Driving in Shanghai — exchanging your foreign license

The 3-month rule

For the first 3 months after entering China, you may drive with:

• your valid home-country license, plus
• an officially recognized translation — either an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by your home country, or a notarized Chinese translation of your license (公证翻译件).

After 3 months in China, you must have a Chinese driver's license. Driving without one is treated as unlicensed driving — serious fines and potential detention in the worst case. Police can and do check; the 3-month clock is enforced at checkpoints.

The exchange (换证): what you need

If your country's license is recognized by China (most are), you can exchange it directly — no practical driving test. Documents:

• Passport + valid visa or residence permit
• Your foreign driver's license (original)
• Notarized Chinese translation of the license — get it at a notary office (公证处) or a translation company recognized for this; ~¥200-400, same day or next day
• Physical exam certificate (体检证明) — a quick check at a designated hospital or the vehicle management office's on-site clinic
• Photos — 1-inch (25×35mm) photos, white background; take extras
• Proof of residence/address (some offices ask for your police registration or residence permit address)

Countries with specific recognition quirks (e.g. some US states' licenses) usually still qualify — the written test is the universal hurdle. If your license is from a country not on China's recognition list, you'd need a full test instead.

The written test (科目一) in English

• 科目一 is a 100-question, multiple-choice test about Chinese traffic rules and signs.
• It's available in English (and other languages) — ask for the English version at the test center; the interface lets you choose.
• Pass mark: 90/100. Study with the official app (驾考宝典 has English practice) or YouTube practice sets.
• It's taken on a computer at the vehicle management office; you can retake it if you fail (small fee per attempt).

Most expats pass within 1-2 attempts after a weekend of study. The test is genuinely learnable — it's about local signs, traffic law details and common-sense questions.

Where to go in Shanghai

1. Get the translation notarized

   Visit a notary office (公证处) near you with your license and passport. Explain: 我要办理驾驶证翻译公证 (I need a notarized translation of my driver's license). Same-day/next-day service is common.

2. Do the medical check

   At the vehicle management office (车管所) there's usually an on-site medical clinic for the 体检. It takes 10 minutes: eyesight, color blindness, basic health.

3. Book and take the written test

   Book 科目一 through the vehicle management office or the 12123 app. Bring all documents. The test room is computer-based; choose English.

4. Receive your license

   Pass, and your Chinese license (with your name transliterated) is issued — often on the spot or within days. It's valid for 6 years (then renew). Keep it with your passport when driving.

Driving in Shanghai: what to know

• License plates: Shanghai has the famous plate system — new car plates are auctioned (with fees reaching tens of thousands of RMB), and some plates (沪C) can't enter the city center. See the license plate glossary. Company cars and rental cars with plates are the pragmatic workaround for most expats.
• Foreign plates (外牌): cars from other provinces are restricted from certain roads and times in central Shanghai.
• Rental cars: international rental (Hertz, Avis) and local (eHi 一嗨, 神州) rent to foreigners with a Chinese license. With a home license + notarized translation, most local renters accept you too.
• Rules: right turn on red is generally allowed unless a sign or red arrow forbids it; strict mobile-phone laws; license-plate restrictions; and frequent cameras. Speeding and illegal turns are heavily enforced.
• Parking: use apps (停车 apps or Amap) — central parking is expensive and scarce; many expats never own a car in Shanghai.