- In mainland China, you canât drive with an International Driving Permit (IDP), nor with permits obtained in Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan.
- Written exams can be done in English in Xi’an
- Where to obtain your driving license in Xi’an:
Xi’an Traffic Police Department čĨŋåŽå¸äē¤čĻæ¯éčŊĻįŽĄæ
Address: čĨŋåŽå¸æ§čŊĻä礿å¸åēåå200įąŗ(éæåˇĨä¸ååē)
Telīŧ 029-85612831 029-85612800
Xi’an Public Security Bureau Traffic Police Traffic čĨŋåŽå¸å ŦåŽåąäē¤éčĻ坿¯é
AddressīŧčĨŋåŽå¸éåĄåēå¤ĒįŊå莝222åˇ
Telīŧ029-86755000
Necessary documents:
- National driverâs license.
- International Driving Permit.
- Chinese translation of the foreign driverâs license (consult the embassy to know where this can be done).
- Completed application form.
- A hotel booking for at least one day.
- Three one-inch color photos with a white background.

Getting a Chinese driverâs license if you already have one from another country
If you have a residency permit and a driverâs license from another country, you can get a Chinese driverâs license (valid for 6 years) just by passing a written exam. The process and the exam take place in the traffic police department (čŊĻįŽĄæ) in the city you live in and you may need a prior appointment.
The exam consists of answering 100 multiple choice questions, lasts 45 minutes, and you pass by getting more than 90% of answers right. If you donât pass, you can repeat it at that time, and if you donât pass the second time, you have to wait at least 20 days to take it again.
Necessary documents:
- Passport and resident permit with at least three months of validity (original and photocopy).
- Record of temporary residence obtained at the local police station (original and photocopy).
- Driverâs license from the other country (original and photocopy).
- Certified and notarized translation to Chinese of the driverâs license from the other country (In many places, such as Beijing, you only need to provide a translation signed by a Chinese national and bring the copy of his/her ID card).
- Medical certificate (normally you can get this at the same place).
Getting a driverâs license for the first time
If you are over 18 years of age, you have a temporary or permanent residency permit and you donât have a driverâs license from another country, you can still get a driverâs license in China. To do this, youâll have to pass four exams:
- Written exam on laws and traffic regulations and basic concepts on vehicles (100 questions).
- Parking and basic driving skills test on a track.
- Written exam on correct driving habits (50 questions).
- Road test.
Each exam can be taken twice. If you fail, youâll have to pay the fee again and wait at least 20 days.
To get your license, youâll have to sign up for a driving school. There are some driving schools which specialize in foreigners or which accept foreigners. There are even some which allow you to bring along a translator. It normally takes 2 to 3 months and 3,000 to 8,000 Yuan (fees, theory classes and on-road practice) depending on the driving school and the city.
Necessary documents:
- Passport and residency permit with at least 3 months of validity (original and photocopy).
- Record of temporary residency obtained at the local police station (original and photocopy).
- Medical certificate (normally this can be obtained in the same place).
- Three to five one-inch color photos with a white background.
Web pages and apps to study for the written exam:
Chinese Driving Test: Web page with tests to prepare for the exam.
Jiakao Baodian: App to practice for the test in Mandarin.

Getting a temporary driverâs license
For people traveling to China for a short period of time, including tourists, they can get a temporary driverâs permit for a maximum of three months without needing to pass an exam. Normally, you can obtain this at the traffic police department (čŊĻįŽĄæ) in the city you are in. In Beijing and possibly in other large cities, it can be obtained directly in the airport.