What documents are required to obtain a driver's license in Guangzhou?
2 Answers
The following are the relevant requirements for obtaining a driver's license in Guangzhou: 1. Age requirements: (1) For small cars, small automatic transmission cars, small automatic transmission passenger cars for the disabled, and light motorcycles, the applicant must be at least 18 years old. (2) For low-speed trucks, three-wheeled cars, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, or wheeled self-propelled machinery, the applicant must be between 18 and 60 years old. (3) For urban buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or trams, the applicant must be between 20 and 50 years old. (4) For medium-sized buses, the applicant must be between 21 and 50 years old. (5) For tractors, the applicant must be between 24 and 50 years old. 2. Physical requirements: (1) Height: For large buses, tractors, urban buses, large trucks, or trolleybuses, the applicant must be at least 155 cm tall. For medium-sized buses, the applicant must be at least 150 cm tall. (2) Vision: For large buses, tractors, urban buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or trams, the applicant must have uncorrected or corrected visual acuity of at least 5.0 on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. For other vehicle types, the applicant must have uncorrected or corrected visual acuity of at least 4.9 on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. (3) Color vision: The applicant must not have red-green color blindness.
When I took the driver's license test in Guangzhou, I found it quite complicated. The most basic documents required were the original ID card and its photocopy. If you were from another city, you also needed a valid Guangzhou residence certificate to prove your address. The medical examination report was crucial—you had to go to designated hospitals or community centers for basic checks like vision and hearing to obtain the health certificate. For photos, usually, several one-inch white-background color photos were needed as backups, so don’t bring too few. The application form could be filled out on-site or downloaded online, but the information had to be truthful with no tampering. I recommend making an early appointment through online platforms like the Traffic Management 12123 App—register an account by entering your ID number and follow the steps for a convenient and quick process to avoid long queues. When choosing a driving school, compare prices carefully and don’t just go for the cheapest option; safety comes first. Before taking the Theory Test (Subject 1), practice more with question banks using mobile apps—don’t slack off. The total cost, including medical checks and registration, was around a few thousand yuan, which was reasonable overall, but the process took over a month, so patience was key.
