Is the driver's license valid nationwide?
3 Answers
Driver's licenses are valid nationwide and are divided into 15 categories: A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, C1, C2, C3, C4, D, E, F, M, N, and P. The full name of a driver's license is the motor vehicle driver's license, also known as a driving license, which is a certificate required by law for motor vehicle drivers. Introduction to driver's licenses: 1. The permission to drive a vehicle is granted through the issuance of a driver's license. This indicates that obtaining a driver's license is a formal process that must be carried out by a designated authority. 2. In China, a driver's license is defined as: A motor vehicle driver's license is a legal document issued by the administrative department to individuals who are legally permitted to learn to drive motor vehicles, have studied and mastered traffic regulations and driving skills, and have passed the relevant examinations, granting them permission to drive a specific type of motor vehicle.
Of course it's universal! Last year I drove all the way from Harbin to Sanya with just one driver's license. Nowadays, motor vehicle driver's licenses are like ID cards - they're valid nationwide for driving vehicles of the same class. But pay attention to two things: First, during the probationary period, you must be accompanied by an experienced driver when using highways, and this is strictly enforced across all provinces. Second, if you accumulate 12 penalty points, you'll need to attend a training course at the location where the points were deducted - you can't do it back in your hometown. I recommend registering your electronic driver's license in advance on the Traffic Management 12123 app. Last time in Chengdu when I forgot my physical license, the electronic version got me through smoothly. In case you encounter traffic police in remote areas with outdated equipment, keeping a paper copy in your car is safer.
As a veteran driver with over 300,000 kilometers on the road, I can responsibly say that driver's licenses are valid nationwide. But there are some nuances in actual usage: A C1 license allows driving across the country, but if you've upgraded to a C6 light trailer towing qualification, some mountainous areas may conduct additional checks on trailers; when handling traffic violations in another region, special zones like Shenzhen may require personal appearance for processing; license renewal upon expiration can be done at any vehicle management office nationwide, but the medical certificate must be from a locally designated hospital. For long-distance trips, I keep an electronic driver's license on my phone and carry a laminated copy of my physical license as dual protection for added peace of mind.
