Temporary driving permit in China

Hi there,

I read on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that it’s possible to apply for a temporary driving permit in China, valid for 1 month. I’m planning to rent a car (without a driver) to explore part of the country next August, so I was wondering:

Has anyone here already gone through this process upon arrival? How long do the formalities take on the spot? Is it possible to handle these steps in advance, before arriving in China?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

I’d recommend getting an international driving permit (the French site can take up to a year to issue it). If you’re using a travel agency, ask them—their answer might be accurate (or not). A major city like Beijing or Shanghai that’s more foreigner-friendly should be able to help. Take what the French government says with a grain of salt.

On the other hand, the Beijing embassy mentions it here: https://cn.ambafrance.org/Permis-de-conduire

What documents are required? The necessary documents may vary depending on your province of residence. Below is a non-exhaustive list: 1) A fully completed Chinese application form, 2) Your original French driving license and a copy, 3) A Chinese translation of your French driving license, 4) Your passport and a copy, 5) Your valid Chinese residence permit and a copy, 6) Your neighborhood police station registration certificate and a copy, 7) A medical certificate of fitness to drive issued by a local hospital, 8) 3 passport-sized photos with a white background.

Hello,

Thanks for your feedback. An international driver’s permit isn’t recognized in China. In my request, I was talking about a "temporary" driver’s license. The process you mentioned is for people moving or settling in China for a long period.

Best regards,

Hi,

Have you managed to get this temporary permit? I’m asking the same question—I’ll need to drive in Sichuan, China.

Hello,

Yes, I managed to get my temporary driving license. But in the end, I couldn’t use it. It was too complicated for several reasons: - It’s really hard to find a car to rent. Rental companies won’t rent to someone with a temporary license. - The traffic rules are unfamiliar to us. To clarify, depending on the vehicle’s license plate, there are circulation restrictions. For example, it’s not possible—or only under certain conditions—to drive in Beijing if the car doesn’t have a Beijing plate.

Given the difficulties on the ground, I switched to trains, which work really well and are affordable.

If you still want to get a temporary driving license, here are a few tips: - Complete the process upon arrival at the airport at the Vehicle Management Station, located on the 1st floor of Beijing Capital Airport. There’s an equivalent in Shanghai. - Have your French driving license translated in the same region where you plan to apply for your temporary license. I had my license translated before traveling to China, but it was rejected because the translation was done in Sichuan while I applied for the license at Beijing Airport. - Bring ID photos with you to avoid having to take them on-site.

Happy to help if you have any other questions.

Thanks so much, Jeff, for this info!

I’ll see what I can do since there’s no train option where I’m planning to go in Sichuan. I’ll probably apply in Chengdu.

Hello.

Apparently, there are agencies that offer rentals with or without a guide and handle all the administrative stuff. However, the deposit is super expensive. I guess you’ve tried several agencies? Best regards.