Validity of Chinese driving license in foreign countries

Hi everyone

This question has been in my mind for some time now. I browsed the forum but havent seen this very question yet, so I post here.

I have a chinese license for cars and motorcycles and plans to get the side-car license soon (so now C1+E and wanna evolve into C1+D).

I know that I can drive with it in my country - France - with an official translation, thanks to a bilateral agreement (we let chinese drive with their license; China doesnt wanna let anyone drive with non-chinese licenses so step up and gives us the chinese one after a computer test).

So I know I'm good for both ends of a transcontinental trip, but I wonder for the countries in between (could be Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia, then Ukraine and Europe). My guess is that since China isnt part of the system for international license, and since its a major world player with a lot of cooperation with many countries, other countries may let people drive with chinese licenses on their soil (through bilateral agreements) and enjoy the possibility to be granted a chinese license and drive in the middle kingdom.

Does someone knows about it? and if yes about the conditions to enjoy such a right, and potentially if it increases custom troubles and demands for bribes?

Thanks

P.S. I cant get an international license using my french one, at least for motorcycles. After 2 years having a car license, france used to grant people a 125cc bike license. When I transfered it, the Beijing Traffic Bureau gave me motorycles (E). So basically I only have the motorcyle license in China...

I think the general rule is to have as many as possible and hope at least one of them works. :icon10:

If you have both international and french licenses, I would think you would be okay after leaving China to all points west.

A member on MCM, TokyoKid, has made that trip on a 125. He and many others on here may know more details.

CC

Hi Carl

The problem is that I don't have an international license. If I want to make one, it will be based on the categories I have on my french license, i.e. only cars. The fact that I have 125cc category will not grant me the motorcycle category for the international license since it's only for "light motos" and there are 2 other categories for bigger bikes.

And because China is not part of the system, my PRC license won't give me the international license and I'll have to use it all the way. Hence my question:icon10:

I'll contact tokyokid by PM

Thks

Hi FR

According to the AA Russia requires an IDP, while it is only recommended for Kyrg and Kaz. It can't be wrong to just get one with your French dl when you go to France next time.:riding:

Possibly you could try transferring your Chinese motorcycle license to a French license by post, then get an IDP by post. This may well not be possible however.

Sadly that's not possible, there is no transfer agreement between France and mainland China, only an agreement to let people use their national license in the other country. China has decided to do more and give me the chinese license but France is not obligated to do so

Maybe if I'm lucky and find a traffic bureau employee back in my hometown not well aware of the rule, but officially it's not possible.

That's why I'd like to know if I can drive all the way with a 中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证 :icon10:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by French_Rider

Sadly that's not possible, there is no transfer agreement between France and mainland China, only an agreement to let people use their national license in the other country. China has decided to do more and give me the chinese license but France is not obligated to do so

Maybe if I'm lucky and find a traffic bureau employee back in my hometown not well aware of the rule, but officially it's not possible.

That's why I'd like to know if I can drive all the way with a 中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证 :icon10:

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A group of Chinese guys rode from Beijing to Munich from May to June this year, all with their Chinese licenses only.

You may ask for an international one, created from your Chinese one at http://www.international-license.com/
Their website is also available in Chinese, so I assume that they will do it for a Chinese license as well.

If you know somebody who holds an IDP, there is also the way of DIY :rolleyes1:

Hi

Thanks for the tip. I will have a closer look at that website and especially at what they say in the chinese version (and if its targeted to people in mainland china, or just chinese-speaking people abroad - they're many..). The website does include China in the list of countries for the international license, which contradicts what I heard before. If it's true, good news

I will try to get some more info from the people at the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, but I'm basically afraid of 2 things: 1) they won't know (they already seem to be unsure of which category to give when making a license transfer); 2) they'll know but for some mysterious reason they'll tell me it's not possible even if it is, just because they don't like my idea (this kind of stuff happened to me for a different problem)

Anyway, would you have a contact of those chinese riders who traveled to Germany? In addition to being quite useful, it would also be interesting to hear their travel stories...

Cheers

Pierre

Your Chinese Driver's license is good for all of EU, but for Russia and any former Soviet Republics, you need an International License. You can get them in HKG or maybe there is a guy in Beijing that offers them. I rode from The Isle of Man to Beijing, on a bike with Chinese plates and had no difficulty at all, but only Russia and Mongolia wanted to see my Int'l Drivers License.
Regds,
Jim
www.bmwsidecar.com

Quote:

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Originally Posted by French_Rider

Hi everyone

This question has been in my mind for some time now. I browsed the forum but havent seen this very question yet, so I post here.

I have a chinese license for cars and motorcycles and plans to get the side-car license soon (so now C1+E and wanna evolve into C1+D).

I know that I can drive with it in my country - France - with an official translation, thanks to a bilateral agreement (we let chinese drive with their license; China doesnt wanna let anyone drive with non-chinese licenses so step up and gives us the chinese one after a computer test).

So I know I'm good for both ends of a transcontinental trip, but I wonder for the countries in between (could be Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia, then Ukraine and Europe). My guess is that since China isnt part of the system for international license, and since its a major world player with a lot of cooperation with many countries, other countries may let people drive with chinese licenses on their soil (through bilateral agreements) and enjoy the possibility to be granted a chinese license and drive in the middle kingdom.

Does someone knows about it? and if yes about the conditions to enjoy such a right, and potentially if it increases custom troubles and demands for bribes?

Thanks

P.S. I cant get an international license using my french one, at least for motorcycles. After 2 years having a car license, france used to grant people a 125cc bike license. When I transfered it, the Beijing Traffic Bureau gave me motorycles (E). So basically I only have the motorcyle license in China...

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jimbosidecar

Your Chinese Driver's license is good for all of EU, but for Russia and any former Soviet Republics, you need an International License. You can get them in HKG ...
Jim
www.bmwsidecar.com

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HKG shut that "backdoor" in 2006

TD 051

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FEE
When you submit your application, please produce the following documents:—
1. ...
your H.K. Identity Card (A photocopy of your identity document may be accepted and will be destroyed after the processing of your application);

Thanks Jim and Human Being...

So thats a sticky problem, there is no way around going through Russia and some of the former soviet states...

I heard that using HK as a proxy to get an IDD from a Chinese license required to be a HK resident. Thats better than having to be a citizen, but at the end of the day thats the same: I dont plan to be an HK resident anytime soon. Does anyone knows if "visa agencies" in HK can get me an IDD for a fee?

I am gonna dig that question on my side and come back post here if I find out something.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by French_Rider

Thanks Jim and Human Being...

So thats a sticky problem, there is no way around going through Russia and some of the former soviet states...

I heard that using HK as a proxy to get an IDD from a Chinese license required to be a HK resident. Thats better than having to be a citizen, but at the end of the day thats the same: I dont plan to be an HK resident anytime soon. Does anyone knows if "visa agencies" in HK can get me an IDD for a fee?

I am gonna dig that question on my side and come back post here if I find out something.

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NO "agencies" can get u a "real" HK IDP (u don't have HKid) but there's tons of "agency" can help u get the "real" HKDL/ DIY: send the required docs to TD is also NOT difficult.

Russia and some of the former soviet states are SUPER corrupt
ReAL HK DL (TD 063A / In theory needs HK address proof but it's easy: famous comapny/ organzation's envelope w/ name & HK address on it is enough -FRIENDS/关系 is very impotant, isn't it?) / if had chance stays in UK: the HK DL can transfer to UK dl w/o test) + fake HK IDP (It's easy get that done in Shenzhen's "办证" / DiY is also NOT difficult... eh -where's my expired "real" HK IDP ? I can borrow u as sample to DIY:taz:) seems works fine :clap: in there
(Be warned :If got caught carrying "fake HK IDP" in civilized world-- "HK", u will have serious trouble!!!)

OK, after browsing the web I am seeing different ways through the maze but each with some obstacles

1) if it's possible, paying an agency that could help me show an address in HK and get me a real HK DL / transfer my mainland DL into a HK one. Then what?
a) also using this agency to stretch the law again to help me get an HK-issued IDD through the HK DL. According to the HK Transport Department website, both HK DL and HK IDD require to have HK I.D. As a consequence, if an agency is able to give me the former, it should also be able to give me the latter, no?
b) there is an agreement between France and HK to transfer DL, so ideally I could transfer the HK to a French one, and then from the French one get an IDD. BUT: I need to prove to the Traffic Bureau in France that I was resident in HK, and that proof needs to come from the French consulate, so: impossible.

2) apparently France and China are negotiating to step up and allow transfer of driving license. If that happens, fantastic, I just get the French one and then the IDD. I’ll check updates on that on France side and also on China's (if I can), it may be useful to other French riders…

3) I give up trying to get legal documents and as humanbeing suggests, I get a forged HK-issued IDD in Shenzhen, that I will only show when my genuine Chinese DL is not enough, i.e. in Russia and former soviet states. I guess that in these countries, even if they suspect my IDD to be fake, I could get away by paying a bribe (any feedback on that? and, by the way, how much to get a nice looking forged HK IDD if anyone knows?)

4) I just carry my Chinese driver license with a formal translation in Russian and hope that it'll work in the countries it needs to, i.e. Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. And again, expecting to have to pay some bribe there too...

So, here it is, as much as I'd like to be legal, if it's not possible and “circumventing” the law does not imply dire consequences, what the hell...

With the complications of international over-land travel I think more than a few people decide to go the "what the hell" route unless you literally have a team of people planning it for you like in "The Long/Expensive Way Round". :lol8:

CC

I like your idea CC, for its simplicity

At the end of the day, I'm not sure that to avoid the possible extra money in backhander it's worth going through the hassle and cost of trying to get an HK IDD.

Anyway, this intercontinental trip initially planned for next summer might well be postponed to 2011. Maybe by then, Chinese and French will have agreed on a full exchange of DL, we'll see.

Oh, and for 2010 that doesn't mean I won't do any road trip. I am still checking faisability and availability but I might well be riding a Royal Enfield Bullet 350 around north-eastern India (Assam and Arunashal-Pradesh) for 3 weeks in march :scooter:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by French_Rider

OK, after browsing the web I am seeing different ways through the maze but each with some obstacles

1) if it's possible, paying an agency that could help me show an address in HK and get me a real HK DL / transfer my mainland DL into a HK one. Then what?
a) also using this agency to stretch the law again to help me get an HK-issued IDD through the HK DL. According to the HK Transport Department website, both HK DL and HK IDD require to have HK I.D. As a consequence, if an agency is able to give me the former, it should also be able to give me the latter, no?
b) there is an agreement between France and HK to transfer DL, so ideally I could transfer the HK to a French one, and then from the French one get an IDD. BUT: I need to prove to the Traffic Bureau in France that I was resident in HK, and that proof needs to come from the French consulate, so: impossible.

2) apparently France and China are negotiating to step up and allow transfer of driving license. If that happens, fantastic, I just get the French one and then the IDD. I’ll check updates on that on France side and also on China's (if I can), it may be useful to other French riders…

3) I give up trying to get legal documents and as humanbeing suggests, I get a forged HK-issued IDD in Shenzhen, that I will only show when my genuine Chinese DL is not enough, i.e. in Russia and former soviet states. I guess that in these countries, even if they suspect my IDD to be fake, I could get away by paying a bribe (any feedback on that? and, by the way, how much to get a nice looking forged HK IDD if anyone knows?)

4) I just carry my Chinese driver license with a formal translation in Russian and hope that it'll work in the countries it needs to, i.e. Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. And again, expecting to have to pay some bribe there too...

So, here it is, as much as I'd like to be legal, if it's not possible and “circumventing” the law does not imply dire consequences, what the hell...

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ad 1) why so complicated? Just get yourself an IDP from back home in France. They'll give you the bike license, which you have in France legally - that will do.

ad 2) It's the EU and Chine negotiating that thing for years already but every time a European leader receives the visit of a certain person (the DL), all such small things are put on hold by the Chinese.

ad 3) see ad 1) :icon10:

ad 4) see ad 1) :icon10::icon10:

I only have the "moped" license in France (ie max 125cc), to get the bike category on an IDP I need the full motorcycle license (we have 3 different categories for motorcyles on the french license)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by chinabiker

ad 1) why so complicated? Just get yourself an IDP from back home in France. They'll give you the bike license, which you have in France legally - that will do.

:

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i'm also from europe and have the same "problem" with the limited moped licence.
I don't have time to go back for a long time.
Getting a licence is Europe is very difficult, expensive, and on top of that.
The waiting lists are very long. It's normal to wait for up to 3 months to take a test.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by French_Rider

I only have the "moped" license in France (ie max 125cc), to get the bike category on an IDP I need the full motorcycle license (we have 3 different categories for motorcyles on the french license)

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yes, french licence is just an European Union licence.

Hey, is there any new info about the China DL on the silk road? Is it ok riding on just mainland DL?

Few years passed since this thread was started. Is it possible now to get International DL based on Chinese one? Still impossible to transfer to HKDL? I can get agency who apparently can get me an Internetional HKDL but am not sure about how legal it will be. They say its legal but thats what they always say....

The PRC DL is pretty good in most S.E.A. (ASEAN) nations these days... indeed many countries kowtow to the increasing purchasing power of Ch!nese/Ch!na. Where once (a decade or even less ago) qualifications, certificates, DL etc. originating out of the middle kingdo0m were once only afforded a casual suspect glance, now it's almost a free for all. Various governments and other seeds of authority are softening their approach to all things Ch!na. IMO it's a little like doing business with Lucifer or at the very least selling ones soul. YMMV
While the PRC DL is able to open doors, there's no such vehicle for issuing a IDP inside the mother ship... meaning it's not legal to get a IDP from a PRC DL since PRC is not a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Ta!wan however is AFAIK.
Self driving Ch!nese stream across the Bolten border crossing from Yunnan, into Laos, then into Thailand and beyond. The flood gates open approaching the Ch!nese New Year & Spring Festival. The hypocrisy is that the same is not afforded to most Laotians or Thais who are not afforded or reciprocated such courtesy.
/rant...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bikerdoc

The PRC DL is pretty good in most S.E.A. (ASEAN) nations these days... indeed many countries kowtow to the increasing purchasing power of Ch!nese/Ch!na. Where once (a decade or even less ago) qualifications, certificates, DL etc. originating out of the middle kingdo0m were once only afforded a casual suspect glance, now it's almost a free for all. Various governments and other seeds of authority are softening their approach to all things Ch!na. IMO it's a little like doing business with Lucifer or at the very least selling ones soul. YMMV
While the PRC DL is able to open doors, there's no such vehicle for issuing a IDP inside the mother ship... meaning it's not legal to get a IDP from a PRC DL since PRC is not a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. Ta!wan however is AFAIK.
Self driving Ch!nese stream across the Bolten border crossing from Yunnan, into Laos, then into Thailand and beyond. The flood gates open approaching the Ch!nese New Year & Spring Festival. The hypocrisy is that the same is not afforded to most Laotians or Thais who are not afforded or reciprocated such courtesy.
/rant...

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It makes me pretty angry actually. The Thais are streets ahead of the Chinese in driving terms. Most Chinese fail to even look in a mirror or signaling before they pull away, and cannot understand the basic concept of yielding looking at an intersection or how even stay on the correct side of the road are given the ability to drive their idiot box into Thailand and even possibly Malaysia and are even trusted to learn to drive on the left!