Hip ! hip ! horay !!! - Got my Chinese Driving Licence

I passed my Chinese driving licence test.
Now before you all scoff, and suggest that it would be an easy test, let me tell you different.

There are 1320 questions.
At the exam center, you are selected 100 random questions by the computer.
They are in an exam hall of about 50 metes square, with I guess 100 test desk stations.

90 correct is the passmark.

Any way, first time I went on Friday, I scored just 86 correct.

This Monday morning I returned and scored 93 correct.

Needless to say, we were both mightily relieved.

It really is the most difficult test I have ever done.

When I remember the Cape Town driving test at Green Point, many years ago, and the UK driving test.
This Chinese driving test is way, way, way, above that.
.

Gra

Congratulations.
Reminds me my test in 2000. Did not pass the enlish one the first time (and did not know all answers could be found on the internet), and was told to return a week later.
As we did not want to do that, they allowed our driver to do the Chinese one for us ... only to fail again ...
A week later we both past with a 99 score :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

It really is the most difficult test I have ever done.

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Totally agree - I was sweating bullets before I wrote mine.

But a healthy congratulations to you! Just don't acquire 12 points within any year, and you'll never have to worry about another Chinese driving exam. (12 points = mandatory week of "driver education" and another written test)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

I passed my Chinese driving licence test.

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Congratulations.
Weren't you after a motorcycle license?

Dear Graham,

Hate to throw a spanner in the works, but this is a C1 license. Does that include motorcycles in Shandong? It does not here in Shanghai.

cheers!

Her has already contacted traffic licence place.

It seems the "Official" translator service, ( The one and only one's allowed to do the translation for the traffic dept. here in Weifang) missed off the motorbike category from my licence into the translation.
Stupid bint !
We are back to the translation offices in the morning, then need to bring in the corrected translation, and traffic dept. will amend the categories.

Gra.

Well done Graham!!
Andy is right - C1 is for car only. C1 E = car + solo motorcycle

Quote:

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C1 E = car + solo motorcycle

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That nasty trick leaving the motorcycles of the China driving license was very common here in Shanghai for a while and some of the guys had to fight the system to have the motorcycle added to the China driving license afterwards. Get a D bike license added and your covered from all angles (solo / sidecar)......

Well consider the F,,,k up translation cost 260 quai, which for 5 minutes work, (fu,,,d up work)
The driving test about 150 quai.

I am well and truly pissed off with the translation services.

Not to worry, it should be sorted tomorrow.

I just wonder how much the translation service, pays "somebody" to make them the only translating service, acceptable to the traffic dept.

So I should get the C1 and D ?

Does a "D" trump a "E" and an "F" ?


Gra.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

So I should get the C1 and D?

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YES, your covered for vehicles up to 7 pax (C1) and and sole / sidecar bikes (D).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

Does a "D" trump a "E" and an "F"?

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YES, the old "F" was or still is for mopeds and "E" only for solo motorbikes....

I dont think you can decide what you want - you can get, what you have on your original licence, but.......TIC.....!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Morfar

I dont think you can decide what you want - you can get, what you have on your original licence, but.......TIC.....!!

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.
EXACTLY !!!

I HAVE
A
B
BE
B1
C1
C1E
D1
D1E
F
K
L
N
P

Which is every thing except 40 ton trucks.

Gra.

Yes, you of course can freely choose a C1 (passenger car), C1D (car, solo bike and sidecar) or C1E (car and solo bike), but you must be very explicit about this when applying. Many vehicle management bureaus seem to be hard of hearing when it comes to the word "motorcycle," perhaps because it's a bit more work or a slightly different workflow for them.

If you don't have a motorcycle endorsement on your foreign license, you can still get any of the three, but you need to start from scratch, meaning you must take whatever brilliant mandatory "training" courses they offer, then pass a road test. If you have the motorcycle endorsement from overseas, you can omit these steps.

The only exceptions, and they unfortunately seem to be growing in number, are those creepy jurisdictions like Wuhan where local authorities have stopped issuing all but C1 licenses, apparently out of the twisted logic that motorcycles are banned there. Perish the thought that some Wuhanese might want a motorcycle license so they can ride in gazillions of places in China (and the rest of the world) where motorcycling is still permitted.

cheers

avoid "B" endorsements as they involve regular health-checks every 12 month, just saying....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving..._licence_codes

w/o driving test = to C1E in most chinese city . Some will issue C1D if they likes u.
大型客车 A1 大型载客汽车 A3、B1、B2、C1、C2、C3、C4、M
牵引车 A2 重型、中型全挂、半挂汽车列车 B1、B2、C1、C2、C3、C4、M
城市公交车 A3 核准载10人以上的城市公共汽车 C1、C2、C3、C4
中型客车 B1 中型载客汽车（含核准载10人以上、19人以下的城市公共汽车） C1、C2、C3、C4、M
大型货车 B2 重型、中型载货汽车；大、重、中型专项作业车 C1、C2、C3、C4、M
小型汽车 C1 小型、微型载客汽车以及轻型、微型载货汽车、轻、小、微型专项作业车 C2、C3、C4
小型自动排档汽车C2 小型、微型自动排档载客汽车以及轻型、微型自动排档载货汽车
低速载货汽车 C3 低速载货汽车（原四轮农用运输车）
三轮汽车 C4 三轮汽车（原三轮农用运输车）
残疾人专用小型自动挡载客汽车 C5 残疾人专用小型、微型自动挡载客汽车
普通三轮摩托车 D 发动机排量大于50ml或者最大设计车速大于50km/h的三轮摩托车 E、F
普通二轮摩托车 E 发动机排量大于50ml或者最大设计车速大于50km/h的二轮摩托车 F
轻便摩托车 F 发动机排量小于等于50ml，最大设计车速小于等于50km/h的摩托车
轮式自行机械车 M 轮式自行机械车
无轨电车 N 无轨电车
有轨电车 P 有轨电

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TB-Racing

YES, your covered for vehicles up to 7 pax (C1) ...

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C1: 小型 < or =6m | < or = 9 (driver incl.) seater | < or = total mass: 4500kg

OK, followers of this thread who are thinking of getting a Chinese motorcycle license might want to have a look at the MCM thread on Getting a Chinese motorcycle license, where I've just posted some very cool study and practice tools.

cheers

Hi All,

Back again.

OK, first thing this morning we went to the translation office.
We got my UK licence translated with the additional categories.
Their excuse was, "well with getting a car licence, we didn't think you wanted a motorcycle licence also"
So my wife laid into them saying, why the hell they just didn't do a correct translation first time, instead of "what they think" - a translation is a translation, and should not have bits added, nor removed.

So then back to traffic dept.
Great girl on the desk, so my wife explained to her, regarding the incorrect translation, and that we would like to add "D" to the "C1"
The girl said there is 3 ways it can be done.
So she made a few phone calls, and said, it might be able to be done, or might have to take the test again, to add motorcycles.
She said, but don't worry.
1/ She will refer it higher, first wait to see how the "higher up the chain of command" say.
This could take up to 2 months, they might just add it on out of good will, as I got my motorbike licence way back in 1996, some 16 years ago.
So she has our contact details, and all the required photocopies.
She said if that fails,
2/ Then I can go to another traffic office, pay 400 rnb, and do a shortened test, and then it can be added.
or.
3/ Cancel my new C1 licence from yesterday, and sit another exam tomorrow, which will include car and bike questions, costing about 65 rnb.

First she said, "we will try the free way, takes a bit of time, but who rides a bike in Weifang in the winter !!"

We agreed, no rush for the "D" licence just yet, the "C1" is OK for now.


A few more licenses from around the world.

Gra.

To paraphrase TexasAggie: China is a place where the easy is impossible, and the impossible is easy. Or, in your case, where people think when they shouldn't, and don't think when they should.

TIC.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by euphonius

To paraphrase TexasAggie: China is a place where the easy is impossible, and the impossible is easy. Or, in your case, where people think when they shouldn't, and don't think when they should.

TIC.

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.
.
Very true.

Gra.

Congratulations on surviving the ordeal. I am sure you will enjoy the telling the whole story for the rest of your life. There is some great riding for sure. Ride safe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

Hi All,

Back again.

OK, first thing this morning we went to the translation office.
We got my UK licence translated with the additional categories.
Their excuse was, "well with getting a car licence, we didn't think you wanted a motorcycle licence also"
So my wife laid into them saying, why the hell they just didn't do a correct translation first time, instead of "what they think" - a translation is a translation, and should not have bits added, nor removed.

So then back to traffic dept.
Great girl on the desk, so my wife explained to her, regarding the incorrect translation, and that we would like to add "D" to the "C1"
The girl said there is 3 ways it can be done.
So she made a few phone calls, and said, it might be able to be done, or might have to take the test again, to add motorcycles.
She said, but don't worry.
1/ She will refer it higher, first wait to see how the "higher up the chain of command" say.
This could take up to 2 months, they might just add it on out of good will, as I got my motorbike licence way back in 1996, some 16 years ago.
So she has our contact details, and all the required photocopies.
She said if that fails,
2/ Then I can go to another traffic office, pay 400 rnb, and do a shortened test, and then it can be added.
or.
3/ Cancel my new C1 licence from yesterday, and sit another exam tomorrow, which will include car and bike questions, costing about 65 rnb.

First she said, "we will try the free way, takes a bit of time, but who rides a bike in Weifang in the winter !!"

We agreed, no rush for the "D" licence just yet, the "C1" is OK for now.

Attachment 9369

A few more licenses from around the world.

Gra.

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When and if you go to Xinjiang to get your tourist business happening and they give you the old come back latter story do not be surprised that the person you spoke to has disappeared ie never was here,moved to different Govt dept,never heard that name etc etc but probably the response will be start all over again.

In relation to your license I think you just got blown off ie they hope you will go away and forget about it because they will.

I showed them quite a few licenses that I had they couldn't of cared one bit unless they were Chinese.

I'm with BD on this: If you have not heard back from them in 48 hours, I'd go back in and ask for option 3 -- cancel the C1 and start from scratch on a C1D or C1E. The longer you wait, the more frustrating it will be.

cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by euphonius

I'm with BD on this: If you have not heard back from them in 48 hours, I'd go back in and ask for option 3 -- cancel the C1 and start from scratch on a C1D or C1E. The longer you wait, the more frustrating it will be.
cheers

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+100%

Totally agree - don't wait to long...push them. Otherwise it will never happen!!!!
Same thing happend to one of my friends here in Beijing - he pushed hard and got a new license with C1E one week later.
Dont accept a NO for an answer!!!

I have learned one thing in China: go ahead! take action and dont relay on promises

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SabineHartmann

I have learned one thing in China: go ahead! take action and dont relay on promises

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Must do so smiling:icon10:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Graham

I passed my Chinese driving licence test.
.
.
Gra

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.
Hi all,

Little more on my drivers licence.
As a recap.
As you can all see, this is just a "car" licence ie "C1"
So the following day we went back to the test station, and questioned the error, "why didn't I get the C1D or C1E.
So the girl checks through, and on the driving licence translation, from their "approved translator" there lies the error.
They had only put down the car licence, totally missing off all the other categories, including motorbikes.
A quick return, and the correct translation was issued, then right away to the vehicle test station.
The girl, made a few phone calls, and asked a few colleagues, then told us, the appeal would be sent to Jinan, which is the capital of Shandong, main traffic department.
The wait would be 3 months.
To see if my new licence could be amended with the added motorbike the category.
As it is middle of winter, at the moment, I don't have any plans to ride a bike any way.

Question, is this just a "fobb-off" or on production of the corrected translation, copies of my other licenses, etc, can motorbikes be added to my C1 licence?

Gra.

Dear Graham,

Sorry to see you being put through this. You are giving the system way too much credit. I'd bet my last nickel that at the end of the three months, no one will remember this request and you'll be right where you are now, with a license that does not make you legal on the bike. And spring will have arrived, and rather than getting out and enjoying Taishan and so many other great riding places in Shandong, you'll be stressing about getting your license -- all over again.

My advice, since you asked: Now's the time to do it, and get it right. In your previous round with these idjits, one of the options was to cancel the C1 and start the process anew, making sure this time that they don't "improve" your application by ignoring your request for the C1D or C1E. You know the process now. The test questions are (relatively) fresh in your memory. The cost will be a couple hundred RMB. And you'll fruitfully use your winter downtime to get ready for spring. Just be damned sure that when they cancel your C1, you can immediately and without question apply for the C1D or C1E. Do it while you are there, on the spot, and don't leave till the application is accepted.

I do think they are yanking your chain, and their efforts will come to naught. In China's system, kicking something upstairs is the standard way of washing hands of responsibility. Nothing will happen, then in three months time you'll go back and hear those lovely words: 没办法. Mei banfa. Can't be done. If there were a banfa, the deed would have been done by now.

cheers!

This lies in the cultural or lack of mentality of China. This is what most people think and why by accident or on purpose your motorcycle entitlement was left off:

1. Motorcycles are rubbish, everyone had one back in the day when they were poorer. (They had a garbage POS China 125cc bike with rock hard tires).
2. A car shows that 'you've arrived' no face can be gotten by giving someone a lift on the back of a bike.
3. Chinese are generally in love with cars, keep you warm in the winter, cool in the summer, you can impress your friends with your poor taste in lossy Chinese/Italian techno music or Kenny G, overpriced seat and steering wheel covers and awful taste in mirror and dashboard kitch adornments.
4. Motorcycles are dangerous, there is no word in Chinese for exciting or thrilling. It is either safe or dangerous and dangerous is bad, unless you are drunk out of your mind. Plus with Chinese rider training standards or lack of they really are dangerous.
5. Most Chinese are quite happy 'in the box' matching baseball cap group tour travel, factory work, never leaving their apartment or city seems not to make them yearn for nature, get itchy feet or escape for a blast in the country.
6. Laowais are rich therefore rich people like cars and buying cars supports the Chinese economy and helps the government maintain harmony (unsustainably).
Written in jest with underlying cynicism.

Honestly the best way to fix this is with backdoor guanxi, should be quite easy in a city with so few foreigners. If you are a teacher find a student with a parent who works for the Gong An make friends and explain your problem and ask if there is a way it can be fixed. If you work in a Chinese company find a colleague with a spouse who works for the Gong An.

Also I wouldn't let this stress you too much. You have a car license and that is well enough for me to happy with if I were living in Weifang and everything else was legal, I might still ride in the spring, maybe not in the cities, but possibly in the countryside if everything else was legal, as you'd be 'riding out of class' this is still illegal and punishable quite severely. Now I'm not saying that you should, I'm saying I might or probably would, although ideally I'd like to fix this and get motorcycle entitlement.

Best of luck.