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Happy New Year! All the very best in 2012 for the MCM members.
Nearly 5 years ago I got my chinese driver license (a real one, car and motorcycle) in Shanghai. It will expired in few months. I'm no longer in Shanghai but in GuangDong province.
Do you have experience about renewing your license?
Brice
HNY Brice (et al)
I just renewed last month, and it was very easy. First, you need to get 3 or 4 one inch passport-type photos. Then, off to a quick "medical" (eye test) at an "approved medical center" to get the official chop on the medical form. Then off to the Driving License Bureau where a new 10 year license was issued on the spot, within about 15 minutes. The whole thing took about 2 hours. Not bad and very painless when compared to other bureaucratic processes.
You will get a 10 year license if you've been a good little boy (or girl) and kept a clean license.
You might hit a speed bump, though, with your initial license being issued in SH but now you are in GZ. Don't know about that one.
The forms and more info is available online on the Beijing / Shanghai Traffic Management Bureau websites.
Safe riding in 2012
Dear Brice,Quote:
Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou
About 8 years ago, after I'd moved my main residence to Shanghai from Beijing (with a few years in Taipei in between), my Beijing issued license expired and I was NOT permitted to renew it in Beijing. I was told this was because I was not longer a Beijing resident. Worse yet, I was unable to use the expiring Beijing license as "evidence" of my having driven safely in China for more than 10 years. Instead, in order to start with a clean slate in Shanghai, I had to have Beijing cancel my previous license so it could be expunged from the computer system. It was not a huge hassle, but I did waste quite a bit of time going to the vehicle management bureau in Beijing, and then going to see the same folks in Shanghai.
I hope that things have improved in the interim, and that you can show your Shanghai license in Guangzhou, then have a new 10-year license issued in Guangzhou on the basis of your having already qualified for a license 5 years ago in Shanghai.
But you never know, and you should be prepared for having to start the whole process anew -- i.e., having your French or other foreign motorcycle & car license translated into Chinese, and having the translation notarized, so you can skip the mandatory rider training and road test and just have to pass the written exam to qualify.
Please do post about your experience!
Best wishes for 2012! Cheers!
Hey Guys,
Thank you both for your responses. I'll check in the next few weeks how it is working in Zhuhai and will report here my own experience.
In general I found that the Chinese administration has vastly improved over the years with an heavy and efficient usage of IT systems. There are often many offices to visit in a specific order to get the "red seals" but if one follows the path with the right papers the outcome is positive.
Brice
Did the DL "转籍" to Zhuhai? Otherwise u can't renew there. :mwink:
Many Foreigner (and Chinese) have the same problem.Quote:
Originally Posted by humanbeing
Moving to another province, then they do not know how to check the penalty points, where to go for renewal and and ...
We can help there.
A renewed license ( 10 Years ) can be seen here.
Greetings Torsten - Hong Kong ZhongDe
Oldies But Goodies.... 'nuff said....
Scam catches foreign drivers
Shanghai Daily Newspaper 2007-6-31
SOME foreign motorists in the city may be driving illegally and be unaware of it thanks to a bogus application ruse.
Overseas drivers living in Shanghai should only apply for a Chinese driving license with local police.
Shanghai traffic police made the clarification yesterday following reports that some agencies are charging expatriates thousands of yuan to have licenses issued out of town. These licenses are not legitimate.
Shanghai Morning Post broke the story on Thursday after an undercover investigation of the agencies.
With photocopies of the driver's passport, driving license from his or her own country and head-shot photos, clients are told to expect a Chinese driving license, issued by out of town authorities, after a week to 40 days, the newspaper said.
The foreign clients don't need to show up in person but only pass on the material to agents and wait for the licenses to arrive.
Agents charge between about 2,000 yuan (US$263) and 5,000 yuan for the service.
Shanghai Daily interviewed officers from the vehicle administration office under the General Team of Traffic Police who said licenses required by the agents are illegal.
Foreign drivers should swap them for a driving license issued by traffic authorities in their exact area of residence.
Shanghai traffic police are investigating the matter.
"Expatriates with a Shanghai-issued residents' permit, should only apply for a driving license issued by Shanghai traffic police," said a police officer with vehicle administration.
It costs 40 yuan to sit for a test on computer in Chinese road traffic rules. You can obtain a Chinese driving license the same day you pass the exam after paying 15 yuan for certification.
To apply for the test, the expatriate need to come to the police office on 1179 Qingchun Road, with head-shot photos and a hospital-issued physical exam report. Applicants also need to take the driving license issued in their own country.
Police said that international driving license holders are not allowed to drive in China before gaining a Chinese license. Questions about applying for a Chinese driving license should be directed to a hotline, 24023456.
################################################## ##########
Foreigners warned on out-of-town driving license
Shanghai Daily Newspaper 2007-6-30
SHANGHAI police have warned local foreigners not to buy driver's licenses from out-of-town driving schools.
For those who want a driver's license, the application procedure for a local-registered one takes only one day and a small sum of money, police said. Passing a written test is a must.
For those who hold no license, police suggest them to learn to drive and sit for tests in the city.
Foreigners in Shanghai have been targets of out-of-town driving schools since last August when the schools' business with city residents was ruined by local police.
They were offering a driver's license service that required no written or road test to lure foreigners, said an insider surnamed Zhang.
"The schools offer 'apartment service,' which suited many foreign people," Zhang said.
They usually find it too troublesome to go to a city to do registration.
A salesperson would knock at the door, collect some basic information, get the fingerprints and photos and take copies of the passport.
Then, all in need to do is to wait patiently for at least 40 days when the applicant will receive a driver's license that has been registered outside Shanghai.
"Though foreigners have to pay 1,000 yuan (US$131) more and wait longer, they find it convenient and efficient," Zhang said.
Local students usually pay between 2,600 yuan to 4,200 yuan to get such a license from out-of-town driving schools. It takes at least 5,000 yuan from local schools.
Training outside of the city allows students to get a license quickly. Local regulations require drivers to do 86 hours of in-car training, and they can't spend more than six hours a day on training.
Drivers must also wait at least 40 days between taking a written test and sitting the actual driving test. The whole procedure may take three months.
Other provinces don't have similar regulations, so students can get a license much quicker.
Good moorning.
The Linked,legally extended license is issued in ShenZhen and not in a city where the baker is also mayor.
Incidentally, it is no matter where a license has been issued in China, the statements in the article needs to be updated.
Everyone who has ever tried to change his address on the driving license knows the answer of the traffic authority:
"The address is not important, because we would have the whole day to do nothing else"
Merry Christmas
How do you issue a C1E or C1D drivers license from Shenzhen? Motorcycles and sidecars have been banned for years. :confused1:Quote:
Originally Posted by Reckleben
????? :confused1:
????? :confused1:Quote:
Originally Posted by Reckleben
Cheers!
ChinaV
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reckleben
Hmmm.... as we moved to a new address in November 2012 changed / updated two China driving license and six privately owned motorised vehicle documents (2 cars / 4 bikes) without any troubles. Don't know in what type of backwater town over the hill you live but in the big smoke "Shanghai" it's fairly easy to change documents and absolutely no need for dodgy agents or shady service companies....
SEASONS GREETINGS
***Didn't they boot you off some China websites for continuous spamming of your business in the past***
Good evening ChinaV.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
We're talking about a CHINA license.
ShenZhen provides no driver's licenses only for ShenZhen.
They can and will not stop you to drive/ride somewhere else where it is allowed.
I can have in a non smoking area cigarettes in my pocket.
I can smoke outside or anywhere else where it is allowed.
Greetings Torsten.
Greetings Torsten,Quote:
Originally Posted by Reckleben
You have ignored the point. No shit we're talking about a China drivers license. A China car drivers licence is not the same as a China motorcycle license. Since this is a Chinese Motorcycle Forum, we are only interested in CHINESE MOTORCYCLE LICENSES with a C1E or C1D Endorsement. We don't give a shit if they come from Tibet, Hainan or Shenzhen. Please provide photographic proof of the SHENZEN ISSUED CHINESE MOTORCYCLE LICENSE with a C1E or C1D Endorsement.
Thanks
ChinaV
Hi ChinaV.
I think we have here a little misunderstanding.
I ignored nothing,we are talking about a China Driving License.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
I know,thanks! ;-) I never talked about a Car License,I only talked about a China Driving License,a China Motorcycle License simply doesn't exist.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
Wrong,you are interested in CHINA DRIVING LICENSES with a C1E or C1D Endorsement.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
Uff...good news.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
I can not,what I can do is upload a China Driving License with a C1E or C1D Endorsement.Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
Brice (the first post) wrote :
That's what I am talking about the whole time,a renewal of a China Driving License / Class C1 for passengers Cars and Class E for Motorcycles (C1E)Quote:
Originally Posted by Brice
There is no China Motorcycle License,only a China Driving License with different Classes,here C1 and E.
Look on your driver's license: Driving License of the People's Republic of China
At the End we are talking about the same,the different is that I know what I am talking about and you not.
Perhabs you get confused because of the linked License is a C1 only,ok my mistake.
Today I am in Macau,but after the weekend I will upload a renewed China Driving License / Classes C1 and E
My pleasure!Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
Greetings Torsten
Torsten.
1. The Gong An say only apply for a driving license with them, other agents and companies can be scams or provide illegitimate licenses, so why take the chance?
2. How can a 'Chinese driving license with car and motorcycle entitlement' be issued in a city which has a ban on motorcycles?
3. Of course in China anything can be done with the right connections. That means your Shenzhen license may look real and pass basic scrutiny, but if there is an accident and the license is properly checked how can we know that it's going to be real? The license could be outright fake, could be issued by a real Gong An but not all the paperwork and computer entry has been done, or is real but if the Gong An Officer who has been cutting corners and providing 'back-door' licenses is caught then your license would become illegal.
Hi ZMC888
Your post could be mine,8 years ago.
I have done that homework,8 years ago.
But I had all that thoughts and doubts before obtaining my first License in China,not for a simple renewal of an already existing legal license,THAT is the topic here.
That is his job to say that and it is ok for me,he will say the same about chinese visa renewals.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMC888
Hong kong is full of visa agencies and foreigners go in there to renew/extend their Chinese Visa as if they buy a pound of butter.
Here we are talking about a simple renewal of an already existing legal driving License and everyone thinks it would be a great business to offer for an existing legal license a new illegal?
What is that for a funny idea? Are you all running businesses like that? To renew a License legally is not as raise the titanic.
Many reasons for,some I listed already in my first post.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMC888
The main reason is simply that they don't know how to do and can and will not spend time on that to find out.The way we offer to renew a License is simply a service and is used by many foreigners and Chinese people because it's easy.
They just put money on the table,send us the required documents and after 5 working days they have the new legal license in the mailbox.
I answered that question already: We are talking about a renewal of an already existing license with Class C1 and E or D,they can not cancel your existing class E or D.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMC888
We also renew Licenses with Class C1 and E in GuangZhou,you will ask the same about this City,right?
Like I said,I have done my homework 8 years ago.Because of me and my doubts about Driving Living Agencies we started about 7 years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMC888
I am a Foreigner (German) in China,my family is here,our businesses are here and all our properties are here.
I can not afford to drive around with a license that is only good to show arround in a beer bar.For me everything has to be 100% and unassailable.
"Our" Licenses are in the Traffic Police database and can be checked in whole China,click here
We are doing that business for about 7 Years and we passed every additional check,such as done by the legal departments of our customer Audi,Porsche,Benz,Volkswagen Shanghai,Bosch,MTU,Huawei,and and.
You are not talking to a little agency whith a prepaid phonecard and a rented office on a vegatable market,just want to take your deposit and never seen again.
I will tell you a little story:
A Couple of days ago I saw in NanLang/ZhongShan a Motorcycle. BMW 100 RS,that was a big surprise for me,between all the 125 ccm red scooters.
Before I am going to buy that motorcycle I wanted to find some recommendations on a good mechanic to fix all.
I found that discussion board here and saw the "License renewal post".
I just dropped some lines for help and now the whole story is going to keep me busy for nothing.
C1E licenses are too rare,I am not hunting here.
To keep my promise: Here are,in ShenZhen and GuangZhou,renewed China Driving Licenses Class C1 and E
Take care! - Torsten -
Goodness, this has become one of the most tortured threads in memory!
I am pleased to see it established that Guangzhou will renew a valid C1D or C1E license despite the ban on motorcycles in that city, even though this "grandfathering" demonstrates the huge illogic and lack of thorough, systematic thinking on the part of the vehicle management authorities.
Torsten, can you answer another simple question:
Is it possible (with or without your company's services) to apply for and receive a new C1D or C1E license in Guangzhou or other cities that ban motorcycles? Or will they simply refuse on the grounds that motorcycles are not allowed? What if a Guangzhou resident wishes to ride a motorcycle legally in another part of China, or perhaps another country, where motorcycles are legal?
Thanks!
You will probably have to transfer your file from Shanghai. The Che Guan Suo where you are now should be able to do that for you. You will need proof of residency locally from the Pai qu suo and then all the bits and pieces of paper and piccies required.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brice
I think Jonsims is right, Brice. Now that you've moved to Guangdong from Shanghai, it will be very interesting to see whether indeed you can "transfer" your license to your new city. In the past this was not possible. I moved to Shanghai from Beijing in 2003, and was given only one course of action: Cancel my Beijing license and apply from scratch in Shanghai. There were no provisions for transfer, and I was told that Shanghai would refuse to accept my new application UNLESS my Beijing license had been canceled and purged from the national license registry.
I hope things have progressed from that primitive state of affairs.
Brice, is the city where you now reside "dry" or does it still permit motorcycles? If the latter, you may find it all goes smoothly. Otherwise, you may be better off seeing if you can get your Shanghai license renewed, even though you no longer reside there. Whether this works would depend on what kind of documentation they require for renewal.
Wishing you luck!