涵涵君的小站中文
外国人在中国开车，不能只凭境外驾驶证或国际驾照直接上路。短期入境的外国人可以向公安机关交通管理部门申领临时机动车驾驶许可，长期居留的外国人可以按规定换领中国机动车驾驶证，两条路径的适用对象、材料和考试要求都不一样。
- 国际驾照是否有效：中国不承认国际驾驶执照（International Driving Permit）作为在中国境内驾驶机动车的凭证。按公安交管部门的口径，可用于申请中国驾驶证的「境外机动车驾驶证」，是指外国、中国香港、澳门、台湾地区核发的具有单独驾驶资格的正式机动车驾驶证，不包括学习驾驶证、临时驾驶证、实习驾驶证。
- 短期入境怎么办：依据《临时入境机动车和驾驶人管理规定》（公安部令第90号），临时进入中国境内不超过3个月、属于参加有组织的旅游或比赛等交往活动、在边境地区一定范围内行驶，或者需要驾驶租赁的中国机动车的外国人，可以向入境地或者始发地所在的直辖市、设区的市公安机关交通管理部门申领临时机动车驾驶许可。
- 临时许可的有效期：有效期截止日期与本人入出境身份证件上签注的准许入境期限截止日期一致，最长不超过3个月，且不得延期。准驾车型应当符合所持境外机动车驾驶证的准驾车型；驾驶租赁的中国机动车时，准驾车型限于小型汽车和小型自动挡汽车。
- 换领中国驾驶证的流程：符合《机动车驾驶证申领和使用规定》（公安部令第172号）的申请条件，并且取得该驾驶证时在核发国家或者地区一年内累计居留九十日以上的，可以申请对应准驾车型的中国机动车驾驶证。一般需参加科目一（道路交通安全法律法规和相关知识）考试；申请大型客车、重型牵引挂车、城市公交车、中型客车、大型货车准驾车型的，还应当参加科目二和科目三考试。
- 需要准备的材料：换领中国驾驶证需提交身份证明（外国人为有效护照或者其他国际旅行证件、停居留期三个月以上的有效签证或者停留、居留许可，以及公安机关出具的住宿登记证明）、身体条件证明、境外机动车驾驶证原件及其中文翻译文本（非中文表述的）、近期免冠证件照等。申领临时机动车驾驶许可的，还需提交入出境身份证件、境外驾驶证及中文翻译文本、年龄和身体条件符合中国驾驶许可条件的证明文件，以及2张1寸彩色照片（近期半身免冠正面白底）。
- 可能免试的情形：持比利时核发的机动车驾驶证，或者阿拉伯联合酋长国公民持本国核发的驾驶证申请小型汽车、小型自动挡汽车准驾车型的，免于考试，直接核发中国驾驶证；在法国连续或者累计居住满一年并在居住期间取得相应准驾车型驾驶证的，以及在中国境内居留超过一年并持塞尔维亚相应准驾车型驾驶证的，符合条件可以免试换领相应准驾车型。
- 时限与费用参考：公安机关交通管理部门自收到申请材料之日起3日内完成审查，符合条件的组织道路交通安全法律法规学习后核发临时机动车驾驶许可。换领中国驾驶证涉及驾驶证工本费与考试费，各地收费标准以当地车辆管理所公布为准。
如果打算在中国租车自驾，要注意租车公司通常要求驾驶人持有中国机动车驾驶证或者有效的临时机动车驾驶许可，仅出示境外驾驶证和国际驾照一般不能取车。出行前建议先向拟入境地公安机关交通管理部门或租车公司确认证件要求。
以上为办事规则的要点整理，具体条件、材料、收费和办理地点以公安机关交通管理部门及当地车辆管理所公布的最新规定为准。
以上为一般性说明，具体要求与最新规定以官方发布为准。
English
Can Foreigners Drive in China? International Permits and Licence Conversion
Foreigners cannot simply drive in China on a foreign licence or an International Driving Permit. Short-term visitors may apply to the traffic management department of a public security organ for a temporary driving permit, while longer-term residents can convert a foreign licence into a Chinese driving licence. The two routes differ in who qualifies, which documents are needed and whether a test is required.
- Is an International Driving Permit valid? China does not recognise an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a document authorising you to drive in China. Under the traffic authorities' definition, a foreign driving licence that can be used to apply for a Chinese licence means a full, formal licence with independent driving rights issued by a foreign country, or by Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan, China. Learner's licences, temporary licences and probationary licences are excluded.
- Short-term visitors: Under the Provisions on the Administration of Temporarily Entered Motor Vehicles and Drivers (Order No. 90 of the Ministry of Public Security), foreign nationals who enter China for no more than three months and who are taking part in organised tourism, competitions or other exchange activities, driving within a limited area near the border, or needing to drive a rented Chinese vehicle, may apply for a temporary motor vehicle driving permit from the traffic management department of a public security organ at the level of a municipality directly under the central government or a city divided into districts, in the place of entry or the place of departure.
- Validity of the temporary permit: its expiry date matches the expiry of the permitted stay endorsed on your entry and exit document, and the maximum validity is three months. It cannot be extended. The permitted vehicle category must match your foreign driving licence; when driving a rented Chinese vehicle, the permit is limited to small cars and small automatic-transmission cars.
- Converting to a Chinese licence: if you meet the application conditions in the Provisions on the Application for and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licences (Order No. 172 of the Ministry of Public Security) and you accumulated at least 90 days of residence in the issuing country or region within one year when you obtained the licence, you may apply for a Chinese driving licence in the corresponding category. In general you must pass the Subject 1 test on road traffic laws and knowledge. For large buses, heavy towing trailers, city buses, medium buses and large trucks, you must also pass Subjects 2 and 3.
- Documents to prepare: for conversion you need identity documents (for foreigners, a valid passport or other international travel document, a valid visa or stay or residence permit allowing a stay of more than three months, and the accommodation registration certificate issued by a public security organ), a medical fitness certificate, the original foreign driving licence and a Chinese translation if it is not in Chinese, and recent passport-style photographs. For a temporary driving permit you also need your entry and exit document, the foreign licence with a Chinese translation, proof that you meet China's age and medical requirements, and two 1-inch colour photographs (recent, bareheaded, front-facing, white background).
- When a test may be waived: holders of a driving licence issued by Belgium, and citizens of the United Arab Emirates holding a licence issued by that country, are exempt from testing and are issued a Chinese licence directly for small cars and small automatic-transmission cars. Those who have lived in France continuously or cumulatively for at least one year and obtained the corresponding licence there, and those who have resided in China for more than one year holding a corresponding Serbian licence, may convert without a test if they meet the conditions.
- Timing and cost reference: the traffic management department reviews applications within three days of receiving them, and, for those who qualify, organises a study session on road traffic laws before issuing the temporary driving permit. Converting to a Chinese licence involves a licence production fee and test fees; the exact charges are set by the local vehicle management office.
If you plan to rent a car in China, note that rental companies normally require the driver to hold a Chinese driving licence or a valid temporary driving permit. A foreign licence or an International Driving Permit alone is generally not enough to collect a car. Before travelling, confirm the document requirements with the local traffic management department or the rental company.
The above is a summary of the administrative rules. For the exact conditions, documents, fees and application locations, refer to the latest rules published by the traffic management department and the local vehicle management office.
The above is general guidance only. For specific requirements and the latest rules, please refer to official announcements.
