If you are still wondering whether you can use your international driving license to rent a car in China, the answer is “No”. China did not join the International Driving Permit (IDP) Convention, which means you’ll need a Chinese driving license to drive a car in the country.

That creates trouble for tourists and foreigners working in the country. You can’t get the the freedom of mobility with the public transport system in Chinese cities, let alone rural areas. China does have a massive and efficient high-speed railway network that provides you with great convenience for inter-city travels, but traveling by bus or taxi can be a headache.

Though the process to get a Chinese driving license sounds simple, it’s not so straightforward. The good news is that you are not required to start the whole process all over again, but only required to take a practical test to convert the driving license from your home country to the Chinese version.

Here are the things that you’ll need to take note of:

1. Prepare the following documents and make sure they are translated into Chinese:

• The driving license from your home country (temporary or provisional license is not valid);
• Your passport and visa document; and
• Your ID photos.

2. File an application at the Vehicle Management Station administered by the Traffic Police Department. 

It’s rather easy to apply at major Chinese cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai. In other cities, the Vehicle Management Station may not process driving licenses from certain countries. (I was told by a third-party application center in Guangzhou that they don’t process Singapore driving license.)

3. You’ll be required to do a health check-up and submit the application form together with the aforementioned documents.

You’ll then need to book a theoretical test, which is mainly about basic traffic rules and knowledge about driving a car. Certain questions are about the Chinese traffic rules, such as local signs that may not exist in your home country. So you are advised to get some preparation.

4. Once you pass the test, you’ll get your Chinese driving license valid for 6 years on the same day or the next day of the test.

The process may take only a couple of days depending on how soon you can take the test. It sounds simple and the application cost is less than RMB100 (US$15.45). But don’t think it is easy as filing the application could take you more than a day, thanks to the red tape and the huge crowd that’s usually left waiting at document-processing government offices.

Expedite the process

Do a Baidu search (it works better than Google for searches related to China) and find an agency to help you file the application. You will pay a bit more than what you are charged at the Vehicle Management Station, but it will save you quite some time and more importantly, give you peace of mind. You can wait for news at your hotel or your residence in China and avoid the frustration of waiting in line for a whole day with people bossing you around.

In some cities, you can find the shortcut by getting a “designated person” to file the application for you. Look out for guys holding the sign “代办” (pronounced “Dai Ban”, which means “do things on your behalf”). These Dai Ban guys usually tout their service outside the Vehicle Management Station or on the road leading up to the station.

For tips on organizing your trip through China, I recommend you read this post: Overlanding through China.