Provisional Driving Permit

Q&A for Provisional Driving Permit

Q1：What is a Provisional Driving Permit?

A provisional driving permit refers to the short-term motor vehicle driving permit that allows foreigners who come to China for a short stay to drive motor vehicles within Chinese border. This provisional driving permit shall be issued by the traffic police department of the public security organ.

Q2：How long is the validity period of a provisional driving permit?

Under the condition of duration of stay

Those who stay for less than 3 months（including 3 months）are accessible to the application of a provisional driving permit with three months validity.

For those staying for more than 3 months, the validity period of a provisional driving permit can be extended up to one year.

Q3：What types of vehicles can be driven with a provisional driving permit?

A provisional driving permit is used to drive “motor vehicles temporarily brought into China” or “rented motor vehicles in China”. The specific motor vehicle types to be driven are under the following rules:

Within the scope of foreign driving license

The vehicle must be in the same category as stated in the applicant’s foreign motor vehicle driving license.

Consistent with the type of the vehicle brought into China

For those who drive motor vehicles temporarily brought into China by themselves, the vehicle type stated in the provisional driving permit must be the same with that of their driving motor vehicles.

Q4：How to apply for a provisional driving permit?

Required materials：

Entry and exit identity documents, such as passport, residence permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents, mainland travel permit for Hong Kong and Macao residents, mainland travel permit for Taiwan residents, the People’s Republic of China travel permit, and etc.

Foreign driving license. If your foreign driving license is not in Chinese, you need to translate it into Chinese. You can apply for translation service through translation agencies directly by email; or you can approach to DMV staff for help on applying for translation.

Please bring the above-mentioned materials to DMV to take photo and submit application form. After participating in the Chinese road traffic laws and regulations knowledge education and learning organized by the traffic police department, you will receive the permit on-site.

Q5：The circumstances under which an applicant cannot apply for a provisional driving permit.

Age Conditions

The applicant fails to meet the required age conditions for Chinese driving permit application. For those who temporarily need to rent Chinese motor vehicles and drive within Chinese border, the provisional driving permit Type 3 is only for small-size vehicles and small-size vehicles with auto transmission. Those who apply for small-size vehicles and small-size vehicles with auto transmission must be at least 18 years old.

Hit and Run

Applicants who have record of committing hit and run offense within the territory of China are not accessible to the temporary driving permit.

Drivers Accumulating 12 Points but Fail to Take an Exam

A driver who has accumulated 12 points within a single scoring period is required to undertake a retraining session and take an exam on road traffic safety laws, regulations and other related knowledge. Otherwise, he or she cannot re-apply for a provisional driving permit.

Traffic Violation and Accidents Unresolved

Applicants who have committed road traffic offenses and had unresolved traffic accidents are not accessible to the application.

Invalid Certification and Proofs

Applicants who provide invalid & incomplete & unmatched certification and proofs, or those who have not participated in road traffic safety laws and regulations learning are not accessible to the driving permit.

Q6：What else should be noted when applying for a provisional driving permit?

The provisional driving permit should be carried while driving and be used together with the foreign driving license and its Chinese translation.

Online translation of foreign driving licenses is only for applying for the provisional driving permit. The payment method for online translation is provided by the translation agencies.

When driving a rented motor vehicle in China, please carry the car rental contract with you for traffic police inspection.

Applicants aged 70 (inclusive) and above must take a capacity test in Theory Test Room (the validity period of the capacity test is one year from the first day you take the exam; applicants can take the test for free 5 times). Only after passing the test can applicants apply for a provisional driving permit. (Please register “Traffic Management 12123” app for the detailed addresses of Theory Test Room.)