Living out your golden years in China just keeps looking better and better.:rolleyes1:
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Living out your golden years in China just keeps looking better and better.:rolleyes1:
I may be being unfair but it's almost as if the laws were being made up by 40-50 year old unelected d*bags who drive around in cars.
Some of my "older & wiser" mates have reminders in the Shanghai issued driving license about medical checks once they turn the magic 60, see attached picture.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou
Passed my theory exam on 8th of January. I have to admit, I was kind of worried about those new traffic regulations and since I arrived quite early and sat at the test area for an hour, I saw that one by one, who finished the test went to the counter, looked at a piece of paper that was hanging on the window and left. I couldn't stop wondering what kind of paper it was and I forgot to go check before I took the exam. After the exam, I checked and it was information for those who failed, how to apply for a new exam session. But I managed to pass exact on the point (90) and some of the questions were "new" I think. Heard from a Chinese colleague that only 5% of whole Shanghai passed the exam that day, lucky me.
I think the application lady screw up my application; on the test screen it said C1 when I clearly stated that I wanted C1D, she said not to worry and I continued my test. Most inportant is that you tell the staff on the second floor, who issues the driving license that you want a C1D before printing it. Once printed, there is no way back. There where no question concerning motorcycle though which made me even more worried that she gave me the wrong test, lots of car related questions.
I have euphonius to thank for passing the test, his sample questions where exeptional for training purposes. One thing I don't understand, why are there questions about motorcycles going on expressway, when we're obviously not allowed to ride there? Questions like, how fast is the maximum speed on an expressway for a MC, minimum speed, which lane to drive on, etc. I just don't get it.
Now I can ride my Benelli BJ600GS fully legal, plated and license to drive reckless... :scooter:
Well done! Ihave passed just before christmas, second try scored 92.
Same here, I have repeated 20 thousand times that I want car and bike and they were just nodding yes yes. Mine is C1E did they got it wrong?
C1E is for car and two wheel motorcycle
I believe C1D is correct for car, two wheel motorcycle, and 3 wheel motorcycle sidecar
Congratulations to both of you and ride safe!
Congratulations to both Jackie and Bakas on getting yourselves legal. It's a great feeling, and I'm glad the question bank was useful.
TexasAggie is correct about the endorsements. A C1 does not allow you to drive a motorcycle. You are covered for solo riding with a C1E and C1D, but to ride a sidecar you MUST have the C1D.
Perhaps it's time to celebrate with a (No-)Bike Night! Any thoughts on a time and venue?
cheers!
so I had my computer test on the 31st of December (scored 96 haha) and I just passed the riding test......unfortunately it doesnt mean that ill get the license!
They told me that the new rules state that there will be 2 computer tests, one before and one after the riding part. Did you guys know about this?
p.s. does anyone know if there is a big change in the question bank for a motorcycle? please drop me a line if you do cos I have the exam tomorrow
greetz
Yes, according to reports (some posted here in MCM), there are major changes in the test, so you might want to take some steps to get prepared. TB-Racing posted a story yesterday noting that some saintly guy had found a question bank online, processed it to filter the new questions, and posted the whole question bank in a taobao store where he is "selling" it at no charge, or maybe for 1 rmb. OK, here it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by modron
Surely this updated question bank will be only in Chinese.
To answer your question about having to take two written exams, one before and and one after the road test, this is news to me. Did you ask the authorities at the test center?
Good luck, and let us know how you get on.
I supposed to have this second written exam tomorrow but unfortunately i cant go. Will go next week at some point and will let you know whats going on.
I asked my girl to check it online and she confirmed what the examiner said.
and I was so happy that i passed the test on the last day.......
Ask your girlfriend to have a look at this taobao link, which I think is the one referenced in the newspaper story TB-Racing posted.
cheers
Thanks a lot for that! Once I have it Ill mail it to you.
Just talked to our biker buddy in Shanghai and he went for the test on 10th.January 2013, failed due to new questions (of course he studied all the 2012 questions).Quote:
Originally Posted by TB-Racing
He was informed to get ready for another test in 70-90 days as English test are not available right now and the Shanghai Traffic Management Bureau will contact him once the new English tests are ready..... time to move on to greener pastures I reckon...
Hi fellows,
I would like to share some (not so now) fresh information about the driving license in shanghai.
Big surprise today when the driving license officer told me that i couldn't take the test as English or other languages weren't available. no more foreign language test until further notice (i guess when they don't know that is the common answer) .
I feel so bad coz I was already so happy to take the test today as I fail the last time (too early in the morning :-) Didn't get the chance to even try.
So after talking with the lady for ages, its seems that I don't have much options.
A translator? they do not allow translators anymore in shanghai sure thing.
other places ? I need to double check.
My coworker told me the traffic rules have been updated.
So I guess that might be the reason. Update the English will take time.
I wonder if I could pass it somewhere else with a translator.
The license should be valid everywhere.
Anyway, I can't even be pissed at the them coz I'm the one that can't read Chinese.
And to top of that not so many countries have the multi-language option.
I was thinking maybe I should buy my bike now with the C plate so its already there and I can save on the continuous
growing plate price.
Solution anyone?
cheers,
-o_x-oner
Actually, you can be pissed because real countries honour international driving licenses. Other countries don't discriminate against the Chinese, it's only the Chinese that unfairly have a double standard for operating a vehicle in their country.Quote:
Originally Posted by oxoner
Cheers!
ChinaV
Pretty sure you cannot get a plate without a license. Hoping some others will chime in on this as it seems pretty effed up. Is there an effort now to prevent foreigners from getting legal licenses?Quote:
Originally Posted by oxoner
So i just came back from police station. They told me that i cant have the exam cos they dont have the English version. They told me to come back next week when the supervisor comes back from her holiday cos only she knows what to do with me. Turns out that supervisor is the same lady who examined my riding and told me to come back next day for second writing exam..... i really hope that she knows a way to make me get that license soon...........but my gut tells me that she simply didnt know before that they dont have the English so she told me to come have the exam next day
all in all its pretty f%&*ing ridiculous cos i wanted to get a license, buy a bike, run it in and ride it around China and Mongolia in May-June (already have 2 months off work) and now i cant :(
Keep your cool, modron. Miracles do happen. And I think if you are really calm, friendly and complimentary toward the improvements in the system, and explain how it's not particularly fair to make someone take two exams, you might persuade them to issue your license on the basis of your earlier exam.Quote:
Originally Posted by modron
Good luck!
Hi all,
Some may remember that I recently took my Chinese driving test.
However it was just a C1 license, and not the C1D that I wanted.
The official translator service made a translation error, and only translated my car license details, ignoring, or forgetting my other categories.
By that I mean, the translator only put down the car eligibility, and forgot, or didn't bother about the other 10 or so driving eligibility.
Cut a long story short, On or about 04 December 2012.
we got the corrected translation, at no extra cost.
We took the new translated documents to the traffic, and they said, wait 3 months, as it needs to go to "head traffic dept, in Jinan" and it will be looked at.
I was wanting them to add on the "D" entitlement to my already "C1" entitlement.
This morning 22 January, 2013, we get a phone call from traffic department, to come and collect my new license.
So now I have the all important C1+D
.
This has now vastly restored my faith in the system.
We just went there once to traffic to ask if there was any progress, this was about 1st or second week in January.
Gra.
Graham - congratulations on your success! Time to hit the road, weather permitting. Fantastic riding in China, outside the cities.
ok...so much said about licenses etc...I have my license and im confused about what is happening to foreign friends...one who took the written test, then the driving test..then was waiting for the agent to give his license only to be told there is a second test..now the new year and you- all are saying only in chinese...crazy shit for sure. he said he took the written which was onlly 50 questions...is that true for anyone else...? i took mine it was one hundred questions last march. having said that.... are there 50question tests?? and is there a second written test? why two written tests?
thanks in advance
I got a call today from the police to come and have the second writing test tomorrow cos they have it in English now, but they also said that I had to come asap cos something might change soon and they want me to do it now.........weird.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed tomorrow mornings guys ;)
kikikillercat - I had 50 questions and 40min to do them.
thanks for the info....i had 100 questions and 60 minutes to do it.
cant wait to hear you actually took the test in english in January..
i already got a photo ticket for going the wrong way on a one way street..100kuai fine..damn if i saw the sign... they have put up many cameras in the past 6 months..before nothing.....
i may cover my plate like the locals do...he he
Feeling your pain! Covering your plate is a 200 RMB fine and points! Riders are getting more sophisticated about how they accomplish this -- letting a rag or a bag strap or other item fall conveniently over the plate, "inadvertently" covering up one or two digits....Quote:
Originally Posted by kikikillercat
You may want to rethink that strategy off covering the license plate... it used to be something that was not seen as that big of a deal... times change and it is now a BIG deal.
If one is caught with a covered plate or altered in any way or a fabricated plate then it is a criminal offence. It wasn't that before, it was a traffic offence but it is a criminal offence having changed a year ago. And the consequences... I know someone first hand who was found with a little sticker strategically placed on one letter on the plate so it kind of obscured the letter... one day the traffic police were running number plates through hand held devices at intersections and that was when the big trouble began... vehicle impounded... fine CNY1500 and points, 6 if I remember correctly... this was over a year ago. This was for someone who is a big fish with plenty of Guanxi. If they did not have the Guanxi they had, the person would have faced some prison time (mandatory 14 days I seem to recall), and likely a bigger fine and loss of vehicle for longer. Not to mention that the sticker had to be removed, photos were taken by the PSB both before and after.
So go ahead alter your plate, but you do so at your own risk. Would you do such a thing in your own country? I'd hope not, so why tempt fate and do so here.
Yes, the laws and infrastructure may seem out of place, but this is a different country, so please have some respect.
I know for sure, when the warmer weather returns to Weifang, I will be buying a bike.
Certainly won't be planning on covering, or even riding without a number plate.
Gra.
Welllllll I would never alter my plate...i did see a group of police,,,no less than six around a car which looked like it was set up for road racing in GZ and the owner had place a different letter over one of the ones on the plate...which he did not do to the front...go figure..anyway..i didnt wait but im sure he was in for some serious consequences upon his return to his car..Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham
many people put a CD over the last two letter in Guilin or even a pack of cigarettes and drive around.
Guilin has come out of the dark ages in the last six months..now many cameras and road dividers that were not present before........last year someone came from Beijing to see if Guilin qualifed as "the most beautiful city in China" ... so they have stepped up in many ways....
I was wondering about the call back for the second test one of the members listed..was it in English afterall?
thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by modron
did you take a test in English?
thanksssss
.Quote:
Originally Posted by kikikillercat
I did,
I guess the most common language for test taking after Chinese is English.
I seem to remember there was many different languages that one could select.
Gra.
Not quite relevant, but my wife Fay went for her car test today 06 02 2013, on the traffic department computer.
She got a cool 100%
100 right out of 100 questions.
She says that the test I did, was much harder than the test she did.
She has done the post January 2013 version of the test, which I believe, many complain about.
Gra.