Can Right-Hand Drive Vehicles Be Driven in China?
2 Answers
Right-hand drive vehicles cannot be driven in China. Here are the specific reasons: 1. In mainland China, driving a right-hand drive vehicle, except for approved Hong Kong and Macau vehicles entering the country, is illegal because right-hand drive vehicles cannot pass vehicle inspection and registration. 2. China follows the right-hand traffic rule, where vehicles have left-hand drive. This setup helps drivers better judge the distance from oncoming vehicles, reducing collision risks, and makes it easier to see the opposite lane when overtaking. 3. According to the "Ministry of Public Security Notice on the Management of Right-Hand Drive Vehicles": Traffic management authorities will not register right-hand drive vehicles.
As a veteran driver with over 30 years of experience, I must say that driving right-hand drive vehicles is absolutely not allowed in China because our traffic regulations stipulate that all vehicles must be left-hand drive. Think about it - Chinese roads are designed for left-side traffic, so left-hand drive feels natural. With right-hand drive, your visibility and operations are completely reversed, making it easy to misjudge lanes, hit barriers, or pedestrians. I once saw a friend who returned from Japan try to drive a right-hand drive car, but he was stopped and fined by traffic police before even leaving the neighborhood, nearly causing an accident. Looking back, it was terrifying - the safety risks are too great. Such vehicles aren't even allowed to be registered unless they're specially approved diplomatic vehicles. So don't take chances, just stick to standard configuration vehicles.
