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How to get a Chinese Motorcycle License
It is illegal to ride in China without a Chinese motorcycle license. Overseas driving licenses (with the exception of a few countries with special agreements) and International Driving Permits are not recognized in China. Chinese driving licenses are accepted across China and can be used in most other countries for up to a year. The license is issued for an initial six years and is then extended by ten years each time it is renewed so long as you keep a clean license.
Legally speaking any foreigner with an address, a Chinese name and a passport with more than six months remaining on their visa can apply for a Chinese driving license at their local Public Security Bureau traffic division. However this is often not straightforward because the Chinese legal and administrative system revolves around Chinese ID cards and ID card numbers, and using a passport can mean making things difficult, but there is a procedure and computer system for this. The ease or difficulty of obtaining Chinese driving licenses can vary from province to province or region to region. What is the case in one place, may not necessarily be the case somewhere else. Some smaller cities and cities that prohibit motorcycles will not issue licenses to locals or foreigners, some may not understand how to issue foreigners licenses, or not realize it is possible. In autonomous regions that have security difficulties it's likely to be much more difficult or prohibited for a foreign nationals to get a Chinese motorcycle license, and may make excuses to block the process as having free roaming foreigners is not seen as desirable. National laws are also 'interpreted' and this interpretation becomes in essence, the local law. Sometimes it can be difficult to obtain a Chinese driving license, but you need to be persistent and not take no for an answer in a polite yet determined manner. Usually you will need help from an English speaking local, unless you speak passable Chinese or you may even need a connection with a senior police officer through a network of friends or colleagues. Theoretically being on a shorter visa you can get a temporary Chinese driving license, but as an independent visitor it is unlikely that one could be issued unless for a car, or being part of overland motorcycle tour group with a guide, but it would be worth asking, especially if you are arriving at an international airport.
Many foreign riders have ridden in China without a Chinese motorcycle license successfully, some even for years. In fact I did for over six years, believing the law to be ridiculous, as I already had a license from home. However, wherever people travel worldwide, being a resident in another country (with the obvious exception of within the EU) usually means transferring your license or taking a local test within a year, so really there is no excuse. Some foreigners believe copying the locals and riding an unregistered uninsured bike without a local license is fine, but in my view this is seriously asking for trouble especially if you were to hit a pedestrian or cyclist. Others believe in following the law exactly, which is very probably an excellent idea in Shanghai or Beijing and other massive cities, but outside of vast metropolitan areas may be overkill and seriously restricting yourself in the short term, being as legal as possible is often thought to be acceptable, but you need to fully understand the potential risks of breaking any laws.
Bigger, wealthier cities can and do take licensing more seriously, whereas smaller cities and rural areas may not take licensing seriously at all, and seeing thousands of unregistered small displacement motorcycles and scooters may be quite normal in rural areas. These areas only take motorcycle licensing and registration seriously on a purge basis or in the event of an accident, sometimes not at all. Car and truck licensing and registration seems to be almost completely universal, whereas motorcycle, scooter and three wheel riders/drivers seem to believe it is optional.
As time passes the whole country is taking driving laws more seriously which could potentially mean a maximum 15 days in a detention center (but a fine and motorcycle seizure is much more likely in smaller cities) or paying tens of thousands of yuan from your own pocket for riding without insurance to pay someones medical expenses after an accident, which probably wasn't even your fault. Easier to enforce rules are enforced first: Speeding, traffic signals, vehicle registration, insurance and driving license checks are top of the list.
Previous to the new rules in 2013 it was possible foreigners to obtain a car and motorcycle license by passing the Chinese driving test if they had not already passed it in their home country. As of 2015 It seems there are fewer places where foreigners can take a complete test in English than before, however the hope is that will change over time.
So given that you have an address, a Chinese name and a passport with more than six months remaining on your visa....
- Find your nearest Foreign Affairs Office and pay them to translate your home license.
- Find your nearest Public Security Bureau traffic division and present your home license, passport and stamped translation. (You may be required to attend a different specific Public Security Bureau traffic division than the one you are at). Then do a medical test, which is generally just an eye test including vision and colorblindness. They could weigh you and measure you heart or even do blood pressure, but they rarely bother. Then they'll take a special police photo, with which you will probably be given double the number of photos you need.
- Pass the 100 test question multiple choice which will be booked at a specific Public Security Bureau traffic division or a specific testing center. (You will be told the location and the time, could be a few weeks in advance), and passing this test you will be required to score over 90 with two chances, and doing this will require some studying. If doing a car and motorcycle transfer you will do the car questions only.
- Go back to the original Public Security Bureau traffic division, with all your information and your license will be ready in due course (could be same day).
****2016 update. The motorcycle question test is only available in Chinese, not English. However the car questions are available in English. This means you can ONLY get a Chinese motorcycle license by transferring a foreign car and motorcycle license at the same time or if you can read Chinese.****
Some useful links...........
http://www.howchinaworks.com/2008/12...ivers-license/
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...e-License-Blog
http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...sed-the-brake!
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Hey all, could you guys please confirm that a Chinese Driver licence C1 E is valid for all the country, not just for the province it's issued in.
For example, for a licence issued in Chengdu, it's completely legal to ride in Shanghai (not talking about the plates, just the driver licence), right ?
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Hi Fred,
Pretty sure they are valid everywhere you go regardless of where you live. I've had my license inspected in several different provinces, and none of the authorities or rental agencies cared that is was not from Guangdong. China doesn't use the license like to track your residence like other countries.
Cheers!
ChinaV
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Second that. I have a jiangsu license that's been inspected in a few other provinces, including shanghai, without any problems.
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
You can also take the exam in languages other than English, but I heard other translations were very bad. Better just take the exam in English.
Download file here :: http://www.shjtaq.com/db_update/dzjc/more/English.rar
This website lets you practice the exam online.
http://www.gstxc.cn/kaoshi/cn/beginexam.asp
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
great thread!
if i was a temporary HK resident with a HK licence. would i be able to use it in China? or at least transfer to a Chinese licence without the riding test?
Also is it possible to ride a bike into China from HK?
cheers
Z
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zman
great thread!
if i was a temporary HK resident with a HK licence. would i be able to use it in China? or at least transfer to a Chinese licence without the riding test?
Also is it possible to ride a bike into China from HK?
cheers
Z
Dear Zman,
Nice to see you finally posting after almost two years of lurking!
Don't know for sure on your first question, but I would expect you can use your valid HK motorcycle endorsement to qualify for a mainland license as long as you can pass the written exam, since this is the case for most international licenses.
As for importing a bike, there's a lot of posts in this forum about the virtual impossibility of riding a bike into China from Hong Kong, or importing a second-hand bike into China from anywhere. I seem to remember Guangdong resident ChinaV, who long ago imported his V-strom, has posted on this subject, and probably Pfaelzer has too. Chinabiker has posted about regulations in 2010 that essentially banned importation and registration of used bikes, presumably an effort to rid China of stolen and frankenbikes as well as protect the domestic industry.
Search for the keywords import and hong kong and you might find what you are looking for.
Where in the mainland would you be planning to register? You realize you'll need to be a legal resident of that place, or have a proxy (person who is resident there or a local company) to register a bike.
cheers
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
I am looking to go for a tour around China this summer. Beijing, Qingdao, shanghai, xian, beijing. I have been riding in BJ for almost 2 years, and been stopped 4 times. Never has it mattered that I didn't have a license. In fact, when the police asked, they were told that I have my American license, and complained more about the fact that I was riding a USED bike!
So does it really matter if I get one or not? What about a Z visa? That is a year long work visa, so i should be able to get the license with that correct?
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wanglong
So does it really matter if I get one or not?
I've been riding a little less that a year in China, and rode for two years back home. Do you need a license? Read this and tell us.
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zman
great thread!
if i was a temporary HK resident with a HK licence. would i be able to use it in China? or at least transfer to a Chinese licence without the riding test?
Also is it possible to ride a bike into China from HK?cheersZ
yes and no
yes and no
yes and no
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wanglong
I am looking to go for a tour around China this summer. Beijing, Qingdao, shanghai, xian, beijing. I have been riding in BJ for almost 2 years, and been stopped 4 times. Never has it mattered that I didn't have a license. In fact, when the police asked, they were told that I have my American license, and complained more about the fact that I was riding a USED bike!
So does it really matter if I get one or not? What about a Z visa? That is a year long work visa, so i should be able to get the license with that correct?
Well it doesn't matter to us whether you get creamed or not, but do you have any loved ones may care? Does it matter if you get deported? Are you very wealthy to pay fines, compensation etc if something happens with no insurance?
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Quote:
Originally Posted by
euphonius
Where in the mainland would you be planning to register? You realize you'll need to be a legal resident of that place, or have a proxy (person who is resident there or a local company) to register a bike.
cheers
thanks for that euphonius
havent planned that far ahead yet but would love to explore china on a bike some day (hopefully soon).
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Re: Getting a Chinese Motorcycle License
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jape
yes and no
yes and no
yes and no
Lol China :lol8:
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Why you should get a license ...
A friend (who will remain anonymous) had a bad experience recently ...
Story:
He came to China on a 1 year multiple-entry tourist visa with a maximum of each stay of 60 days. I told him to get a license, asap. When he tried, he was shot down because he needed a 90 day stay. During one exit, he had a new tourist visa issued with the 90 day stay, BUT felt that since he was only staying another few months, and it takes a month to get the license, he didn't bother.
A few days before he was due to leave China ... bang ... stopped in a road block ... blew into the handheld breathalyzer, and it registered 0.02. Zero tolerance in Beijing - any reading means loss of license, etc, etc, etc. The start of a bad situation.
Asked for his license. He didn't have one. This created BIG trouble.
Vehicle confiscated and taken to impound lot & he's driven to the police station. The police wanted to hold him for 15 days detention, starting then and there. His Chinese wife was with him. She is a senior executive with a Fortune 500 company. She pleaded that her husband was leaving China in a couple of days, that he never drives but did this one time because she was much more inebriated, he has a foreign license, he is also a senior executive, he tried to get a license but was caught up in "the rules", and so on. She helped negotiate the immediacy into a "let's wait until the boss arrives tomorrow, and he can decide." The police let them go home, as long as they returned without delay.
Next day, or so, new boss at the police station - he is adamant that my friend has to go get his license, immediately, even a temporary DL, so that they can revoke it and incarcerate him ... but now the time is up to perhaps 40 days of jail if he can't get a Temp DL, primarily because that is about how long it will take him to get a regular Chinese DL. There is also going to be a huge fine, because of no DL, a criminal record, and deportation.
Hours later, more negotiation, and a decision to speak with another boss in a couple of days. Things were looking very bad.
A couple of days later, more serious decisions to incarcerate, etc ... finally, through a bit of magic ... the entire matter is dropped. The magic did not involve any exchange of funds. I can't say any more.
According to my friend, here is a quick synopsis of what happened ...
1) The zero tolerance & him registering on the hand-held drew attention to him;
2) The lack of a driving license was the BIG issue;
3) The police wanted to hold him until he had a valid DL so that they could immediately take it away, give him a criminal record, and deport him. There was also a big risk that his wife, in whose name the vehicle was registered, would also be subjected to fines & loss of license for permitting him to drive, knowing he was unlicensed.
Several days of stressful agony and a large fee to retrieve the vehicle says two things:
1) Don't drive after ANY consumption of alcohol in Beijing - a 0.02 in many countries would, at most, result in a roadside suspension. Beijing has zero tolerance. Zero means zero.
2) Do NOT drive without a driving license - that was the big issue in this case.
Also, if his Chinese wife was not there, he'd definitely be in jail, awaiting deportation.
By the way, each of these people are very soft-spoken who would never consider losing their temper or inflaming the situation.
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
1) Don't drive after ANY consumption of alcohol ANYWHERE.
2) Do NOT drive without a driving license - that was the big issue in this case.
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lao Jia Hou
He came to China on a 1 year multiple-entry tourist visa with a maximum of each stay of 60 days. I told him to get a license, asap. When he tried, he was shot down because he needed a 90 day stay. During one exit, he had a new tourist visa issued with the 90 day stay, BUT felt that since he was only staying another few months, and it takes a month to get the license, he didn't bother.
What magic do you need to pull to get a 90 day tourist visa stay I wonder?
Quote:
1) Don't drive after ANY consumption of alcohol in Beijing - a 0.02 in many countries would, at most, result in a roadside suspension. Beijing has zero tolerance. Zero means zero.
2) Do NOT drive without a driving license - that was the big issue in this case.
Good advice anywhere of course, but even more so in China I suspect. Quite a scary story, thanks for sharing it, it should help scare of people who think of riding illegally!
Interestingly, I've read that Washington DC has a zero-tolerance policy as well, and its a problem for some people. I guess a few people naturally register on the BAC scale, and other people take medication that causes them to register even when they haven't had a drink.
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CantDecide
Good advice anywhere of course, but even more so in China I suspect. Quite a scary story, thanks for sharing it, it should help scare of people who think of riding illegally!
Interestingly, I've read that Washington DC has a zero-tolerance policy as well, and its a problem for some people. I guess a few people naturally register on the BAC scale, and other people take medication that causes them to register even when they haven't had a drink.
Well, I'd be looking over my shoulder in California too. Here's something I read in the San Jose Merc.....:deal:
Quote:
Roadshow: The cost of a DUI ticket can run as much as $13,000
By Gary Richards
grichards@mercurynews.com
Posted: 03/15/2011 08:08:33 AM PDT
Updated: 03/15/2011 11:10:08 AM PDT
Question: My boyfriend and I are having an animated discussion over how much a ticket would cost if you are caught driving drunk. He says a lot; maybe a few thousand dollars. I say a lot more. Neither of us would drink and drive, but a lot of our friends do. Maybe a warning from you would persuade a few to find someone else to drive or give up their keys after a night of partying.
Mary Delgado
San Jose
Answer: With St. Patrick's Day coming up Thursday, here are some numbers from the Department of Motor Vehicles that you may find sobering. Costs for a first-time conviction vary, but they can run up to $13,000 in fines, penalty assessments and insurance increases. A conviction could also result in a jail sentence of up to six months, and DUI convictions now remain on your driving record for 10 years.
For a first-time conviction, the DMV will suspend a person's driving privilege for six months and the offending driver must complete a DUI program, provide evidence of insurance and pay a $125 fee to get his or her license back. A second or subsequent offense within 10 years will result in a one-year suspension.
Got to
www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/driversafety/dsalcohol.htm for more information.
And another warning. Police will set up DUI checkpoints throughout the Bay Area Thursday night. If you see a drunken driver on the road, don't hesitate to call 911. And if you know people who are about to drive after having too much to drink, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they need to go safely.
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
on the east coast you need to have a licence
in the middle and west they don't really care or are propably to confused that you're a foreigner, but in case of an accident and can't pay them off its better to have a licence
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bigmonkey
on the east coast you need to have a licence
in the middle and west they don't really care or are propably to confused that you're a foreigner, but in case of an accident and can't pay them off its better to have a licence
Dear bigmonkey,
You might want to go back and read Slabo's Had an Accident thread. You'll note he's in Kunming, which, if China had time zones, would be about three zones west of eastern China. I'd argue that in any major city in China, and by that I mean any city with 1 million or more population, of which there are probably several hundred now, you are in deep sh*t if you are an expat and get into an accident and are not properly licensed and registered. Police have requested my documents in Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, as well as in eastern China.
I can't tell from your profile where you are residing, but if you are indeed finding license and/or registration unnecessary there, please tell us more about it!
cheers
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
euphonius
Dear bigmonkey,
You might want to go back and read Slabo's
Had an Accident thread. You'll note he's in Kunming, which, if China had time zones, would be about three zones west of eastern China. I'd argue that in any major city in China, and by that I mean any city with 1 million or more population, of which there are probably several hundred now, you are in deep sh*t if you are an expat and get into an accident and are not properly licensed and registered. Police have requested my documents in Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, as well as in eastern China.
I can't tell from your profile where you are residing, but if you are indeed finding license and/or registration unnecessary there, please tell us more about it!
cheers
no, it's absolutely necessary. I meant to reply on wanglong "I am looking to go for a tour around China this summer. Beijing, Qingdao, shanghai, xian, beijing. I have been riding in BJ for almost 2 years, and been stopped 4 times. Never has it mattered that I didn't have a license. In fact, when the police asked, they were told that I have my American license, and complained more about the fact that I was riding a USED bike!"
I mean in the east you would probably get stopped more.
In Hunan where i reside a lot of people ride without plates or licence.
Ofcourse, in case of an accident you'll have big problems.
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
euphonius
... if China had time zones, would be about three zones west of eastern China...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_in_China
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Dear Humanbeing,
you are good. you should consider joining The New Yorker as a fact-checker!
OK, amend my comment to "one time zone west of eastern China"....
cheers!
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Hi all,
I've been lurking around this forum where I must say I found many uselful informations.
I was wondering if someone can shed some light on my wenti
I've a Chinese C1 driving licence, can I legally drive a motorbike with it? (I suppose not)
If negative does anybody knows what I should do to get a valid driving licence for motorbike? what's the code of auto-moto driving licence?
Consider that I hold a european driving license for auto and moto with unlimited HP (AB)
Cheers
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marcomagica
Hi all
Welcome Marco! HZ = Hongzhou?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marcomagica
I've a Chinese C1 driving licence, can I legally drive a motorbike with it? (I suppose not) If negative does anybody knows what I should do to get a valid driving licence for motorbike? what's the code of auto-moto driving licence? Consider that I hold a european driving license for auto and moto with unlimited HP (AB)
A C1 is for passenger cars only.
A "D" is for motorcycles (2 wheels) and sidecars/trikes (3 wheels)
An "E" is for motorcycles (2 wheels)
Most commonly, a person will have a C1E (cars and motorcycles)
If you have a valid motorcycle license from Europe, you should be able to "easily" transfer it to a C1E. However, as you already have a C1 (presumably based on your European license), I am not sure what the Traffic Management Branch will think when you come back, asking for a motorcycle ("E") endorsement. I'm guessing it won't be a problem, but one never knows what happens in the minds of those behind the counter.
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Hi,
thanks for the info, HZ= Hangzhou
In fact when I had my chinese driving licence some 8 years ago I "translated" my european driving licence which was car only.
By then I passed my motorbike exam in Europe and now I have AB for Europe.
Till now I had no interest in driving motorbike here, but with the new JH 600...
I will ask my local traffic management bureau, but I fear the "buzhidao" situation where nobody knows what to do and no police man want to take responsibility :D
I'll keep you posted in case someone else is in the same situation in the future.
Cheers!
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Hangzhou is a "dry town" (no motorcycles) but I would imagine you can still update your driving license to include a motorcycle endorsement. If your European license is valid, you will need to have it translated, and notarized, and then pass a written exam. If your european license is no longer valid, it's question: Will a dry town have systems to teach you to drink? Hope you don't get a "don't know" response. Chinese law has provisions for obtaining all kinds of driving licenses, including motorcycle licenses. Why would HZ be any different?
Good luck, and hope you can report back your findings!
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Yes,
I know Hangzhou is a dry town, however my C1 licence was issued here and I have residence address registered here. If this is a problem (I hope not) I'll just move my residence outside just for the driving licence purposes.
While this may be a "regulated" situation for our chinese brothers I'm not sure my case is contemplated for the laowai.
In fact I know that if a chinese wanted to do this he would need to re-do written exam AND driving, I of course hold a valid european AB driving licence and a C1 driving licence making my case different.
Make me re-do the written paper only wouldn't make any sense according to me... but yet it wouldn't surprise me at all, Chinese laws and regulations never do much sense to a laowai.
So far I've asked help to one person at work which is "asking a friend" with astonishment in her face... I could already read in her face "these laowai are real strange, why would he want to drive a motorbike anyways, motorbikes are for countryside people!"
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
euphonius
Hangzhou is a "dry town" (no motorcycles) but I would imagine you can still update your driving license to include a motorcycle endorsement. If your European license is valid, you will need to have it translated, and notarized, and then pass a written exam. If your european license is no longer valid, it's question: Will a dry town have systems to teach you to drink? Hope you don't get a "don't know" response. Chinese law has provisions for obtaining all kinds of driving licenses, including motorcycle licenses. Why would HZ be any different?
Good luck, and hope you can report back your findings!
I really do have a motorcycle license back home, but I here I translated it by myself and stamped it at the office. Really, I might as well put down I'm licensed to drive trailers. All went well..
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
slabo
I really do have a motorcycle license back home, but I here I translated it by myself and stamped it at the office. Really, I might as well put down I'm licensed to drive trailers. All went well..
Here in Shanghai, thankfully still a wet town, the translation is done by a couple of city-nominated translation houses, which also have a notary at hand. As I recall, it was 50 rmb for the package deal. I made sure that the translation included reference to the M1 motorcycle endorsement; in fact, while the license only reads "M1" the translation read "motorcycle". These people know what they are doing, and it couldn't have been easier.
Hangzhou also has plenty of expats, and I think (hope) they will handle this request with aplomb!
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Re: Why you should get a license ...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marcomagica
... motorbikes are for countryside people!"
Yup, that's me! I definitely prefer riding in the countryside.
Good luck & report back.