Can Right-Hand Drive Vehicles Be Licensed in Mainland China?
3 Answers
Right-hand drive vehicles cannot be licensed in mainland China, with one exception: certain vehicles with Hong Kong or Macau license plates can apply for mainland licenses through the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Authorities, commonly known as "dual license plates." However, not all Hong Kong and Macau license plate vehicles are eligible to apply, as the conditions are quite stringent, and they must also be subject to customs supervision. The general procedure for vehicle licensing is as follows: obtain the vehicle certificate of conformity; keep the triplicate invoice for the vehicle purchase; pay the vehicle purchase tax and receive the tax certificate; prepare all necessary documents. Once all procedures are complete, you can go to the vehicle management office to register and apply for a license plate. First, a specialized traffic police officer will inspect the vehicle, mainly checking the vehicle identification code and the vehicle's appearance. Then, you can select a license plate number, pay the fee, and wait to receive the plate. In countries where driving is on the right side of the road, overtaking is required to be done from the left, which is why the steering wheel is placed on the left side of the vehicle. This is because overtaking from the left only requires moving one-third of the vehicle's width to observe the road ahead, whereas overtaking from the right would require moving the entire vehicle width before the driver can see the road ahead. Similarly, in countries where driving is on the left side, the steering wheel is placed on the right side.
As far as I know, right-hand drive vehicles cannot be licensed in mainland China. Chinese laws stipulate that vehicles must be left-hand drive because we drive on the right side of the road. This design ensures safe driving and smooth traffic flow. If you drive a right-hand drive vehicle on the road, not only will your view be obstructed, but you may also make wrong turns and cause accidents. National standards explicitly prohibit the registration of such vehicles. Even cars imported from Hong Kong or overseas must be converted to left-hand drive to pass approval. In fact, the underlying reason is to standardize regulations and reduce safety hazards, which is reflected in the vehicle management rules of the Ministry of Transport. If you want to drive, you must choose a left-hand drive vehicle—following the rules is the most hassle-free approach.
I've been driving for almost twenty years and have seen many right-hand drive car enthusiasts trying to register their vehicles in mainland China, only to hit a wall. Mainland roads are right-hand traffic, so it's only logical to have the steering wheel on the left. Driving a right-hand drive car always feels awkward and prone to minor mishaps. Legally, such vehicles are simply not allowed to be registered as they would disrupt the entire traffic order. Even if you have import documentation, the vehicle management office will reject it unless modifications are made. Occasionally, you might spot some Hong Kong vehicles at the Shenzhen border, but those are only for temporary crossing and cannot be registered long-term. My advice is to choose left-hand drive cars when purchasing to save yourself unnecessary trouble.
