Driver's license in China

The Driving License of the People's Republic of China (simplified Chinese: 中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证; traditional Chinese: 中華人民共和國機動車駕駛證; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Jīdòngchē Jiàshǐzhèng) is the legal driving license within China, excluding the two special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau). In these two territories, separate driving licenses must be obtained from their respective traffic authorities. It is issued, ratified, and regularly inspected by the traffic administrative department of the public security organ.[1] Minimum age varies from 18 (for cars) all the way up to 26 (for large buses) in the country.

For Driver license in Republic of China, see Driver license in Taiwan. For Driver license in Hong Kong, see Driving licence in Hong Kong.
中华人民共和国机动车驾驶证
Driving License of the People's Republic of China
Government-issued cover
Main page
photo to be attached in the white area
laminated in plastic envelope to be official
TypeDriving license
Issued by People's Republic of China prefecturalpublic security bureau traffic police detachment
Valid in People's Republic of China
EligibilityAt least 18 years old
Expiration6 years, 10 years, or life-time
Cost10 CNY

Learner's licenses, although granted, have little effect, as most training takes place within the confines of specially-designed training areas inaccessible, on paper, to the general motoring public. Previously, expressways were inaccessible even for holders of a normal driver's license if they did not possess the license for a full year. However, such a regulation has now been invalidated. Drivers with licenses less than a year old, however, are still considered "intern drivers" or "new drivers" (Chinese: 实习司机; pinyin: shíxí siji), and certain limitations apply to them (examples: displaying a uniform label on the car when they are driving or having a person who has at least three years driving experience sit in the front passenger seat while driving on highways). The PRC considers the driving license, under a new law, an administrative license (Chinese: 行政许可; pinyin: xíngzhèng xǔkě).

Some areas do not issue motorcycle licenses or three-wheeler licenses any more. This promotes driving without a license, fake licenses, or illegally-purchased licenses.

History

The first driver's license in the PRC was issued in 1949 to Mr. Guo from Shandong.

During the Maoist era, due to a person not being allowed to own a private car, obtaining a license was hard. Usually used only for work, a person had to be politically-checked before obtaining a license and the processing would last 2 to 3 years.

After China's economic reforms began, owning a private car was gradually allowed and the appearance of driver training schools in China began in the 1990s, and since then, the number of applicants for a license had steadily increased.

A driver's license of China (Type C1D) issued from Beijing; the holder's hukou was in Guangdong

On April 10, 2019, the Ministry of Public Security announced that applications for light motor vehicles (Type C1, C2, and C5) are no longer required to provide proof of residence in the issuing region if their hukou is not in the region. Before that, anyone whose hukou is not in the issuing region must have a "temporary living permit"（暂住证 or 居住证) of the region or other similar proof in order to take a test and get a license (of any Type).[2] In October 2020, the Ministry of Public Security said that obtaining a motorcycle driver's license (Type D, E, and F) will not require a hukou starting on 20 November 2020.[3] Some regions within China don't issue motorcycle licenses, effectively banning motorcycle driving.

Types of license
Examples of Types of P.R.China Driving License
TypeNameChineseAge of applicationOther categories includedIntl. Eqs.
A1
Heavy passenger vehicles (20 passengers or more)大型客车
26-50
A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, M
D
A2
Semi-trailer trucks or vehicles with a tralier with a total mass heavier than (but not equal to) 4500kg重型牵引车
24-50
B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, C6, M
E
A3
City buses (10 passengers or more)城市公交车
20-50
C1, C2, C3, C4
D
B1
Middle passenger vehicles (10-19 passengers)中型客车
21-50
C1, C2, C3, C4, M
D1
B2
Heavy goods vehicles大型货车
20-50
C1, C2, C3, C4, M
C
C1
Light motor vehicles, campers (9 passengers or less)小型汽车
18+
C2, C3, C4B
C2
Automatic transmission light motor vehicles小型自动档汽车
18+
C3
Low-speed goods vehicles低速载货汽车
18-60
C4
C4
Three-wheel motor vehicles三轮汽车
18-60
B1
C5
Small passenger cars with automatic transmission for people with disabilities残疾人专用小型自动挡载客汽车
18-70
N/A
C6
 Vehicles with a trailer with a total mass less than (but not equal to) 4500kg 轻型牵引挂车
20-60
BE
D
Ordinary three-wheel motorcycles (over 50cc / 50 km/h)普通三轮摩托车
18-60
E, F
B1
E
Ordinary two-wheel motorcycles (over 50cc / 50 km/h)普通二轮摩托车
18-60
F
A
F
Light motorcycles (50cc / 50 km/h or less)轻便摩托车
18-70
A1
M
Wheel type automobiles轮式自行机械车
18-60
N/A
N
Trolleybuses无轨电车
20-50
P
Trams有轨电车
20-50

References
  1. Law of the People’s Republic of China on Road Traffic Safety-中华人民共和国道路交通安全法-www.lawinfochina.com
  2. "6月1日起小车驾驶证"全国通考"". Xinhua (in Simplified Chinese). People's Daily. 2019-04-11. Archived from the original on 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  3. "公安部：摩托车驾驶证可"全国通考" 转籍异地通办 MPS: Application of motorcycle license will begin "nationwide examination"" (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
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