Can a temporary ID card be used for Subject 4 test?
3 Answers
Temporary ID cards can be used for the Subject 4 test, as they hold the same legal validity as permanent ID cards. Applicants simply need to present their household registration booklet and a recent 1-inch black-and-white photo (with specifications matching ID card photos) at any public security bureau, pay the processing fee, and can obtain the temporary ID on the same day. Subject 4, also known as the theoretical driving test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license examination. The test duration is 30 minutes, and making 12 penalty points worth of mistakes (6 incorrect answers) will terminate the exam. This subject specifically evaluates safety-conscious driving requirements, complex-condition driving skills, and emergency handling knowledge that were previously included in Subject 1. Administered after the practical road test (Subject 3), it further assesses candidates' traffic safety awareness.
On the day of my Subject 4 test, I forgot to bring my official ID card and was sweating with anxiety! I rushed to get a temporary ID, and the test center staff just glanced at it and said it was acceptable. Actually, Article 27 of the 'Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses' clearly states that identity proof includes temporary resident ID cards, which have the same validity as official ID cards. However, I want to remind you of two things: make sure the temporary ID doesn’t expire, and the photo must be clear and not severely worn during on-site verification. At my test center, they also scanned the magnetic strip information, but they still allowed me to proceed even though the temporary ID didn’t have one. It’s best to call the test center in advance to confirm. Some places might require an additional police station certificate for extra assurance.
Last week, while taking students for their Subject 4 exam, I encountered a case: a young girl was held up for half an hour because she used a temporary ID card. Temporary documents have legal validity, but many test centers require magnetic stripe verification for ID scanning devices, and temporary IDs lack chips, which can cause issues. Nowadays, a more standardized approach is to not only bring the temporary ID but also the original household registration booklet and the driving school enrollment receipt. Some students have tested this: at the counter where machine verification fails, the manual channel can accept a temporary ID + digital photo receipt. Ultimately, it depends on the handling method of the staff on duty that day. It's recommended to arrive at the site forty minutes earlier than the exam time to prepare for both scenarios.
