[Getting a Mainland China Driver’s License] The Four Major Exam Subjects + Fees + Pros and Cons｜How Long Until It Can Be Converted to a Hong Kong License? (Includes Conversion Process)

Getting a driver's license in Mainland China is a hot topic among netizens. It allows you to avoid the long waiting times for exams in Hong Kong, and the cost is half of that in Hong Kong. Moreover, you can convert it to a Hong Kong driver’s license after one year. But is it really that simple? The traffic rules in Mainland China are quite different from those in Hong Kong. Can Hong Kong residents adapt to the driving school system in the Mainland?

Kwiksure will analyze the pros and cons of getting a driver’s license in Mainland China, and also share the process and costs involved. If you’re considering moving to Mainland China or driving up north, you should definitely pay attention.

Pros and Cons of Getting a Mainland China Driver’s License

Pros:

In Hong Kong, after passing the written test, you have to wait around 300 days to take the road test, and the cost can easily reach tens of thousands of HKD. If you fail, you’ll have to pay extra for a retest. In Mainland China, time and money are the two biggest advantages. From application to getting the license, it can take as little as one and a half months. The cost ranges from around RMB 4,000 to RMB 8,000, depending on the course you choose.

Due to the lower learning costs, candidates can spend more time practicing, leading to better driving skills, which results in a higher pass rate compared to Hong Kong. If you don’t pass, you can take the test twice on the same day or retake it within a month. Additionally, once you get a Mainland driver’s license, there are no restrictions on where you can drive, unlike Hong Kong cars that are limited to Guangdong Province. This is particularly appealing to Hong Kong residents who enjoy self-driving trips up north.

Cons:

Unlike Hong Kong’s “written test first, road test later” system, Mainland China’s driver’s license exam consists of four subjects: two written tests and two road tests. Subject 1 and Subject 4 are written tests, while Subject 2 and Subject 3 are road tests. Subject 3, in particular, involves a driving examiner sitting beside you. Besides road driving skills like U-turns, lane changes, and overtaking, you must also be familiar with vehicle operations, such as turning on headlights and windshield wipers. This makes the exam stricter than Hong Kong’s. In terms of courses, Mainland China offers group classes, where one instructor teaches multiple students simultaneously, different from the one-on-one mode that Hong Kong residents are used to. Though there are one-on-one courses available, they are more expensive.

Additionally, candidates must meet the government’s minimum driving hours requirement before taking the test. As shared by YouTuber ruthXexploring, during her personal experience, she had to spend extra hours sitting idly in front of a surveillance camera installed on the front passenger seat to meet the driving hours requirement, as the camera couldn’t capture her while actually learning to drive.

Types of Driver’s Licenses in Mainland China

Content of the Four Major Exam Subjects in Mainland China

Subject 1 (Written Test): Road Traffic Knowledge Theory Exam

The question bank for Subject 1 has about 1,300 questions, from which 100 questions will be selected for the exam. It is a multiple-choice test with each question worth one point, and a passing score is 90 points or above. The exam duration is 45 minutes. The questions cover topics such as road traffic safety laws, traffic signals, safe driving, and basic knowledge of motor vehicle operations. Candidates should thoroughly study the mock questions and practice the mock exams before the test. If you fail, you must wait 10 days before you can schedule a retest.

Subject 2 (Road Test): On-Campus Driving Test

The test is conducted on a driving school’s campus. For manual transmission (C1), candidates must pass five items: L parking, S parking, hill start and stop, right-angle turn, and curve driving (commonly known as S-curve). For automatic transmission (C2), candidates must pass four items: L parking, S parking, right-angle turn, and curve driving (commonly known as S-curve).

If you fail, you must wait 10 days before you can reschedule the test. Currently, Subject 2 is fully computerized, and errors like crossing the line or stalling are automatically detected. To pass, you need at least 80 out of 100 points, and certain mistakes like stalling on a hill start or crossing the line during parking result in an automatic fail, making it quite strict.

Subject 3 (Road Test): Road Driving Skills Exam

This is the only part of the exam where a driving examiner is present. Candidates must complete 24 hours of actual road driving skills training and 16 hours of safety and civil driving knowledge before the test. You can’t study more than four hours a day.

If you need to retake the test, you must wait 10 days before you can reschedule. During the test, the examiner will sit in the front passenger seat and give instructions such as turning on the indicator lights, windshield wipers, and the driving route. They may also ask you to overtake, make a U-turn, or park by the roadside.

Subject 4 (Written Test): Safe and Civil Driving Knowledge Exam

If you pass Subject 3, you can take Subject 4 immediately. This test mainly focuses on the candidate’s safety awareness while driving on the road. The questions are presented in the form of case studies, pictures, and animations. Candidates must identify the violations in the scenarios. The question bank for Subject 4 has about 1,100 questions, and 50 questions will be selected for the exam. It is a multiple-choice test with a passing score of 90 out of 100. The exam duration is 30 minutes. Candidates should also use online mock exams to practice and gain experience.

Driving School Course Features and Fees

Although Mainland China’s driver’s licenses for private cars are only divided into C1 and C2, the course names are varied, such as Discount Class, Technical Class, and Hong Kong Resident Class. However, some of the courses are similar, with differences possibly in practice time, the number of students per class, and whether transportation is included. Candidates can choose the appropriate course based on their personal level and service needs. Below is a list of some course names for reference.

Physical Requirements for Learning to Drive in Mainland China

Mainland China has physical requirements for learning to drive. Candidates must undergo a medical examination at a local hospital. It is recommended to make an appointment in advance to avoid a wasted trip.

Documents and Information Required for Learning to Drive in Mainland China

1. Mainland China mobile number
2. Mainland China payment method, such as Alipay or WeChat Pay
3. Recent 1-inch color photo with a white background, no hat (one copy)
4. Original and photocopy of the Mainland Travel Permit (Home Return Permit)
5. Residence Permit (if available)

Learning to Drive in Mainland China｜5 Important Points to Note

The validity period for the exam is three years, during which you must complete all the exams to obtain your driver’s license.

Each subject offers two test attempts per day. If you fail both, you’ll need to reschedule and retake the exam.

The retake fees range from RMB 70 to RMB 230, depending on the subject.

Subjects 1 and 4 have no limit on the number of retakes. You can keep paying for retakes until you pass.

Subjects 2 and 3 allow only five attempts. If you fail five times, your previous subject scores will be voided, and you’ll need to start over from the beginning.

Process for Exchanging a Mainland China Driver’s License for a Hong Kong Driver’s License without a Test

Complete the Application Form TD63A: The form must be signed by hand, not electronically or by printed signature. If any information on the form has been altered, the applicant must countersign next to the change.

Submit the Application: The completed form should be submitted to the Hong Kong Licensing Office. You can make an appointment through the Hong Kong Government’s "GovHK" website or by calling the 24-hour booking hotline at 3763 8080 to save waiting time at the counter. If you don’t book online or by phone, you must take a same-day ticket on-site to use the counter services.

Required Documents and Fees

1. Hong Kong Identity Card
2. Mainland China Driver’s License
3. Proof of Hong Kong Address (within the last 3 months)
4. Fee: HK$900 (for a 10-year license)