Getting a license in Harbin

**HarbinSteve** · 06-18-2012, 09:31 AM

I haven't been able to find much info about Harbin here, so I thought I would contribute my experience.

If I was just going to be riding in the city, I wouldn't bother getting a license since they don't really care here. But since I am planning to ride to Xinjiang, I want to get all of the legal stuff as covered as possible, since you never know if the cop at the roadblock is going to smile and let you continue, or use any possible excuse to take your bike.

After doing as much research as I could, (which usually turns out to be useless) I got all of the necessary documents taken care of, pictures taken and translated.

I have a 1 year residence permit, and a valid American (Arizona) drivers license so technically this process should be doable. I'm not holding my breath though.

1.Translated American license-100RMB
2.Translated Passport-100Rmb
3.Took Photos-10RMB
4.Got proof of residence from police station-Free
5.Made several photocopies of each-3RMB

Today I went to the drivers license testing center, which is conveniently located far outside the city, and started the process.

6.Taxi ride-30rmb

After waiting a while, I was able to talk to the man working behind the desk. I had heard from other foreigners who had their licenses transferred that this guy was a dick. They were right. After staring at my license for a long time, he told me it was fake, because a. It was vertical format and the picture on his computer of an AZ license was horizontal, and b. The expiration date was too long and he did not believe it. (it expires in 2054,AZ licenses are valid for a long time)

After that, he told me that the translation of my License and passport did not have my chinese name, and thus I could not get a Chinese license. I had an official document from the police station that had my both my real name and Chinese name, but he said that did not matter and my license and passport must also have it. I asked him if my American license and passport do not have my Chinese name, than how could the translation possibly have it? He told me it didn't matter, they must have a Chinese name.

After that he told me to leave and fix the translation, then ignored me. So I never found out if they have an English test or not. Since its Harbin I assume they don't. He also didn't answer when I asked if there was anything else I need to fix before next time. So he's probably waiting for me to come back so he can find something else wrong and send me away again.

7. Taxi ride home empty handed-40RMB (the license place is in the middle of nowhere and taxi's don't usually go there, so the ones that are there know you have no other option, and take the opportunity gouge anyone who needs a ride)

So far: 283RMB, lots of hours, and no progress.

**euphonius** · 06-18-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by HarbinSteve

...

If I was just going to be riding in the city, I wouldn't bother getting a license since they don't really care here.

Stop right there. They will care very much the minute you are in an accident, and you will care even more if you have no license because the odds are now very good that you will go directly to jail. I'm not making this up.

(snip)

Originally Posted by HarbinSteve

After waiting a while, I was able to talk to the man working behind the desk. I had heard from other foreigners who had their licenses transferred that this guy was a dick. They were right. After staring at my license for a long time, he told me it was fake, because a. It was vertical format and the picture on his computer of an AZ license was horizontal, and b. The expiration date was too long and he did not believe it. (it expires in 2054,AZ licenses are valid for a long time)

To be honest, I wouldn't have believed that either. Wow.

Originally Posted by HarbinSteve

After that, he told me that the translation of my License and passport did not have my chinese name, and thus I could not get a Chinese license. I had an official document from the police station that had my both my real name and Chinese name, but he said that did not matter and my license and passport must also have it. I asked him if my American license and passport do not have my Chinese name, than how could the translation possibly have it? He told me it didn't matter, they must have a Chinese name.

After that he told me to leave and fix the translation, then ignored me. So I never found out if they have an English test or not. Since its Harbin I assume they don't. He also didn't answer when I asked if there was anything else I need to fix before next time. So he's probably waiting for me to come back so he can find something else wrong and send me away again.

Yes, this guy is a dick. An epic dick.

But China's Vehicle Management Bureaus are standardizing nationwide, and I'd take decent odds that they do have the computerized testing system offering multiple languages, including English. Your problem is that you are in China, in a system designed for Chinese, but not Chinese yourself. Why isn't your passport in Chinese? It's no excuse that you are American. Your challenge, then, as everywhere in China, is to to muster up official documentation that links your American name and passport number to your Chinese name, assuming you have one. Once you have a document that shows a Chinese name that is clearly and officially associated with your American name and passport number, you'll be able to proceed.

I'd suggest you go back to your police station, where you register your residential address, and be friendly, and offer cigarets and tell some funny stories, and make them laugh, then ask them for a Temporary Residence Registration form that includes both your American name and passport and residence permit details, along with your Chinese name. There's a space on the form for this; all they have to do is key it in. Then they print it out, put a little red police chop on it, and you are good to go. Then go back to the translation place, ask for a new translation of your driver's license, and make sure that you show the police document and insist that the translation "translates" your American name as whatever your Chinese name is. Then of course a nice red chop on that. So you'll have two documents that show that Steve Roundeye is precisely the same person as 张圆眼 or whatever your Chinese name is.

Then go find Epic Dick and bring him some ciggies and tell some jokes about how fun it was going to all the trouble, then get on with your license.

Harbin does not sound like the most enlightened locale in China.

Originally Posted by HarbinSteve

So far: 283RMB, lots of hours, and no progress.

Actually, that's not bad at all. You could be in Shanghai, where a license is similarly cheap, but a license plate costs north of 70k rmb.

Hang tough!

**HarbinSteve** · 06-18-2012, 02:55 PM

I made sure to include my Chinese name 王肥 on my residence registration at the police station, because I knew I would need it, but I didn't expect to need it on my license translation. Its interesting how an official document signed and stamped from the police is not enough proof for them. But then again, I am in China. Next time I'll go to a notary and get them to sign a paper that has both my English and Chinese names. Then I'll get the translation place to add it to my passport and license, and then I'll go back to my friend at the DMV with four different things including both my Chinese name, some cigarettes and jokes, and see what the next problem he can find to send me away for is.

I have a feeling he might still tell me my license is fake, in which case I'll be screwed, because its real, and I can't to anything to change the expiration date. If after one or two times he still doesn't let me through, I'll have to go to a different city to get the license (if thats even possible) or just give up.

Actually, that's not bad at all. You could be in Shanghai, where a license is similarly cheap, but a license plate costs north of 70k rmb.

The plate is a whole different pain in the butt in Harbin. They don't give plates anymore here, since bikes are technically banned. I've talked to a lot of people and they all say there is no chance. They all have fake plates or bikes that were registered before the ban. If I can't make a sketchy deal with a cop to help me get a real plate, I'll have to try to get it registered in the name of a friend from a different city.

I think it will boil down to cigs, jokes, and lots perseverance and luck to get any of this done.

**bigdamo** · 06-18-2012, 03:23 PM

sounds like" welcome to my world" here's my experience http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...se-in-XinjiangShanghi and Beijing are far different to NW/north China they all live in a sheltered workshop.

Trust me this guy is a dick but a dick with power,power to say yes or no to you getting a license.

A packet of smokes and some jokes aren't even come close to this guy giving you a license.

**zhu** · 06-19-2012, 12:44 AM

If you don't have a license from your home country you just have to do the practical part of the test as well as the written test

**euphonius** · 06-19-2012, 02:16 AM

Originally Posted by zhu

If you don't have a license from your home country you just have to do the practical part of the test as well as the written test

Zhu makes a good point. If they don't accept your Arizona license, you do still have the option of saying, OK, let's start a Chinese license from scratch. You'll have to schedule a practical test with all the other newbie drivers/riders. It's just time and hassle and a bit of expense.

cheers