far as the Visa situation I've been assured twice by the agent in Hong Kong that a 6 month/180 day Visa is no problem, and really it doesn't cost much more than the 30-day tourist Visa I can get here in Vancouver. I know, surprising I can't get something better here but apparently some rules have changed recently and it's either that or a 60-day family visit/invitation Visa. Neither are good for my purposes.
So the license should be no problem as I'll follow the steps that are well documented here (thanks again to all who put the effort in to post this info!). And hopefully I'll be able to find a dealer willing to register a new bike. I see a lot of people here talking about ordering direct from the factory, is it possible to get a bike like that registered? It doesn't really matter to me where it's registered as I'm going to use it for one long trip across China. At least I don't think it matters, I just want to have a plate and insurance and I figure since I won't really have a home base, plates from anywhere are just as good. I'd like to get something similar to the Sineray xy200gy-7, so I thought from the factory might be the easiest way?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Power
Dude, check the fine print. Yes, you can get a six-month multiple-entry business visa in Hong Kong, but as ChinaV has noted, the duration of any stay under that visa is probably limited to 30 days. People on these business visas are endlessly dashing down to HK on day 29 or 30 to exit and re-enter for another 30 days. There may be exceptions, but ordinarily the only visas that allow extended stays of longer than 30 days are long-term residency permits, work visas and study visas.
Go back to your HK agent and ask specifically about the maximum allowed stay under a "six-month" business visa.
Good luck!
Yeah I've checked, 3 times in total. Twice by phone, and once by email. Actually I had called another place in HK as well before i found the current place I'm dealing with. They were more expensive but also said it would not be a problem for a 6 month, 180 consecutive day visa. I've gotten a 6 month visa in HK during 2007 and it was pretty slack. They wanted my passport, two photos, and of course the money. Ready that afternoon and for six straight months.
As far as looking into this further there's not much I can do. Anyway I'm flying in to HK February 2nd so I'll pass on the results.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Power
That's fantastic. Have a great trip and do keep us posted. Any chance you'll be passing through Shanghai, do give a shout. We'll organize a (No-)Bike Night in your honor!
cheers!
Man that would be awesome! I want to visit a friend that's in Shanghai so I really hope things go smoothly and I'm able to make it up there on my bike, otherwise it's gonna be back to overnight trains! I'll definitely keep updates going and hopefully something works out!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Max Power
so whats your general plan? come here and travel or come here and do some work or come here looking for love? where abouts are you visiting?
My plan is really to travel. I want to get a license and a bike as soon as possible and then make my way around China and eventually into Mongolia. My route is by no means set but I've got some ideas of areas I'd like to see. Also I don't want to get too much into planning as I have the feeling things might not go to plan as much as I'd like and this way I'll be better able to adapt/less devastated as I watch everything fall apart!
I was gonna head to Shanghai just to visit my cousin who is living there and also a good friend from a previous time in China (I may or may not have my bike at this time, hopefully I do). Once I get a bike I want to start by heading across the South toward Yunnan. I'm gonna be based in Guangzhou when I first arrive.
Hi everyone,
Im about to take the motrocycle exam and a little doubt has arised regarding some of the questions, concretely there is one picture that shows a policeman lifting his left hand and showing the palm of the hand. This picture appears twice in the book (actually is a dvd) translated for foreigners, and each time has different answers.
Here is the image http://postimage.org/image/gj7hy514d
First time it appears as question 2.4.1.3 where the answer says its "A signal for turning left gently"
Next it appears as question 2.4.1.8 where now the answer is "A signal for turning right"
If any of you guys has already faced this problem, or knows anything about the actual reliability of the dvd in terms of correct answers I would appreciate the input.
Thanks
By the way, Max Power, my plans are very similar to yours, next step after I get my driving license is buying a bike, also for travelling round Chine, and since I am now in beijing, the mongolian route really suits me. If you are looking for a travel partner or just wanna discuss some routes just send me a message
Never mind guys, I passed the exam yesterday, after waiting half an hour for the police to fix a software problem that made it imposible to make the exam by the time we arrived to the DMW.
I am seriously considering buying a CF moto in Beijing, I will keep you updated!
Hey guys,
It's been a while since I posted on this topic, at first I was spending all my time sorting out my license, and more recently I just haven't been able to log in. My vacation in China has just recently started and so far I've had the pleasure of seeing nearly every PSB in Guilin!
I decided to locate myself in Guilin to get my license as I wanted somewhere smaller and less hectic than my original choice of Guangzhou, which I chose mainly as I've got a good friend living there. I also thought it would be easier to do in a place that's a bit smaller, just in terms of getting around to the different offices, but my logic may well have been off on that. I don't think they've had many foreigners getting their license here in Guilin so it took a bit of convincing, at times I was even told that foreigners couldn't get motorcycle licenses in China anywhere (by someone at the licensing bureau).
I followed the steps outlined here exactly, and went the first time with what should have worked. For some reason the traffic licensing bureau (che guan suo) didn't like my temporary residence registration at all as it was issued by a hotel. I was told to get one from a local PSB office. Went to three local PSB offices (gong an ju) before one would issue me a temporary residence registration with their stamp, only it was still the hotel form. Went back to the traffic licensing bureau a second time, they still didn't like the form. This time they directed me to the Entry and Exit Bureau of Guilin (chu ru jing guan li chu) who told me that they could not issue a temporary residence form and that the original hotel-issued temporary residence registration form was in effect the same as the form the licensing bureau was requesting. I explained that this was my 4th day spent running around organizing things for my license, that I had already been to the traffic licensing bureau twice with what they were now telling me was the correct form, and luckily the clerk decided to take pity on me. She gave me their (entry and exit bureau) phone number and her extension to have the traffic licensing bureau call so that she could explain the similarities of the form I had and the form they were requesting. I went once last time, morning of day 5, to the traffic licensing bureau. An argument ensued, and after 20 minutes or so they agreed to finally call the number. After the clerk at the traffic licensing bureau hung up she said that I could in fact get my license!!!
Five days of running around for the majority of the day and I'm scheduled for my C1E knowledge test and license assuming I pass next Friday! I want to note that the traffic bureau is 1 hour away by two busses, each way, from the center of Guilin, and I've seriously been all over the place getting this stuff in order. If it hadn't paid off in the end I would be really distraught right now!
I'll list everything that I needed for anyone that is interested:
1. Home country license translated by an official translator. Make sure they also translate your license classes as stated on your license. Example, mine is Canadian and only says class 5 and class 6, so had to get them to translate from the Canadian licensing website (ICBC) as to what this meant. Also make sure your Chinese name is on this translated form, this was something they checked for in my case. Cost was 100 kuai.
2. License photos - slighly smaller than a passport photo, 12 copies of which only about 3 or maybe 4 were needed, got at some random photo shop for 20 kuai.
3. Temporary Residence Registration - Of course a residence Visa or similar should work as well. The standard temporary residence registration form was all that was required of me. There was great confusion as mine was issued by a hotel, if it was issued by the local PSB (if I was staying in a rented apartment for example) I don't think I would have had any trouble at all. This was free.
4. Visa - Needs to be valid for more than 90 days. Mine was a class F Visa valid for 6 months with more than 5.5 months still remaining. If you're looking for a Visa valid for 6 months and can't get one in your home country I got mine in Hong Kong at Forever Bright Travel and I would recommend them. I couldn't get a Visa for this amount of time anywhere in Vancouver including through agents. Call them first as I believe the length available varies by country. Cost was 2000 HKD.
5. Photocopies - Photocopy of both sides of home country driver license (not translated), photocopy of main passport page, Visa, and entry/exit stamps for China. Maybe also your temporary residence registration, I just gave them my original. Cost 3 kuai.
6. "Physical" - Very brief and done in my case by the doctors located right next to the driver licensing bureau (they're more or less a part of the bureau in Guilin). Consists of a color blindness test and not much else. I guess he did see me writing some stuff on my application so probably inferred that my hands were working. Cost was 19 kuai.
7. This isn't really a requirement but including it for the total cost. Take approved application to the cashier window to make payment thereby reserving your test time/day. Cost was 110 kuai.
Probably most people wouldn't include the cost of a Visa, in which case my license cost me just over 250 kuai. Maybe there will be another fee for issuing the license when I pass my test, not sure yet. The process actually wouldn't have been that bad, I just don't think they had seen many foreigners in Guilin getting their motorcycle license and especially using a hotel issued temporary residence registration, so that caused great confusion in my situation. In theory it could have easily been done in three days or even two, in my case it took two days for the translation to be completed.
Also I had some very valuable help from a guy that previously got his car license in Guilin, his post on the subject can be found here: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=2143124
Now I need to get a motorcycle registered and properly licensed, which has been causing me a quite a few problems as I don't have a permanent registration and the few Chinese friends I have are living in areas where motorcycles are not allowed...
Congratulations on getting this far. In China more than anywhere, perseverance pays! Hope you can sort out the bike plates and registration with similar ease or better.
Yours is not a typical holiday, that's for sure!
Keep us posted!
cheers
Passed my test on Friday!!! 99/100. I studied way too much I guess, I just couldn't bear the thought of not passing and having to wait around until next Friday and the possible hassles of booking a re-test. Should hopefully get my license tomorrow when I drop off all my papers.
Registering a bike in my name, or rather the fact that I can't do it, has lead me to buy second hand. As soon as I get my physical license I'm heading to Chongqing, this seems to be the source for all enduros in China. Guilin is currently out of stock.
Congratulations on nearly acing the test. With all this work, and the purchase of a bike, you may never end your "vacation" and return to Canada...
Keep us posted about what you buy and how.
cheers
Soberpete will soon be getting his C1E license!!
My story differs only a little from the others in this thread but it could still help others in the future.
More will follow soon about precisely how the PRC dealt with this foreigner's license application.
What has soberpete been using up to now? Riding without? I'm shocked, shocked!Quote:
Originally Posted by soberpete
cheers
Me too Euphonius. Me too, as soon as I realised that it wasn't a substitute for a license:eekers:.Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
For the past three years I thought I’d been riding around Shandong with a document from the ‘foreign relations and business office’ (F.R.B.O.) that translated my UK driving license allowing me to legally ride motorcycles in China; Actually that document was only part of an application to get tested (theory test) and later acquire a real Chinese license.
Foolish Pete :crider888:.
This post takes a little while to read so unless you’re interested in the story you can just skip to the summary at the bottom.
A few days ago I went back to that same (FRB) office with my U.S. driving license and told them it was for both cars and motorcycles (not the whole truth but they couldn’t tell and didn’t care), I wanted to apply for a C1E license and needed it translated. They told me that they weren’t sure the license issuing office (the L.I.O.) would accept the document they could produce for me but I could give it a try.
I took it to the L.I.O along with my passport + visa and all other documents I could think of to take. I was turned back from the L.I.O. and told to come back with the following things:
· A health check document (from another local L.I.O medical office, not just any doctor who can perform a health check)
· The western license translation document
· My U.S. license
· A certificate of residence (from the police station nearest to my school/home)
· My passport
I went to the local police station first, told them what I needed and what it was for. They also needed ALL of the above documents before giving me my certificate of residence. I provided the docs requested and it took three of them (including the stations lieutenant) about 15 minutes to wing their way through a form; no problems there.
The health check at the medical office took a few hours because of the queues: there were so many people there getting checked for their licenses too. They needed my passport + visa, U.S. license and the translation document too, so to those who want to do this in the future “be sure to take EVERYTHING with you” as well as some cash: at least 100rmb but more is better; it would probably gain you some favour with them if you have change too because it usually costs 70-90rmb for the first payment. I first had to have my photo taken, then have an eye test + colourblindness test + hearing test before they sent me back to the L.I.O.
***Note***
The guys at the medical office only wrote C1 (car driving license, NO motorcycles) on the medical certificate. When I noticed this I told them that wasn't what I was after. My license translation document stated that I was eligible for a C1E. They said that all I had to do was explain this to the people at the L.I.O and they would change it there.
I finally returned to the L.I.O. and gave them everything they asked for. It was 16:30 and they were due to close at 17:00 so the place was pretty empty.
They first asked me to photocopy my passport ID page, visa page and drivers license at their photocopying desk. It was 3rmb for 3 pages. I would advise taking previously prepared photocopies with you but the photocopies here were immediately stamped and dated with the insignia of the L.I.O. so I don’t know if they’d accept anything that you’ve prepared beforehand.
I waited around for a little bit while the female employee took my paperwork to her superior for advice because there was nothing in her training that explained how to deal with foreigners:rolleyes1:.
Meanwhile I was exchanging eye contact and flirty glances from numerous other middle-aged female employees :mwink: who had been following every verbal exchange - between myself and the other employee - from behind the counter while waiting around for closing time (T-minus twenty minutes).
I noticed some commotion and negative facial expressions during the chat between the employee and superior followed by the return of the employee who told me I can only choose between a car OR a motorcycle license; I couldn’t possibly get a license for both (the legendary C1E).
I was beginning to feel pressure :uhoh: but I didn't give in, I held my calm composure. China’s general lack of workplace guidelines ultimately leads superiors into making random, single-second decisions based on their feelings because they can’t bear loosing face in-front of their underlings for not knowing absolutely everything; this can also work in your favour... like so: I replied "But I have a friend in another province that got his C1E this way. Why can’t I?” Again, not the whole truth but they couldn’t tell.
She went back to her superior and was met with a very aggressive, negative but uncertain reply. At that time, three or four of the other workers who had previously been eyeing me up interjected simultaneously and asked the superior to double check whether or not they were allowed to issue a C1E to someone providing them with a translated license document. The superior immediately withdrew and when the employee returned to my desk I saw her enter ‘C1E’ into the form on the computer :thumbsup:. She gave me a set of documents, told me that when I was ready I could book a test from their website and I was on my way.
Summary
1. Make about three photocopies of your passport, visa, driving license and anything else that you think is important. Take these with you to each and every place.
2. Get a certificate of residence from your local police station (ask your school which one they registered you with if you’re not sure which one).
3. Have your home country's driving/riding license translated at the F.R.B.O.
***Note***
I doubt that it’s actually called an F.R.B.O. I just made that up for the sake of convenience during this post. I only knew how to find this building because a Chinese friend took me there when I explained that I wanted to translate my license into a Chinese driving license.
4. Take your passport with you to each and every place.
5. Take your home countries driving license to each and every place too.
6. I’m pretty sure you’ll need to go to the L.I.O. first before they give you an address for a specific office in which you must have your health/eye + hearing + colourblindness check. It should look sort of like a police station overflowing with random people, traffic lights (inside and around the building entrance), road signs on the walls and traffic lanes painted on the floor... Sort of like a kindergarten or ‘Pat Sharp’s fun house’; if you’re from the U.K. you’ll likely know that old TV show.
***Note***
It opened at 08:30. When I got there just before 9am there was a HUGE queue. Unless you like waiting I suggest getting there about 20 minutes before they are due to open. Also, they have very strange hours (Zibo, Zhangdian 08:30-11:30 _ 18:00 - 21:00) so ask the L.I.O. personnel for the hours and address if they don't inform you first. They informed me straight away but just be aware.
7. When you’ve obtained everything above, take it all back to the L.I.O.
***Note***
I made the abbreviation L.I.O. up too, for the sake of convenience. I can’t remember what it’s called. It’s where everyone goes to get a driving license. Ask a Chinese friend who knows the city you’re in where to find it.
8. There are often no written rules on how they issue these licenses to foreigners so they’ll do whatever they feel is correct, even if it is easiest just to shun you by sending you on a wild goose chase for any document they can think of regardless of how it applies to the thing you are requesting. It helps if the Chinese think you’re pretty or handsome:
-Blond hair
-Tall/not very short
-Pale/white skin
-Blue or green eyes
-Long eyelashes
-Big/slender nose (some Chinese people think that’s attractive)
…I only have two of the above and it helps a lot.
P.s. I've been careful to state - when necessary - that I don't need to do the practical/road test (lu kao 路考). When those at the L.I.O., the medical office or the police station asked me what I was applying for I stated "A translation of my western driving license".
One person asked me if I was planning to do the practical/road test and I said "No, I only need to have my license translated" and "Yes, the translation document states that I can drive cars and ride motorcycles so I need the C1E license".
I was told by the L.I.O. employee, at the end of it all, that I need to do a theory test. She said nothing about the practical. I don't want to spend money and hours on end driving a small, rusty, Chinese pickup truck around a parking lot day after day. I wouldn't learn anything knew from that.
I hope this post helps other's who are interested in getting a Chinese driving/riding license.
Question 3.1.1.4
To prevent the front wheels from floating off when accelerating, the driver should keep his body to ______.
A. The back
B. The left
C. The right
D. The front
Attachment 6643
Answer: D
I guess you just can't lean back on China bikes.
Thanks to Jape for the original photo from his mcm patch thread.
Good stuff, Pete! Did you get to the question yet about whether it's legal to ride a motorcycle wearing high heels? I'm not making this up.
cheers!
Indeed I have. That's just one of the many that really made me chuckle.Quote:
Originally Posted by euphonius
This test really is a good laugh, but necessary.
Bondage can be used to stop bleeding by dressing.Quote:
7.1.1.9 The article that cannot be used to stop bleeding by dressing is _________.
A. Bondage
B. Sling
C. Tourniquet
D. Hemp rope
Answer: D
TIC:confused1:.