Hi all, heres the latest info on getting a Chinese driving license in Shanghai.

In case you are wondering "how do I get the bloody licence in Shanghai" - I have just registered for the test yesterday, heres the story + manual.

Unlike probably most of people here in the forum I dont have a residence permit and Im on an F visa that I have to renew every 6 months in HK. So that was my first concern when going to the register. Another one, my visa is made in Shenzhen, and from what I was told in traffic police office ( I went to the wrong place first ) that Shanghai rules are different and I will probably have to go to Shenzhen to pass my test. Whatever it takes, I was ready for anything as Im planning a cross China bike trip next year.

I finally found the correct office (its in Hami rd, Shanghai zoo metro stop on line 10) and was in for a nice surprise that my visa is OK ( there have to be 90 days of stay left in it on the day you pass the test) and all I need to get it sorted is translate my international licence, bring the registration paper (where you live) and they will put sing me up for a test. I was very happy. So I ran to translation office, 100rmb/5 minutes - done. Than ran to a nearby hostel to get the registration form. Did that but had a doubt as the paper was pink and the one I was showed in the driving office was white. So I get hostel to call the DL office and they confirm, that I have to go to police station to get the white paper. So I do. In the police they start waving their hands in my face saying that I have to have a permanent place of registration, like an apartment, the hotel wont do. So what do I do if I stay in hotel for 6 months?! No one can tell or wants to help and they try to get rid of me so Im someone else's problem. I refused to go until they give me answers what to do. After more than an hour of walking up and down the corridor with hands behind my back, one young officer takes a pity on me and calls his mate in the DL office, who tells him, that the pink registration form is ok. So Im off to DL office across town again. It was close to 4pm when I got there and it was a good thing, as thats the time of the day, when everybody starts to work fast, to shift the remaining people, so they can go home. So I get my picture taken, fly by the medical test and get signed up for a theory test on a second day of Christmass. I have to make sure I to bring a valid registration paper ( as hostel only put 10 days on it and it has to be up to date on the day you go in for a test) and know the answers to the questions. PHEWW!

So: Translated driving licence and registration paper where you stay and a visa that has 90 days remaning is pretty much all you need to be allowed to pass the test, and it costs around 300rmb including the translation.