How to apply for a temporary driving permit
Visiting foreigners who need to drive vehicles in Shanghai can apply for a temporary driving permit, according to local traffic police.
A temporary driving permit refers to the short-term motor vehicle driving permit that allows foreigners who come to China for a short stay to drive motor vehicles in the Chinese mainland. This temporary driving permit shall be issued by the traffic police department of the public security organ.
Those staying for less than three months can apply for a temporary three-month driving license. For those staying for more than three months, the validity period of a permit can be extended up to one year.
The permit is used for driving "motor vehicles temporarily brought into China" or "rented motor vehicles in China". The specific types of motor vehicles to be driven are subject to the following rules:
- The vehicle must be in the same category as stated in the applicant's foreign motor vehicle driving license.
- For those who drive motor vehicles temporarily brought into China by themselves, the vehicle type stated in the temporary driving permit must be the same as that of the motor vehicles they are driving.
- For those who drive rented motor vehicles in China, only small-size vehicles (C1) or small-size vehicles with auto transmission automatic (C2) are allowed for temporary driving permit.
How to apply for a temporary driving permit
The required materials include entry and exit identity documents, such as passport and foreign driving license.
If your foreign driving license is not in Chinese, you need to translate it into Chinese. You can apply for translation service through translation agencies directly by email; or you can approach to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) staff for help on applying for translation.
Please bring the above-mentioned materials to the DMV to take photo and submit application form. After learning and gaining knowledge about Chinese road traffic laws and regulations at sessions organized by the traffic police department, you will receive the permit on-site.
Translation service
Contact information about translation agencies is as follows:
- Shanghai Foreign Affairs Translation Workers Association
Address: Room 1607, No 1277, West Beijing Road, Jing'an district
Contact: 021-6321-8568, 021-6323-9910
E-Mail：fyxh@shwsfy.com
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 4:30 pm
- Shanghai SISU Translation Service Co
Address: No 573, Chifeng Road, Hongkou district
Contact: 021-6536-2032
E-Mail：sisutsdl@163.com
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 4:30 pm
- Translations issued by foreign embassies and consulates in China, or translations notarized by local notary organizations, are also acknowledged.
Where to apply
Vehicle Management Office First Branch
Address: No 2999, West Huaxia Road, Pudong New Area
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Vehicle Management Office Second Branch
Address: Gate 3, No 179, Qinchun Road, Minhang district
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Vehicle Management Office Third Branch
Address: No 2638, Hunan Road, Pudong New Area
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Vehicle Management Office Fourth Branch
Address: No 299, Anfen Road, Baoshan district
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Traffic Police Division of International Airport Public Security Bureau Sub-branch
Address: No 201, Konggang Road Number One, Hongqiao International Airport
Contact: 021-2895-2289
Address: No 805, Huhang Road, Pudong International Airport
Contact: 021-6834-3234
Open: Monday to Thursday, 9 am - 11 am, 1 pm - 4 pm, Friday 9 am - 11 am
Service counter of Pudong Airport Terminal Police Station
Location: Connecting bridge between T1 & T2, Middle Wuzhou Road
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 11 am, 1 pm - 4 pm
Service counter of Hongqiao Airport Terminal Police Station
Location: Arrival Hall, T1 of Hongqiao Airport
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 11 am, 1 pm - 4 pm
Traffic Police Division of Free Trade Zone Sub-branch
Address: Block A, No 459, West Fute Road Number One, Free Trade Zone
Contact: 021-2204-7395
Open: Monday to Friday, 9 am - 4 pm
The circumstances under which an applicant cannot apply for a temporary driving permit:
- The applicant fails to meet the required age conditions for Chinese driving permit application. For those who temporarily need to rent a Chinese motor vehicle and drive in the Chinese mainland, the temporary driving permit Type 3 is only for small-size vehicles and small-size vehicles with auto transmission. Those who apply for small-size vehicles and small-size vehicles with auto transmission must be at least 18 years old.
- Applicants who have record of committing hit-and-run offense in the Chinese mainland are not accessible to the temporary driving permit;
- A driver who has accumulated 12 points within a single scoring period is required to undertake a retraining session and take an exam on road traffic safety laws, regulations and other related knowledge. Otherwise, he or she cannot re-apply for a temporary driving permit.
- Applicants who have committed road traffic offenses and had unresolved traffic accidents are not accessible to the application;
- Applicants who provide invalid & incomplete & unmatched certification and proofs, or those who have not participated in road traffic safety laws and regulations learning are not accessible to the driving permit.
What else should be noted when applying for a temporary driving permit?
The temporary driving permit should be carried while driving and be used together with the foreign driving license and its Chinese translation.
Online translation of foreign driving licenses is only for applying for the temporary driving permit. The payment method for online translation is provided by the translation agencies.
When driving a rented motor vehicle in China, please carry the car rental contract with you for traffic police inspection.
Applicants aged 70 and above must take a capacity test in Theory Test Room (the validity period of the capacity test is one year from the first day you take the exam; applicants can take the test for free five times). Only after passing the test can applicants apply for a temporary driving permit. Please check the "Traffic Management 12123" (交管12123) app for the detailed addresses of Theory Test Room.
Updated Nov 5, 2025
Source: The Traffic Police Corps of Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security
