The place to ask China-related questions!
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Shenzhen Chengdu Xi'an Hangzhou Qingdao Dalian Suzhou Nanjing More Cities>>

Categories

Close
Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.
X

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

Sign up with Google Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Email Already have an account? .
Posts: 3494

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Q: How was your Chinese drivers licence experience?

On a scale of 1 to10, how would you rate your drivers licence getting experience?  All things factored in.

I finally got mine this morning and the whole thing was such a song and dance.  Full of lies, deceit, inefficiency, incompetency and stupidity.  All in all, a charade.  But I've now got the damn thing.  

See how it goes as I try to drive around according to the road rules combined with the rules of common sense.

I can see some road rage coming my way.

For those of you with a Chinese licence, do you drive local style, or normal?

 

 

 

9 years 15 weeks ago in  Lifestyle - China

 
Answers (7)
Comments (7)
Posts: 1300

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Congrats on getting your license. For me the process was quite simple. Just gathered the necessary documents, went to the registration place, and then took the test. The whole process took a week. The only snafu was the registration place told me to go to the wrong place to get one of the documents, but that place told me how to get to the correct place.

 

The thing I hated about the process, and all government related tasks for that matter, is that I had to take time off work to go because nothing important is ever open on the weekends or after 5. Such is China. 

 

You will find your patience being tested every time you drive. I've had to adapt to the local style of driving (changing lanes suddenly, driving on lane dividers, cutting in the lane) in order to keep some road rage down and get to my destination faster. 

Report Abuse
9 years 15 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2488

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I agree. I really try not to drive local style but some changes had to be made to keep my sanity. I dont get pissed when someone cuts me off as ill just glide into the next lane. Things like that.

But no matter how much time it will save i refuse to drive on the shoulder. Go in the turning lane to go straight and change lanes every 4 seconds because there happens to me an extra meter of free road there.

Getting the licence was easy for me . took half a day but i used an agency and it cost alot more.

Report Abuse
9 years 15 weeks ago
 
Posts: 7178

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Congratulations Mr Royce laugh.

 

Will this new development have an impact on your beer intake level?  Have you really thought this through?  I considered getting a Chinese license, but the actions from the risk assessment were not to my liking wink.

 

royceH:

Hahaha...

Actually a funny thing this morning... Last night we went out to an all you can drink hot pot joint and I had a real good go.  Got a Sth African mate here and he appreciates a drop too.  We didn't eat much but got good value none the less.

Anyway, this morning my wife is disgusted at the beer smell of me as we drive to the police station for my driving test.  Wasn't even daylight.

So, what she did when we got there was explain to the police that even though I smelt like a brewery I was in fact as sober as a judge and in a fit state to drive.  Which I was.

The policemen laughed and the test went ahead as we'd planned.  The only question that came up was "how many bottles can you drink?"

HAHAHA!

As to your question, no, there won't be any drink driving.  We live in a small city and if driving is necessary my little darlin is only too happy to drive.

In fact the only real use I have for the car is to drive out to my work now that the roads are iced over.  As soon as it's possible to ride again I won't be doing any driving.

Might drive down to Urumqi during Spring Festival though.

 

 

9 years 15 weeks ago
Report Abuse

ScotsAlan:

lol. Doing a driving test stinking of booze.

 

I didn't mean drink driving... I mean the worst thing.... not being able to have a beer the night before you are driving .

 

I have no problem with not drinking if I am driving.... my problem is not being able to have a skinful the night before.

9 years 15 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 15 weeks ago
 
Posts: 9631

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Overall: 5

 

 - The doctor check was done by a doc who didn't raise his eyes even once to look at me, he just filled the form as fast as possible.

 - The test facility did a forced session where I had to watch videos of cars crashing and stuff, no translations for this part. All Chinese in the room where looking at their phones. 

 - The people at the test facility were a bit reluctant to admit that it is possible for foreigners to get a license. 

 - I did the test 3,5 years ago, it was WAY more difficult back then, or probably WAY easier for rote learning specialists as back then half the questions were just to memorize the fines for different traffic violations, whereas today about half are judgment questions, so good for people who can think

 - The local test facility, there is only one in Zhuhai, city of 1½ million, is so far out of town that it does take almost a day to get there by bus, take a test and go back.

When I drive, I drive according to the rules and regulations of the Peoples Republic of China, and I sure as h¤/"( don't give up my lane to people who don't use the mirrors and I know exactly how fast the car can stop so I brake VERY late for those who ignore way of right and drive in front of me. Nothing beats the expression of the Mighty Chinese driverman when you come to a screeching stop 10 cm away from his side door as he pulls out from a side road to do a left turn but fails to see you coming. I have been considering if there is a marked for shitcovers for car seats.

royceH:

Aren't they such inconsiderate arseholes!

Strangely I drive much more conservatively than I ride.  If they want to cut in, I let them cut in.  It's not like I expect anything other than total arrogance and incompetence from Chinese drivers.

 

9 years 14 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 14 weeks ago
 
Posts: 4421

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Got mine the same way and no problems. It works, I've been charged with to violations and points were deducted. So it was real, that's the important part. Ticket 1. Touch the zebra strip lines. / Ticket 2. Changed lanes across a whole line——————, not - - - - -。

royceH:

Doesn't that just make you sick?  As if any local driver has EVER stopped for a pedestrian crossing!  Actually I saw someone do that today.  But he's the ONLY ONE EVER!

The bloody coppers are nothing other than a sideshow.

Why can't they start enforcing the fukn road rules!  And other rules too!  

They should sack every copper in China and start again.  Pricks!

 

 

9 years 14 weeks ago
Report Abuse

ironman510:

Under cover is a new trend in Shenzhen. but camera's are the main weapon when it comes to catching violators. I've never seen a cop pull over someone like in the U.S.

9 years 14 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 14 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1153

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

driving in china will bring out road rage i got 11.tickets in china in 2 years all 11 in one month they put up a new camera at an intersection and all the violation were the same i touched yhe solid white line changing lanes right at the tip where they start,7 times if i didnt move over i would have been hit by some dildo driver that cant stay in his own f lane goid luck

royceH:

How do they send you the ticket?  In the mail?  In English?  How do you pay the fine? How much is it?  Is there any redress?

 

9 years 13 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 13 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2531

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I am really thinking about giving in and going for the car and license if I stay for another few years. I am getting tired of residential front gates making it harder for motorcyclist and making them go through the pedestrian gates. 

 

Also, it would be easier when buying groceries and winter... but I am would not look forward to... 

 

- parking 

- getting through busy traffic jams (on a motorcycle I can do this)

- crazy folk looking to throw themselves in front of the laowai's car for compensation

 

But... I am still leaning towards it. 

royceH:

Well I had no interest at all in getting a car but my wife really wanted to and when I finally weakened and said ok she went out and bought one the next day.

So then having a car it made sense my getting a Chinese licence.

And now I find life much simpler, normal, doing things in the car.

The trade off is that my guts will just get fatter and fatter as I become even more lazy than I already was.

So far no dramas...touchwood!

 

9 years 13 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
9 years 13 weeks ago
 
Know the answer ?
Please or register to post answer.

Report Abuse

Security Code: * Enter the text diplayed in the box below
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br> <p> <u>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Textual smileys will be replaced with graphical ones.

More information about formatting options

Forward Question

Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77