Settling In 117securing a local driver’s licence. China does not accept any
international licences; you are required to have a PRC-issued
licence to drive a car in China. If you are caught driving a car
without a licence, you may be jailed.
Getting a Driver’s Licence
If you hold a valid licence from your home country, the process
for securing a licence in China is to pass a written test and a
physical examination. The actual driving test is waived in most
cities if you already have a driver’s licence. Many cities now
offer the tests in English. They will provide you a study guide in
advance. The questions are in multiple choices and the test must
be taken in a supervised environment at the city’s designated
government office.
There are services that assist in the process. Any that offer
you a licence without having to take a test are not aboveboard.
China is getting more strict about licensing. A bogus licence from
a small city in central China cannot be converted into a licence in
any of the major cities anymore.
Once you have secured a licence, you can buy or lease a car.
You may lease a car for personal use from the same agencies that
provide cars and drivers. Many opt to have a driver during the
week and then drive themselves on the weekends.Bicycles
One of the best ways to get out and experience China at its
own pace is by bicycle. Still the main form of transportation
used for commuting, delivery and running errands, most
major thoroughfares have bicycle lanes. In most cities,
bicycles need to be registered with the police. A small plate
is issued to signify registration. It is critical when parking a
bicycle that it is in a designated zone and well secured. Police
do regular sweeps to remove illegally parked bikes. Thieves
do regular sweeps to knick poorly secured bikes. Most people
in China have had at least one bicycle stolen.
All major buildings have bicycle parking lots. Many of
them are supervised by attendants. In apartment towers and
office blocks, bicycle parking is usually either in a basement