Traffic rulesChina

Motor-vehicle driving licences are issued by the vehicle administration office of the traffic-management department of the public security authority.

The Ministry of Public Security establishes the national licensing, examination and driver-management rules.

The principal legal requirements and examination standards are national. Appointment systems, fees, test centres and service procedures can vary by province and city.

No. Hong Kong and Macao have separate licensing systems. This FAQ concerns licences issued under the mainland Chinese system.

Yes. A valid licence is recognised nationwide, subject to its authorised vehicle categories and current status.

It is commonly called a Vehicle Management Office or VMO. It accepts applications, manages examinations and handles issue, renewal, replacement and driver records.

交管12123 is the official traffic-management app used for services such as test appointments, electronic licences, records, education and selected licence transactions.

Yes. Eligible drivers may apply for an official electronic licence through the national traffic-management platform.

Yes. The official electronic licence and the physical licence have equal legal effect within the applicable system.

The national system maintains one integrated driver record. Additional authorised categories are added to the same driving qualification.

The minimum age for a small-car C1 or small automatic-car C2 licence is 18.

There is no general upper age limit, but applicants aged 70 or older must pass the prescribed memory, judgement and reaction assessment.

An applicant must be at least 18 and under 70.

An applicant must be at least 20 and under 70.

The normal age range is 18 to under 63.

The normal age range for city buses, medium buses and large trucks is 20 to under 63.

The normal age range for large buses and heavy tractor-trailers is 22 to under 63.

Eligible full-time driving-vocation students may apply from age 19 under the special national rule.

It is submitted to the competent vehicle administration office based on domicile or residence and the applicant’s status.

Applicants must provide the identity document recognised for their status, photographs and any locally required residence or registration information.

Yes. A foreign national who meets the residence or stay, identity, medical, age and examination requirements may apply.

Yes. Specified illnesses, drug-use history, serious traffic crimes, recent revocation or cancellation and examination fraud can create temporary or permanent disqualification.

Yes. Applicants must satisfy the physical conditions for the requested vehicle category and provide the required health information or medical certificate.

Yes. The minimum visual-acuity standard depends on the category and may be met with corrective lenses.

A person meeting the enhanced acuity and horizontal-field requirements in the better eye may apply for specified small-vehicle categories.

Applicants must not have red-green colour blindness.

Yes. The applicant must meet the prescribed hearing standard, although certain hearing-impaired applicants may qualify for C1 or C2 while using hearing assistance.

Yes. The regulations define hand, arm, leg, trunk and neck requirements for different categories.

Yes. Category C5 covers specified small automatic passenger cars adapted for eligible drivers with disabilities.

Applicants aged 70 or older must pass an assessment of memory, judgement and reaction ability.

Yes. A driver who no longer meets the conditions for the held category must request a downgrade or cancellation and must not drive when medically unfit.

Specified conditions that obstruct safe driving, including certain serious cardiac, neurological, psychiatric and dependency-related conditions, can prevent licensing.

Yes. The applicant must pass Subject 1 before the vehicle administration office issues the learning-driving certificate.

It is the official paper or electronic authorisation showing that the applicant may undertake the remaining training and examinations.

It is valid for three years, but it cannot extend beyond an applicable maximum age for the requested category.

Previously passed examination results expire and the applicant must restart the required process.

Yes. Most applicants train through an authorised driver-training institution using an instructor and approved training vehicle.

Self-study direct testing is available only where the authorised local programme and national conditions are satisfied.

No. Public-road learning must take place under an authorised instructor or registered supervising person.

The applicant must use an approved training vehicle or a registered self-study vehicle displaying the prescribed learning identification.

A self-study vehicle may not carry anyone other than the registered supervising person while it is being used for road learning.

It must follow the routes and times designated by the public security traffic-management authority.

The applicant may normally book it after holding the learning certificate for at least 10 days.

For C2 and C5 it is normally after 20 days; for C1 it is normally after 30 days from issue of the learning certificate.

Subject 1 is the computer-based examination on road-traffic safety laws, regulations and related knowledge.

It covers traffic rules, signals, violations, collisions, driving-licence rules, vehicle registration and other road-safety law.

The ordinary car examination normally contains 100 questions.

The maximum score is 100.

A score of at least 90 is required.

The standard computer examination is generally completed within 45 minutes under the current test procedure.

Foreign-language test options may be available locally. Applicants should confirm the languages and interpretation arrangements with the vehicle administration office.

The applicant may take one immediate retest. If that is also failed, a new examination appointment is required.

No. The five-appointment limit applies to Subject 2 and the road-driving part of Subject 3.

The vehicle administration office issues the learning-driving certificate, allowing the applicant to continue practical training and testing.

Subject 2 is the closed-course examination of vehicle control and manoeuvring skills.

The national C1 items include reversing into a parking space, hill stopping and starting, side parking, curved driving and a right-angle turn.

The national C2 items include reversing into a parking space, side parking, curved driving and a right-angle turn.

Yes. Provincial traffic-management authorities may add items where permitted by the national rules.

The maximum score is 100.

A score of at least 80 is required for these categories.

A score of at least 90 is required for the listed large-vehicle and light-trailer categories.

Yes. One immediate retest is allowed during the appointment.

Subject 2 must normally be booked again after at least 10 days.

No more than five appointments are allowed within the learning-certificate period. Failure on the fifth appointment invalidates the previously passed subject results.

It includes the road-driving skills test and a separate safe and civilised driving knowledge examination.

It includes preparation, starting, straight driving, gear and speed control, lane changes, stopping, intersections, turns, crossings, meeting, overtaking, U-turns and night-driving skills.

The national minimum road-test distance for C1, C2 and specified related categories is three kilometres.

Where an actual night test is not conducted, a simulated night-lighting examination is required.

A score of at least 90 out of 100 is required.

It is the final theory component covering defensive behaviour, difficult conditions, emergencies, secondary-collision prevention and first aid.

It normally contains 50 questions.

At least 90 out of 100 is required.

Where arrangements allow, it may be taken after Subject 2 and the road-driving test have been passed.

No. The road-driving result remains valid while the applicant repeats the final knowledge examination.

The road-driving component of Subject 3 is limited to five appointments within the learning-certificate period.

The applicant completes at least 30 minutes of safety and collision-case education, takes the licensing oath and normally receives the licence that day.

The first 12 months after initially obtaining an automobile category or motorcycle category are the novice period.

Yes. A standard novice sign must be displayed or hung at the rear of the vehicle.

Yes, except where a particular vehicle, road or activity restriction requires supervision or prohibits the driving.

Yes, but the novice must be accompanied by a driver who has held the corresponding or an inclusive category for at least three years.

No. A driver in the novice period may not tow a trailer.

No. These vehicles are prohibited during the novice period.

No. On-duty police, fire, ambulance and engineering-rescue vehicles are prohibited.

The novice may not drive vehicles carrying explosives, flammable or explosive chemicals, highly toxic substances or radioactive materials.

The newly obtained category is cancelled and must be obtained again through the required licensing process.

No. A new novice period applies when the driver first obtains an automobile category or first obtains a motorcycle category, not for every later upgrade within the same family.

C1 authorises small and mini passenger cars, light and mini goods vehicles and specified small special-purpose vehicles with a manual or automatic transmission.

C2 authorises the corresponding small and mini automatic-transmission vehicles.

C5 authorises specified adapted small and mini automatic passenger vehicles for eligible drivers with disabilities.

C6 authorises a light towing combination with a total combination mass of less than 4,500 kg.

No. It is obtained as an additional category after holding an eligible C1 or C2 licence for the required period.

B2 is the large-goods-vehicle category.

B1 is the medium-passenger-vehicle category.

A3 is the city-bus category.

A2 is the heavy tractor-trailer category and also includes the light-trailer entitlement.

A1 is the large-passenger-bus category.

D covers ordinary three-wheel motorcycles, E covers ordinary two-wheel motorcycles and F covers mopeds.

No. The appropriate motorcycle category must be shown on the licence.

Driving licences are issued for six years, ten years or long-term validity.

At renewal, a ten-year licence is issued if the driver did not reach 12 points in any scoring cycle during the six-year period.

At the next renewal, long-term validity is granted if the driver did not reach 12 points in any cycle during the ten-year period.

A driver may apply during the 90 days before expiry.

Yes. The renewal application normally includes identity confirmation and the required medical fitness certificate.

Yes. National rules permit qualifying renewal and replacement services through another vehicle administration office.

The driver must apply for an updated licence within 30 days.

A replacement must be requested within 30 days.

The driver may apply for a replacement. Once the new licence is issued, the lost original becomes invalid.

No. A driver may not use the replacement procedure to bypass a licence that has been seized, detained or temporarily suspended.

No. A foreign licence alone does not ordinarily authorise driving in mainland China.

The person applies at the local vehicle administration office, submits the required identity, residence, medical, foreign-licence and translation documents and passes the required examination.

Subject 1 on Chinese road-traffic law is normally required.

Applicants seeking specified large-bus, tractor, medium-bus or large-truck categories must complete the additional subjects required by the national rules.

Yes. An accepted Chinese translation must normally accompany the foreign licence.

The required examinations must normally be completed within three years after the application is accepted.

It is a temporary mainland authorisation linked to a valid foreign licence for eligible short-term visitors or qualifying temporary vehicle use.

For a short stay it is commonly valid for up to three months. For a longer authorised stay, it may be issued for the stay period but no longer than one year.

Yes. The permit should be used together with the valid foreign licence and its Chinese translation where required.

No. It only covers the corresponding categories approved on the Chinese temporary permit and is subject to Chinese age and vehicle rules.

Traffic offences can carry 1, 3, 6, 9 or 12 points in addition to the applicable administrative penalty.

A cycle lasts 12 months, calculated continuously from the original licence or temporary-permit date.

The full threshold is 12 points.

Points below 12 are cleared at the end of the cycle if the related fines have been paid. Unpaid matters can carry forward.

The licence is detained or stopped from use and the driver must complete the prescribed education and examination.

Eligible drivers may use the authorised traffic-safety education programme to reduce up to six points in a cycle, subject to exclusions.

No. Payment is necessary for normal end-of-cycle clearance but does not itself erase valid points immediately.

Driving after drinking begins at a blood-alcohol concentration of 20 mg per 100 ml and below 80 mg per 100 ml.

A blood-alcohol concentration of 80 mg per 100 ml or more is treated as intoxicated driving.

The licence is suspended for six months, a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan applies and 12 points are recorded.

The licence is revoked, criminal responsibility applies and the person cannot obtain another licence for five years for an ordinary motor vehicle.

Yes. When drink- or intoxicated-driving causes a major traffic collision constituting a crime, the licence can be revoked with a lifetime prohibition on relicensing.

This FAQ was prepared from the current Ministry of Public Security driver-licensing rules, the national points regulation, official public-security service guidance and government information for foreign drivers.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the Ministry of Public Security, a traffic-management authority, vehicle administration office, test centre or driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent local authority always take precedence.