Driving in China - From Wikitravel

Driving in China - From Wikitravel
Jun 18, 2006 10:15
RUNNERMORE Points: Join Date: Apr 20, 2006 Status: offline	Driving in China From Wikitravel Most visitors find they have enough trouble surviving Chinese traffic without actually taking the wheel. It is generally best to just rent a car with a driver, or to employ a driver if you buy a car. At Chinese wages, the cost of the driver is quite low. However, for the intrepid traveller who wants to drive himself or herself ... Licences You cannot drive with an International Driver's Permit in mainland China; China has not signed the convention which created IDPs. You need a Chinese license to drive in China. PRC laws say that foreign residents can have driver's licences and that an IDP can be converted to a local licence, possibly with an additional examination. Actually getting a license may be complicated. The particular complications seem to vary from place to place and over time. Some people have been asked to take a written test in Chinese. Others get a bilingual test form, or are allowed to bring a translator. Sometimes you can be excused the actual driving test if you have a foreign license, sometimes not. Some foreigners report that Chinese friends suggested a small gift to the local officials and it helped greatly; others have been told by their Chinese friends that such a move would be foolish and dangerous. Note, however, that at least in some cities electric scooters are legally treated as bicycles. You do need to register the vehicle, but only with a bicycle license which is cheaper and easier than a motorcycle license. You do not need a driver's license to ride it. There may be restrictions in where you can ride it, e.g. not in the main traffic lanes.

Jun 18, 2006 10:15

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Driving in China
From Wikitravel

Most visitors find they have enough trouble surviving Chinese traffic without actually taking the wheel. It is generally best to just rent a car with a driver, or to employ a driver if you buy a car. At Chinese wages, the cost of the driver is quite low.

However, for the intrepid traveller who wants to drive himself or herself ...

Licences
You cannot drive with an International Driver's Permit in mainland China; China has not signed the convention which created IDPs. You need a Chinese license to drive in China.

PRC laws say that foreign residents can have driver's licences and that an IDP can be converted to a local licence, possibly with an additional examination. Actually getting a license may be complicated. The particular complications seem to vary from place to place and over time. Some people have been asked to take a written test in Chinese. Others get a bilingual test form, or are allowed to bring a translator. Sometimes you can be excused the actual driving test if you have a foreign license, sometimes not. Some foreigners report that Chinese friends suggested a small gift to the local officials and it helped greatly; others have been told by their Chinese friends that such a move would be foolish and dangerous.

Note, however, that at least in some cities electric scooters are legally treated as bicycles. You do need to register the vehicle, but only with a bicycle license which is cheaper and easier than a motorcycle license. You do not need a driver's license to ride it. There may be restrictions in where you can ride it, e.g. not in the main traffic lanes.

Jun 18, 2006 10:19	#1
RUNNERMORE Points: Join Date: Apr 20, 2006 Status: Offline	For more info, here's the link: http://wikitravel.org/en/Driving_in_China Contents 1 Licences 2 Laws 3 Speed Limits 4 Road Conditions 4.1 City Roads 4.2 China National Highways 4.3 Expressways 5 Dangers 5.1 Right of way 5.2 Indication lights 5.3 Overtaking on the right 5.4 Lights on! 5.5 Newbies 6 Motorcycles Hope it's helpful:-)

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