First Time Application for Driving License

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What are the requirements for applying for a motor vehicle driving license for the first time, and how to apply? You can find everything you need to know here.

4-Step Registration

What to Prepare in Advance

►The applicant's identity document (residents from other mainland provinces and cities who are applying for a driving license for a Small Vehicle do not need to submit their proof of residence; residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan who are applying for a driving license for a Small Vehicle do not need to submit their proof of accommodation registration or any other certificate or proof);

►A "Driver Physical Condition Certificate" issued by medical institutions at or above the county level as designated by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, or issued by medical institutions at or above the regiment level as designated by the military or armed police forces;

►Where an applicant is applying for a driving license for a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, the applicant shall submit a "Driver Physical Condition Certificate" issued by a specialized medical institution as designated by the Beijing Municipal Health Commission;

►Where an applicant holds an expired military or armed police force motor vehicle driving license or an expired foreign motor vehicle driving license and is directly applying for a motor vehicle driving license, the applicant shall submit the expired motor vehicle driving license;

►5 photos of the motor vehicle driver (Photo requirements: straight-sided, full-face, bareheaded, colored, one-person, half-length photos of the applicant taken within 6 months of the application. The background color must be white; the applicant must not be in uniform; and the portrait must be clear, rich in layers, neutral in facial expression, and free of obvious distortions. The photo size must be 32mm × 22mm (equivalent to 1 inch), the head width must be 14-16 mm, and the head length must be 19-22 mm.)

Locations & Office Hours

Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents who have not obtained a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents" and foreigners shall apply at the Vehicle Management Office;

Personnel who have obtained a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Residents" shall apply at the following locations:

1. Jingnan Branch Office if applying for a driving license for a City Bus;

2. Jingfeng, Jingnan, or Jingbei Branch Office if applying for a driving license for a Large Freight Vehicle;

3. Jingnan or Jingfeng Branch Office if applying for a driving license for a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities;

4. Any branch office if applying for a driving license for any other permitted vehicle type.

Time: Mondays to Fridays 8:30-18:00, Saturdays and Sundays 9:00-16:00 (except national holidays)

Telephone: (8610)12122

Applicants can book an examination time via the 交管12123 app

Exams

You need to take a few examinations. The contents and standards of the examinations are uniform across the country. The examination items are prescribed according to the different permitted vehicle types.

△ Examination contents:

1. Examination on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and relevant knowledge (referred to as "Subject One"): road traffic, traffic signals, handling of traffic safety violations and traffic accidents, application for and usage of a motor vehicle driving license, registration of a motor vehicle, and other provisions, as well as other laws, regulations, and rules on road traffic safety.

2. Examination on field driving skills (referred to as "Subject Two"):

(1) For a driving license for a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle: reverse parking, stopping and starting on a ramp, parallel parking, crossing a unilateral bridge, curve driving, making a right-angle turn, crossing a narrow gate, crossing a series of obstacles, driving on a rough road, and making a U-turn on a narrow road, as well as simulation of an expressway, a mountain road with a series of sharp bends, a tunnel, a rainy (or foggy) day, a slippery road, and an emergency situation;

(2) For a driving license for a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, or a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle: reverse parking, , stopping and starting on a ramp, parallel parking, curve driving, and making a right-angle turn;

(3) For a driving license for a Three-Wheeled Vehicle, an Ordinary Three-Wheeled Motorcycle, an Ordinary Two-Wheeled Motorcycle, or a Light Motorcycle: reverse parking, stopping and starting on a ramp, and crossing a unilateral bridge;

(4) For a driving license for a Self-Propelled Wheeled Mechanical Vehicle, a Trolleybus, or a Tramcar: to be determined by the traffic administration bureau of the municipal public security bureau.

For the permitted vehicle types set forth in Items (1) and (2), the traffic administration bureau of the municipal public security bureau may increase the examination contents in accordance with the actual circumstances.

3. Examination on road driving skills and general knowledge on safe and civilized driving (referred to as "Subject Three"): for a driving license for a City Bus, a Large Freight Vehicle, a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, or a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities: making pre-driving preparations, starting a drive, straight-ahead driving, changing gears, changing lanes, pulling over, crossing a junction, turning left at a junction, turning right at a junction, crossing a crosswalk, crossing a school zone, crossing a bus stop, crossing an oncoming vehicle, overtaking, making a U-turn, and driving at night; for a driving license of other permitted vehicle types, the contents of the examination shall be determined by the traffic administration bureau of the municipal public security bureau.

The contents of the examination for Subject Three on the general knowledge on safe and civilized driving include: the operating requirements for safe and civilized driving, knowledge on safe driving in bad weather and complicated road conditions, response methods to tire blowout and other emergencies, knowledge on handling a traffic accident, etc.

(1) Mileage requirements for a road driving skills examination: for a driving license of a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the mileage of examination shall not be less than 10 kilometers, of which the daytime mileage shall not be less than 5 kilometers, and the nighttime mileage shall not be less than 3 kilometers. For a driving license of a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, or a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, the mileage of examination shall not be less than 3 kilometers, while daytime examinees shall take an examination with simulated night lighting.

(2) For a driving license of a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the traffic administration bureau of the municipal public security bureau shall, in accordance with the actual circumstances, increase the contents of the driving examination with complicated roads such as mountain roads, tunnels, and steep slopes. For a driving license of other permitted vehicle types, the traffic administration bureau of the municipal public security bureau may increase the contents of the examination in accordance with the actual circumstances.

△ Criteria for passing the examinations:

1. The applicant is deemed to have passed the Subject One examination if the applicant scores at least 90 out of 100 points;

2. For a driving license of a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the applicant is deemed to have passed the Subject Two examination if the applicant scores 90 out of 100 points. For a driving license of other permitted vehicle types, the applicant is deemed to have passed Subject Two examination if the applicant scores 80 out of 100 points;

3. The applicant is deemed to have the Subject Three examination if the applicant scores 90 out of 100 points.

△ For an applicant who meets the requirements for applying for a motor vehicle driving license and is applying for a motor vehicle driving license for the first time, the vehicle management office shall accept the application and arrange an examination on the booked date. After the applicant has passed the Subject One examination, the vehicle management office shall issue a driving learning certificate within 1 day. The driving learning certificate shall be valid for 3 years, during which the applicant should complete the Subject Two and Subject Three examinations. Where the applicant fails to pass all examinations within the term of validity, the results of any passed examinations shall be invalidated. Within the validity term of the driving learning certificate, the applicant may not book the Subject Two and Subject Three (road driving skills) examinations more than 5 times. Where an applicant fails to pass an examination after 5 bookings, the results of any passed examinations shall be invalidated.

The driving learning certificate can be in paper or electronic form, both of which are equally effective. The applicant may print or download the driving learning certificate through the online comprehensive service management platform for traffic safety.

△ The vehicle management office shall arrange an examination at the booked examination venue at the booked time.. The applicant may, after passing the Subject One examination, book an examination for Subject Two or Subject Three (road driving skills). The applicant may, after passing the Subject Two and Subject Three (road driving skills) examinations, take the Subject Three (general knowledge of safe and civilized driving) examination on the same day. Each subject examination can be retaken once per booking. If an applicant who fails to pass the first attempt chooses not to retake the examination or fails to pass the retake, the examination shall be ended and the applicant shall have to rebook an examination. For the Subject Two and Subject Three examinations, rebookings have to be at least 10 days later. Where an applicant fails to pass the Subject Three (general knowledge of safe and civilized driving) examination, the results for any passed road driving skills examination shall remain valid.

Where an applicant books an examination for Subject Two or Subject Three (road driving skills) but the vehicle management office is unable to arrange the examination within 60 days, the applicant may book an examination at a different examination venue in the same city.

The vehicle management office uses the nationwide examination booking system. Applicants may book an examination via the Internet, telephone, a service window, or other means.

△ Time requirements for booking a subject examination:

1. Booking a Subject Two examination:

(1) Where the applicant is taking an examination for a driving license for a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, a Three-Wheeled Vehicle, a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, a Self-Propelled Wheeled Mechanical Vehicle, a Trolleybus, or a Tramcar, the applicant may book a Subject Two examination 10 days after obtaining the driving learning certificate.

(2) Where an applicant is taking an examination for a driving license for a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the applicant may book a Subject Two examination 20 days after obtaining the driving learning certificate.

2. Booking a Subject Three examination:

(1) Where an applicant is taking an examination for a driving license for a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, a Three-Wheeled Vehicle, a Self-Propelled Wheeled Mechanical Vehicle, a Trolleybus, or a Tramcar, the applicant may book a Subject Three examination 20 days after obtaining the driving learning certificate.

(2) Where an applicant is taking an examination for a driving license for a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, or a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, the applicant may book a Subject Three examination 30 days after obtaining the driving learning certificate.

(3) Where an applicant is taking an examination for a driving license for a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the applicant may book a Subject Three examination 40 days after obtaining the driving learning certificate.

△ Where an applicant cannot take the examination at the booked time , the applicant should apply to cancel the booking one day in advance. Where an applicant fails to take an examination at the booked time, the applicant is deemed to have failed to pass the examination.

△ The examination time for Subject One is 45 minutes. For a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the examination time for reverse parking in Subject Two shall be no more than 8 minutes, while the examination time for the general knowledge on safe and civilized driving in Subject Three shall be 45 minutes.

△ Where an applicant is caught cheating during the examination, the applicant's qualification for this examination shall be canceled and the results of any passed examinations in other subjects shall be invalidated, and the applicant may not reapply for a motor vehicle driving license within 1 year.

△ Subject examinations taken in a different province or city (for a driving license for a Small Vehicle)

For an applicant who is applying for a driving license for a Small Vehicle, if the applicant has passed the Subject One examination and either the Subject Two or the Subject Three (road driving skills) examination (must at least have passed the Subject One examination at the time of application) at a vehicle management office of another province or city, the applicant may apply to take the remaining subject examinations at the vehicle management office or a vehicle management branch office as according to the application locations for applying for a driving license for the first time. The original driving learning certificate (if unexpired) and the results of any passed examinations shall remain valid. However, only one change of province or city is allowed. For the Subject Two and Subject Three (road driving skills) examinations, the total number of bookings made in the original place of examination and this city cannot exceed 5 times for each subject.

After the Examinations

After passing the examinations for all subjects, you still have to receive at least half an hour of education on the general knowledge of traffic safety and civilized driving and on cautionary cases of traffic accidents, and then to attend the license-obtaining and oath-taking ceremony. The vehicle management office will issue you your motor vehicle driving license on the date when you attend the license-obtaining and oath-taking ceremony.

Important Things to Know

Qualification Criteria
Standard Fee(s)
Points for Attention

►Age requirements:

1. Where an applicant is applying for a driving license for a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, or a Light Motorcycle, the applicant must be at least 18 and not more than 70 years of age;

2. Where an applicant is applying for a driving license for a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, a Three-Wheeled Vehicle, an Ordinary Three-Wheeled Motorcycle, an Ordinary Two-Wheeled Motorcycle, or a Self-Propelled Wheeled Mechanical Vehicle, the applicant must be at least 18 and not more than 60 years of age;

3. Where an applicant is applying for a driving license for a City Bus, a Large Freight Vehicle, a Trolleybus, or a Tramcar, the applicant must be at least 20 and not more than 50 years of age.

►Physical requirements:

1. Height: where an applicant is applying for a driving license for a City Bus, a Large Freight Vehicle, or a Trolleybus, the applicant must be at least 155 centimeters in height;

2. Eyesight: where an applicant is applying for a driving license for a City Bus, a Large Freight Vehicle, a Trolleybus, or a Tramcar, the applicant's uncorrected vision or corrected vision of both eyes must be at least 5.0 in the logarithmic visual acuity chart. Where an applicant is applying for a driving license for any other vehicle type, the applicant's uncorrected vision or corrected vision of both eyes must be at least 4.9 in the logarithmic visual acuity chart. Where an applicant has a visual impairment in one eye, the uncorrected vision or corrected vision of the applicant's good eye must be at least 5.0 in the logarithmic visual acuity chart, and if the applicant's horizontal field of view is 150 ̊ or above, the applicant may apply for a driving license for a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, a Three-Wheeled Vehicle, or a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities;

3. Color vision: the applicant must not have red-green color blindness;

4. Hearing ability: the applicant must be able to identify the direction of a sound source when each of the applicant's ears are 50 centimeters away from the tuning fork. An applicant who has a hearing impairment but is able to meet the aforesaid condition when wearing a hearing aid device may apply for a driving license for a Small Vehicle or a Small Automatic Vehicle;

5. Upper limbs: the applicant must have, on each hand, an intact thumb and at least three intact fingers, and the applicant's limbs and fingers must have normal motor functions. Applicants who have crippled or missing fingertips, or only three intact fingers on the left hand, but who have intact palms may apply for a driving license for a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle or a Three-Wheeled Vehicle.

6. Lower limbs: the applicant's lower limbs must be intact and have normal motor functions, and must not be more than 5 centimeters in length difference. Applicants with a missing or motor-impaired left leg may apply for a driving license for a Small Automatic Vehicle.

7. Torso and neck: the applicant's torso and neck must not have motor dysfunctions;

8. Where an applicant's right leg or both legs are missing or motor-impaired but the applicant is able to sit and stand independently and their upper limbs meet the provisions of item 5 on the conditions of the upper limbs, the applicant may apply for a driving license for a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities. Where an applicant has a missing palm but the other hand has an intact thumb and at least two intact fingers, the applicant's upper limbs and fingers have normal motor functions, and the applicant's lower limbs meet the provisions of item 6 on the conditions of the lower limbs, the applicant may apply for a driving license for a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities.

►The circumstances under which an applicant may not apply for a motor vehicle driving license:

1. The applicant suffers from an organic heart disease, epilepsy, Meniere's syndrome, long-term vertigo, hysteria, Parkinson's disease, a mental disorder, dementia, a nervous system disease that affects limb movement, or any other disease that impedes safe driving;

2. The applicant has ingested or injected narcotic drugs within the past three years, has been subjected to mandatory isolation and rehabilitation measures at any time within the past three years, or has a long-term usage of and continued addiction to psychotropic drugs of dependence;

3. The applicant has committed a hit and run offense before;

4. The applicant has committed a major traffic offense due to drink-driving or drunk-driving before;

5. The applicant has had their motor vehicle driving license legally revoked due to drunk-driving a motor vehicle or drink-driving a commercial motor vehicle at any time during the past 5 years;

6. The applicant has had their motor vehicle driving license legally revoked due to drunk-driving a commercial motor vehicle at any time during the past 10 years;

7. The applicant has had their motor vehicle driving license legally revoked due to any other circumstance at any time during the past 2 years;

8. The applicant has had their driving permit legally withdrawn at any time during the past 3 years;

9. Other circumstances prescribed by laws and regulations.

If the applicant has driven a motor vehicle without a motor vehicle driving license, and has committed any of the acts stated in Item 5 to Item 7, the applicant may not apply for a motor vehicle driving license within the prescribed period of time.

►Requirements for applicants:

1. Where an applicant resides at the place of their registered permanent residence, the applicant shall file an application at the place of their registered permanent residence;

2. Where an applicant resides at a place other than the place of their registered permanent residence, they may file an application at the place of their residence;

3. Active servicemen (including armed policemen) shall file an application at the place of their residence;

4. Foreigners shall file an application at the place of their residence or habitation.

►The circumstances under which an applicant may not apply for a driving license for a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle:

1. The applicant has been equally or more liable for a traffic accident causing death before;

2. The applicant has drunk-driven a motor vehicle before;

3. The applicant has had their motor vehicle driving license revoked or withdrawn at any time during the past 10 years.

►Requirements for directly applying for a motor vehicle driving license:

Where an applicant for a motor vehicle driving license meets the conditions for a driving permit and falls under any of the following circumstances, the applicant may directly apply to take the examination for the motor vehicle driving license of the corresponding permitted vehicle type:

1. The applicant had their original motor vehicle driving license canceled because it was not renewed before the expiry date;

2. The applicant had their original motor vehicle driving license canceled because they failed to submit proof of their physical conditions;

3. The applicant personally applied to cancel their original motor vehicle driving license;

4. The applicant had their original motor vehicle driving license canceled because the applicant's physical conditions temporarily failed to meet the relevant provisions;

5. The applicant had their original motor vehicle driving license canceled due to any other reason, excluding revocation or withdrawal of their motor vehicle driving license;

6. The applicant holds an expired military or armed police force motor vehicle driving license;

7. The applicant holds an expired foreign motor vehicle driving license.

Where the applicant has a pending record of a violation of road traffic safety or a traffic accident, the applicant shall settle the violation or accident before applying for a motor vehicle driving license.

1. CNY ¥10 per license will be collected as the production cost of the motor vehicle driving license;

2. The fees for the examination on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and relevant knowledge (Subject One) is CNY ¥50 per person per attempt;

3. The fees for the examination on field driving skills (Subject Two) is CNY ¥40 per person per attempt;

4. The fees for the examination on road driving skills and general knowledge on safe and civilized driving (Subject Three) is CNY ¥60 per person per attempt.

△ An applicant applying for a motor vehicle driving license for the first time may apply for a motor vehicle driving license for a City Bus, a Large Freight Vehicle, a Small Vehicle, a Small Automatic Vehicle, a Low-Speed Freight Vehicle, a Three-Wheeled Vehicle, a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities, an Ordinary Three-Wheeled Motorcycle, an Ordinary Two-Wheeled Motorcycle, a Light Motorcycle, a Self-Propelled Wheeled Mechanical Vehicle, a Trolleybus, or a Tramcar.

The Meaning of Identity Document

1. The identity document for residents shall be the "Resident ID Card" or the "Temporary Resident ID Card". Where a Mainland resident residing outside their place of registered permanent residence is applying for a driving license for the first time, is applying for addition of a new permitted vehicle type other than a Small Vehicle to their driving license, or is holding a military driving license or a foreign driving license, their identity document shall be the "Resident ID Card" or the "Temporary Resident ID Card", along with a proof of residence issued by a public security authority;

2. The identity document for active servicemen (including armed policemen) shall be the "Resident ID Card" or the "Temporary Resident ID Card". If the applicant has not obtained a "Resident ID Card", the identity document shall be the "Certificate of Military Officers", the "Certificate of Civilian Cadres", the "Certificate of Soldiers", the "Certificate of Veteran Cadres", the "Certificate of Retirees" or any other valid military identity document as issued by a relevant military department, along with a proof of domicile as issued by an entity at or above the regiment level of their service;

3. The identity document for a Hong Kong or Macao SAR resident shall be the "Residence Permit for Hong Kong or Macao Residents". If the applicant has not obtained a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong or Macao Residents", the identity document shall be the "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents" that the applicant held when entering the mainland or the "Travel Permit of the People's Republic of China" issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the "Resident ID Card" issued by Hong Kong or Macao SAR and a proof of accommodation registration issued by a public security authority;

4. The identity document for a Taiwan resident shall be the "Residence Permit for Taiwan Residents". If the applicant has not obtained a "Residence Permit for Taiwan Residents", the identity document shall be the applicant's "Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents", which must be issued by a public security authority and must be valid for the next five years, or the "Travel Permit of the People's Republic of China" issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with a proof of accommodation registration certificate issued by a public security authority;

5. The identity document for an overseas Chinese shall be the "Passport of the People's Republic of China" along with a proof of accommodation registration issued by a public security authority;

6. The identity document for a foreigner is the passport or any other travel document that the applicant held when entering the mainland, or a valid visa or certificate of residence or stay with a period of residence or stay for three months or more, along with a proof of accommodation registration certificate issued by a public security authority; the identity document for a foreigner who has obtained permanent residence in mainland China shall be the “Foreigner Permanent Residence Permit Card”;

7. The identity document for a staff member of a foreign embassy or consulate in mainland China or of a representative office of an international organization in mainland China shall be a valid identity document issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Provisions on probation period

1. The 12 months after a motor vehicle driver first obtains a motor vehicle driving license shall be the probation period.

Where a driver has newly obtained a driving license for a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle, the driver shall, within 30 days after the end of the probation period, take an examination on road traffic safety laws and regulations, traffic safety and civilized driving, emergency responses, and other traffic safety knowledge, and receive at least half an hour of education on cautionary cases of traffic accidents.

2. When driving a motor vehicle during the probation period, the driver shall paste or hang a standardized probation mark on the back of the vehicle.

3. During the probation period, a motor vehicle driver may not drive a bus, a commercial passenger vehicle, an on-duty police car, fire engine, ambulance, or tow truck, or a motor vehicle carrying explosives, inflammable or explosive chemicals, highly toxic or radioactive substances, or other dangerous substances; and may not tow a trailer.

When driving a motor vehicle on an expressway during the probation period, the driver must accompanied by a driver who has held a driving license for the corresponding permitted vehicle type or higher for more than 3 years. A driver driving a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle For People With Disabilities can be accompanied by a driver who holds a driving license for a Small Automatic Passenger Vehicle or higher.

4. Where a motor vehicle driver has accumulated 12 points on their record within the probation period, htheir qualification to drive a vehicle of the permitted type under probation shall be canceled.

Where a driver holding a driving license for a City Bus or a Large Freight Vehicle has accumulated more than 6 points but less than 12 points on their record within the one-year probation period, the probation period shall be extended for another year. Where the driver has accumulated a record of more than 6 points but less than 12 points during the extended probation period, their qualification to drive a vehicle of the permitted type under probation shall be canceled.