REDSTAR Hangzhou October 2019

广 告 • 特 辑 // FEATURES /
care, they want your actual name. Even
though I already had a Chinese name,
贫 胜 利 , they wanted the transliteration
of Nicholas ( 尼 克 拉 斯 ), don’t make this
mistake, it’ll be a bit of a headache!
• You need to go to your local police
station to get a Registration Voucher
of Residence for Visitors from Overseas
(you should have already been given this
when you registered). This needs to be
stamped by the police station themselves.
• Lastly, make sure you take three
1-inch passport-style photos, with
a white background. I’ve been able
to get these for pretty cheap at
most print shops, around 12 to 18
photos for about 10-20 RMB.
Study
While you’re waiting for the translation
to come in, study for the test!
• I downloaded the app Laowaidrive on
my iPhone and
I’m pretty sure I’ve
seen it available
on Android
devices as well.
• This app has 1000
questions, some
deal with bus
and truck driving,
but most are the
same questions
you’ll get on
the actual test
(Chinglish and all).
• Using the free
version of the
app allows you
to answer 19-20
questions before
it pops up with an
ad, just exit the
ad, and scroll to
the last question
you answered. If
you wanna pay
for it, go ahead, it
may have some
cool amenities.
• If you don’t
want to get an
app, you can go
to the Driver’s
Licence Customer
Service Center (33 Hefang Street, 河
坊 街 33 号 ) and order the study book
from window 27 on the second floor.
According to hzprivatetour.com,
the book costs 20 RMB and comes
in English, French, Russian, German,
Italian, Japanese, Korean and Arabic.
• The test itself will have 100 questions:
40 are true or false, 60 are multiplechoice.
You need to get a 90 or higher
to pass, so make sure you study!
STEP 3: GET
IT DONE!
You’ve made it so far,
now you just need
to get it finished.
First, make sure you
go to the test centre
(same location as
the Driver’s Licence
Customer Service
Centre) fairly early if
you’re trying to knock
this out in one day.
The centre is open from 8:30 the to 16:45,
with a lunch break between 12:00 and 13:30.
Again, it will be helpful to have a Chinese
friend there if you can’t communicate well
in Chinese. When you go, you’ll have to get
a number. Lucky for you there’s a window
dedicated to foreign driver’s licence
holders, but make sure you choose the
right option when getting your number.
They’ll check your documents then have
you go through a minor physical exam:
they’ll check your sight, your hearing, and
your ability to grab something (maybe
to make sure you can control a steering
wheel). This will cost a total of 15 RMB. Next,
you’ll go back to the main window and set
up an appointment to take the test, just
set it up for later that day, which will cost
you 80 RMB. Important note: if you want
to take that test in a language other than
Chinese, make sure you let them know.
Then you just wait for the test. You will
have about an hour to complete the
test, which should be enough. I ended
up using about 40-45 minutes to do the
test and then went back and checked
my answers! You will not be able to take
any papers or pens into the test, and you
cannot use your phone (of course).
Once you’ve passed the test (and since
you studied for a whole week I’m sure
you will), then it’s just a matter of paying
10 RMB and waiting to get your newlylaminated
Chinese Driver’s Licence. If
you’re concerned about the test, don’t be -
I studied for a weekend and got a 98 on the
test my first time. If you don’t pass the first
time, you can take it again in the same day!
Good luck, I’ll see you on the road!
redstarhangzhou.com 33