Does any foreigner here drive in China?
Are you planning to drive your own car here in China? What do you think about the driving here? is it easy, hard or planning to drive or no way in the world you'll ever do that? Let me know your opinion. I am a foreigner and I drive here, I can tell that it's not easy, first is converting your driver's licence to chinese driver's licence then comes the actual driving in the road. Share your experiences here. I guess many of us foreigner would love to know it too.
Tags: china, driving, foreigners, in
Views: 144
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Little one on -
I am a Chinese, i have my driver license, but I do not drive. I have one very good foreign friend who has the Chinese driver license and he drives to work everyday, sometimes gives me a lift. According to what he tells me that it is not so safe to drive in China even you respect always the rules, the problem is other drivers seem not, so he needs to be always careful.
-
Permalink Reply by Rodny Mella on -
Hi Artyom,
These is how I apply my licence here in Shenzhen. If you had a valid drivers licence from your home country with atleast 60 days prior to expiration you can apply at the Xili Drivers Licence Office. You can't drive with international driver's licence here in China as they don't honor it as valid licence.
1st, you have to Notarize your licence in Shenzhen, they had couple of notary offices there, they will translate it into chinese.
2nd, you have to go to the Xili Drivers Licence Office. There you will have an eye exam, after passing, then with your notarize document along with your drivers licence plus photos and passport copy you have to submit it at the 2nd floor office, they will give you schedule of the Chinese Driver's Exam. Normally it's every 15th and 30th of the month.
3rd, the Chinese Driver's Exam, it's literally in Chinese. You'll be given exams in chinese which does not really make sense since most of us do not understand chinese. The way how to deal with this is that every examinee has to bring an English enterpreter with valid English Certification. I suggest you post ad here as there are many Chinese here who can help you with the exam. Mine, I passed on the second try. Mind you that passing grade is 90 out of 100. They are handing book at the exam place for your interpreter to review, you can have a glance also so you'll know about road rules in China.
3rd, after you pass the exam which you'll know the result straight away after you finish the exam, they will take digital photo to place in the drivers licence. Then 15 days after you can pick up the licence at the same office. There are nothing to pay in any of these procedures, however you will have to pay the interpreter and the notary public.
I hope I did answer your question.
Cheers!
Gigs
-
Permalink Reply by darnell on -
i was only there a month and here is NO WAY i wold ever drive in China LOL. People run red lights ALL the time. Merge whenever they feel like. Bikes going the wrong way on a One Way street. It's all too much !!! I miss Shenzhen though.
-
Permalink Reply by Trenchtownbaby on -
hey, i'm not foreigner, but might i can give u some opinions. few of friends have cars in China, and i also show my ex-boss's driver(a foreigner) how to drive in shenzhen and guangzhou. First, get a license is much easier than driving. u just need bring your international license go some agency to pay some money, sometimes need be the place who do test. but don't need drive, just be there and sign your name.then wait. u'll get it. i think much difficult is reading chinese, but if u just drive in same area,and have a good guide, couple times later,u'll be fine. last Oct, my ex-boss bought a car, and his friend be a driver, he just new to China couple days, first time be here, i took them to buy the car, then took them from futian to guangzhou, not easy. but i think roads in shenzhen is not so complex. gz? terrible, anyway, u need practice. BTW, be careful the way ppl driving here, honestly, not all ppl have good driving habit.
-
Permalink Reply by wayneyu1688@hotmail.com on -
i dont have china license but i drive .
-
Permalink Reply by Rodny Mella on
-
It's true I believe in every point that Peter says. I am driving for a year now here and it's really tough. But it seems the only way to cope with this dilemma is to drive how they drive but keeping in mind your safety and others too. It's hard balancing and calculating the cars and pedestrians, might have to experience bumps here and there but soon as it get into your system it'll be a lot easier driving on the roads here. Mind the pedestrian, mind the cars you are with on the road and mind the traffic lights, it cost a lot inside ShenZhen for traffic offenses.
-
Permalink Reply by Jesse on -
I would like to purchase a used car this summer. Primary reason so that I can take road trips throughout Guangdong, and have an easy way to get to the beach in Xichong. Not sure if it's gonna be worth it, but I'm gonna do my research before buying. Thanks to those who posted information on obtaining a drivers license here!
-
Permalink Reply by Jimmy Chen on -
I got my chinese driver license thru "purchase" but it's not worth doing so.
Anyway,
I would not recommend anyone to drive on a regular bases (especially foreigner) as the traffic and the people are just plain crazy here, don't do it!
-
Permalink Reply by David P on -
I am from UK, and used to drive when i worked in Tianjin ... but that was 1997 - 2001.
Although I now spend 2 or 3 months a year travelling in China , i would not even think about driving ...
Since those days all the bikes ( most anyway ) have now been replaced by deadly electric bikes , scooters or cars...
City roads have become much busier , yet the speed around Tianjin has increased , and road discipline much worse ...
I doubt many chinese road users have car insurace ( a bit like the UK now ) ... so i wouldn't risk driving ..
I don't scare easily, having driven in Paris for 3 years .. but ...Good luck all of you who need to drive in China.
© 2013 Created by Asia Stuff Media.
