Can You Get a Driver's License Without Attending a Driving School?
3 Answers
It is possible to obtain a driver's license without attending a driving school, but self-study for the driver's license test is not permitted nationwide; only certain regions allow direct self-study examinations. Below are the relevant details about obtaining a driver's license: 1. Application Requirements: (1) Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with the maximum age range being 18-70 years, and a height of 150cm or above (155cm or above for large trucks). (2) No red-green color blindness. (3) Naked or corrected visual acuity must reach 4.9 or above on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. (4) Hearing must be sufficient to discern the sound source with each ear at 50cm from the tuning fork when wearing hearing aids. (5) Both thumbs must be intact, and each hand must have at least three other fingers intact. 2. Physical Examination Fee: The cost is generally not high, and you can undergo the examination yourself. Some driving schools may also cover the examination fee on your behalf. 3. Photo Fee: A white-background, one-inch bareheaded photo is required at the time of application. You can take the photo at a designated location or find your own place to take it. 4. Driving Test Fee: The cost varies depending on the driving school. Some schools collect the fee at the time of application, while others require you to pay it yourself.
I previously researched this issue for my cousin and found that it's indeed possible to get a driver's license without attending driving school. This is called the self-study direct examination policy, which is being piloted in some cities. However, the actual process is quite troublesome. First, you need to find a training vehicle and install a secondary brake, then have a licensed driver with at least five years of experience accompany you throughout the practice. Just finding a qualified training site is a headache – regular parking lots don't allow practice, and specialized venues cost over a hundred yuan per hour, much more expensive than driving schools. Moreover, the exam scheduling system isn't friendly to self-learners, with exceptionally long wait times. The most troublesome part is the road training for Subject 3, as many urban areas restrict training vehicles, making self-practice prone to violations. All things considered, the time and money costs are 20-30% higher than enrolling in a driving school, so I wouldn't recommend trying it.
My neighbor tried to self-study for the direct driving test last year, but gave up after struggling for half a year. The key issue is you have to arrange your own practice car—retrofitting a regular car with auxiliary brakes and mirrors costs three to four thousand yuan. You also need to get the car inspected and registered at the vehicle management office, and repeat the inspection every six months, which is particularly troublesome. The biggest headache is finding an instructor—by regulation, the accompanying trainer must hold a coaching certificate, and privately hired ones charge more than driving schools and are harder to schedule. For test items like reversing into the garage in Subject 2, no matter how detailed online tutorials are, they can't compare to the clarity of professional venue markings. Moreover, if you fail the test, you have to wait twenty days for a retake, while driving school students have priority access. Honestly, this policy feels more symbolic than practical.
