The news about the mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses between China and France has made French students and immigrants happy. So what is the real situation? Follow along and take a look! Thank you for reading.
Information on mutual recognition and exchange of driver’s licenses between China and France
Driving licenses originally cannot be used in foreign countries. However, recently, reporters learned from the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security that in February 2017 On the 21st, the Ministry of Public Security and the French Ministry of the Interior signed an agreement on mutual recognition and replacement of driving licenses in Beijing. China and France recognize the valid driver's license issued by the other party, and one party allows persons holding the driver's license of the other country to drive directly in its territory or to renew the driver's license without taking a test.
For those who temporarily enter the territory of the other party for less than one year, the driving licenses of both parties will be mutually recognized. Those who temporarily enter France can drive directly with their Chinese driver's license and translation without the need to renew their licenses; those who temporarily enter China can directly exchange for a temporary driving permit with their French driver's license and translation, and are exempt from physical examination and examination. The types of vehicles allowed by the mutually recognized driving license include medium-sized passenger cars, large trucks, small cars and motorcycles.
For those who have resided in the other country for more than one year, the driving licenses of both parties can be exchanged without testing. Citizens or permanent residents of one country who hold their own driving license and translation, as well as passport, visa or residence permit can directly exchange for the driving license of the other country without taking a test. The types of driving licenses that can be renewed without a test include small cars and motorcycles.
For diplomats and international students, both sides provide reciprocal preferential policies. When Chinese diplomats and students studying in France are working and studying in France, they can directly drive motor vehicles of corresponding approved models with their Chinese driver's license and translation; when French diplomats and students studying abroad are working and studying in China, they can use their French driver's license without taking a test. Obtain a Chinese driver's license corresponding to the approved vehicle type.
It is understood that the mutual recognition agreement will take effect ninety days from the date when both parties sign and complete the domestic legal confirmation procedures. The mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses between China and France will be conducive to making it easier for citizens of the two countries to travel by car, promoting police cooperation between the two countries, and is of great significance to promoting economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and personnel exchanges between the two countries. The implementation of the agreement on mutual recognition and exchange of driving licenses between China and France will directly benefit a large number of overseas Chinese in France as well as those who travel, study abroad, work, visit relatives, etc. in France.
How to apply for an international driver's license?
According to the United Nations International Treaty on Land Transport, an international driver's license must be used together with a national driver's license to be valid. We provide you with two application methods. For your reference.
Regardless of the above two application methods, A or B, we can apply for an international driver's license issued by the official IAA International Automobile Federation of the United States. Its functions are the same, and it can be used in the United Nations overland. It is used in more than 180 countries and regions that have signed the International Convention on Transportation. Since China is not a party to the United Nations Convention on Transportation, the international driving license applied for through method A is sometimes rejected by some countries internationally. On the contrary, Hong Kong, China It was already a contracting country during the British control period and signed the United Nations International Convention on Land Transport. Hong Kong is still implementing the policy at that time after its return, so the international driving license applied for through method B will be more authoritative.
Therefore, we recommend that when you apply for an international driver's license, you should carefully read the relevant matters on the website about the international driver's license before making a decision, and then decide which method to choose. If you choose to use method B To apply for an international driver's license, you can first apply for a Hong Kong driver's license with your Chinese driver's license, and then use your Hong Kong driver's license to apply for an international driver's license. Although it costs more to apply for a Hong Kong driver's license, this application method will be more authoritative.
Who has the authority to issue international driver’s licenses?
There are hundreds of international driver’s licenses around the world, and the more well-known issuing agencies are
United States: AAA, NAC
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Canada: CAA
United Kingdom: AA, RAC
New Zealand: AA
All the above institutions are national automobile associations and automobile federations etc., and international driving licenses can only be issued to citizens and residents of that country, and Chinese drivers cannot apply.
Does that mean that in addition to the international driving licenses issued by the above institutions, the international driving licenses issued by other institutions are illegal? The answer is obviously no. There is no law in any country in the world that deems this kind of international driver's license to be illegal. All the criticisms on the Chinese Internet about this type of driver's license being illegal originate from one initiator - an English translator on a small Pacific island. Because of this Someone wants to sell his so-called English translation.
How to use an international driver's license? Can it be used alone?
An international driver's license is a translation of your home country's driver's license and cannot be used to drive alone.
None of the hundreds of international driver’s licenses in the world can give you the right to drive alone and must be used together with your home country’s driver’s license.
China is not a party to the United Nations Convention on Transport. Can I apply for a real international driver's license with a Chinese driver's license?
Yes, we can apply for a real international driver's license for you. The international driver's license we apply for you can be used together with your Chinese driver's license to drive in more than 100 countries in the world.
How to determine whether an international driver's license is authentic or fake? First, the issuing organization must be a legal institution in the country where it is located; secondly, the international driver's license must be recognized by the country of use; thirdly, the driver's information must be provided. Be true and accurate.
The international driving provided by our company is completely authentic and reliable. In which countries can a mainland Chinese driver's license be used?
United States | Most states recognize Chinese driver's licenses
In the United States, each federal state has different laws and regulations on the use of Chinese driver's licenses. To sum up, most states in the western United States recognize Chinese driver’s licenses. The law of California, which has many Chinese tourists, stipulates that anyone over 18 years old with a legal driver's license from any country can use it in California. However, some states in the central and eastern United States require drivers to provide a driver's license and a notarized copy of the driver's license. The length of time a driver's license can be used varies from state to state.
Canada | Chinese driver’s license is valid for 6 months
Although Canada is also a federal country, each province treats Chinese driver’s licenses in the same way as most foreign driver’s licenses in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic. The same rules apply, that is, Chinese tourists can drive in the province for 6 months with a valid Chinese driver's license. If you are a permanent resident of Canada, your Chinese driver's license can be used for 3 months. With a valid student visa, Chinese students can legally drive on the road with a Chinese driver's license while studying abroad.
If you have more than two years of driving experience, you can directly take the traffic regulations test. After passing the traffic regulations, you can directly take the official driver's license test.
France | Recognizes Chinese driver’s license for 12 months
Foreign driver’s license is valid in France until regular residency is obtained. In the event of an official suspension of stay and
returning to France to obtain a new residence permit, the foreign driving license is recognized for one year.
UK | Mainland China driving license can be used for one year
In the UK, Mainland China driving license can be used for one year, and Hong Kong driving license can be used freely in the UK.
British cars are right-hand drive and cars drive on the left, so Chinese people need to slowly adapt to driving in the UK.
First, you must take the theoretical part of the test. The theory not only includes multiple-choice questions, but also allows candidates to identify potential hazards based on video clips. The road test also has as many as 30 items.
Germany | Chinese driver’s license is “valid” for 6 months
Chinese drivers who want to drive in Germany must bring their driver’s license and a translation designated by the court in Germany or the German Embassy in China Certified German driver's license document, but valid for 6 months. If the residence permit exceeds 12 months, you must take the German driving license test.
The German driver’s license test is the most difficult in the world. You must first pass a vision test, then complete an 8-hour first aid class, and then take at least 14 theoretical classes and 12 driving classes, including highway, Driving at night. Moreover, getting a driving license is very expensive, costing more than 2,000 euros.
New Zealand | Chinese driver’s license can be used for 12 months
In New Zealand, tourists or international students holding a Chinese driver’s license can use a translator certified by the New Zealand Transport Agency
If you obtain a translation of your driver's license, you can drive legally for one year after entering New Zealand.
Sweden | Chinese driving license can be used within 1 year
Chinese driving license can be used within 1 year. If it is more than 1 year, if you are not a permanent resident, you can ask the company to apply for a driving permit for you. Norway | Apply for use within one year
Starting from May 1, 2004, Norway will implement new entry regulations, which stipulate that drivers from China, if they drive in Norway, must < /p>
Apply locally within one year and need to pass a test.
Belgium | China and Belgium mutually recognize driver’s licenses
China and the Belgian Ministry of Transport have a bilateral agreement to mutually recognize the driver’s licenses of the two countries. As long as the Chinese driver's license is legally translated and then certified and stamped by the court, you can go to the city hall where you live to apply for conversion to a local driver's license.
The Netherlands Mainland China driving license can only be used for 6 months
In the Netherlands, the Mainland China driving license can only be used for 6 months, and then retest, practice and road test.
The Chinese driver’s license in Switzerland can be used for 1 year
The Chinese driver’s license can be used in Switzerland for 1 year after being notarized. Then you need to take the road test for the local Swiss driver’s license. There is no theory test and the fee is 240. Swiss franc.
Italy Chinese driver’s license can be used for 12 months
After the Chinese driver’s license is translated and notarized by the Italian court, it can be legally used in Italy for 1 year. During this year, you can take the Italian driver's license test and drive at the same time. If you have not passed the test after one year, the Chinese driver's license can no longer be used.
The international driver's license cannot be used in our country
The international driver's license is only a valid translation certificate of the domestic driver's license. It is not a driver's license in itself, so it cannot be used alone, but must be used together with the driver's license. It is only valid when used at the same time as the valid driver's license held by the driver. It is the national driver's license, not the international driver's license, that truly qualifies each signatory country to drive a car.
According to the provisions of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic, people who have an international driver's license and a valid driver's license from their own country can drive in more than 180 countries or regions, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Japan. However, our country has not joined this Convention, so holders of international driving licenses cannot be used in mainland my country.