Regulations on the Management of Temporary Entry of Foreign Motor Vehicles and Drivers in China

Announcement by the Ministry of Public Security

The revised “Regulations on the Management of Temporary Entry of Motor Vehicles and Drivers” have been announced by the Ministry of Public Security and will be implemented from January 1, 2007.

Provisional Content

Article 1 These regulations are formulated in accordance with the “Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China” and its implementation regulations.

Article 2 These regulations apply to motor vehicles and drivers entering the territory of the People’s Republic of China temporarily for up to three months, including:

• Foreign motor vehicles and drivers approved by the competent national authorities to participate in organized tourism, competitions, and other exchanges.
• Foreign motor vehicles and drivers entering temporarily and only operating within certain border areas after entry.
• Foreign motor vehicle drivers who need to drive leased Chinese motor vehicles after temporary entry.

Article 3 Foreign motor vehicles entering China temporarily must apply for temporary entry motor vehicle license plates and driving permits from the public security traffic management department of the municipality directly under the central government or the districted city where the entry or departure begins.

Article 4 Applicants for temporary entry motor vehicle license plates and driving permits must fill out the “Application Form for Temporary Entry Motor Vehicle License Plates and Driving Permits” in Chinese, submit proof of vehicle registration issued by overseas authorities (including Chinese translations where applicable), customs clearance permits for vehicle entry issued by Chinese authorities, and other relevant certificates depending on the purpose of entry.

Article 5 Temporary entry motor vehicle license plates are issued as paper plates and specify the permitted areas, routes, and validity period for operation.

Article 6 The validity period of temporary entry motor vehicle license plates and driving permits must match the period endorsed on the entry approval document, not exceeding three months, and cannot be extended.

Article 7 Temporary entry vehicle license plates for cars should be placed on the right side of the front windshield, while those for motorcycles must be carried with the vehicle for inspection.

Article 8 Foreign motor vehicles entering temporarily can travel to the location of the issuing authority for temporary entry motor vehicle license plates and driving permits as specified in Article 3 upon entry, and must apply for these documents within two days of entry.

Article 9 Foreign motor vehicle drivers entering temporarily can drive their own temporary entry motor vehicles or leased Chinese motor vehicles.

Article 10 Drivers of temporary entry motor vehicles must apply for a temporary motor vehicle driving permit from the public security traffic management department of the municipality directly under the central government or the districted city where the entry or departure begins.

Article 11 Drivers of leased Chinese motor vehicles must apply for a temporary motor vehicle driving permit from the public security traffic management department of the municipality directly under the central government or the districted city where the rental company is located.

Article 12 The categories of vehicles allowed under a temporary motor vehicle driving permit must correspond to those specified on the applicant’s foreign motor vehicle driver’s license. For drivers of self-driven temporary entry motor vehicles, the permit must match the vehicle type brought into China. For drivers of leased Chinese motor vehicles, the permit covers small cars and small automatic transmission cars.

Article 13 Applicants for temporary motor vehicle driving permits must complete the “Application Form for Temporary Motor Vehicle Driving Permits” in Chinese and submit identification documents, their foreign motor vehicle driver’s license (with Chinese translations where applicable), proof of meeting China’s driving permit conditions based on age and physical condition, two recent passport-sized color photos, and relevant certificates from Chinese authorities for organized tourism, competitions, or other exchanges.

Article 14 The expiration date of temporary motor vehicle driving permits must match the expiration date on the entry and exit identification documents, with a maximum validity period of three months and no extension allowed.

Article 15 Temporary motor vehicle driving permits must be carried at all times and used in conjunction with the holder’s foreign motor vehicle driver’s license and its Chinese translation.

Article 16 Drivers of temporary entry motor vehicles can drive their vehicles to the location specified in Article 10 for the issuance of temporary motor vehicle driving permits within two days of entry, using their foreign motor vehicle driver’s license and entry permit as documentation.

Article 17 When issuing temporary entry motor vehicle license plates, driving permits, and temporary motor vehicle driving permits, the public security traffic management department must verify previous entry records of foreign motor vehicles and drivers. If there are unresolved traffic violations or accidents in China or records of hit-and-run incidents involving motor vehicles, permits will not be issued until these issues are resolved.

Article 18 Drivers of temporarily entered motor vehicles must adhere to China’s road traffic safety laws, regulations, and rules; follow the designated areas or routes as specified on the temporary entry motor vehicle license plates; stop for inspection by traffic police when required; present entry and exit documents, temporary motor vehicle driving permits, and their foreign motor vehicle driver’s license with its Chinese translation; accept legal handling by China’s public security traffic management department for violations of road traffic safety laws and regulations; and in the event of a traffic accident, immediately stop, protect the scene, rescue the injured, and promptly report to the on-duty traffic police or public security traffic management department for legal handling.

Article 19 Drivers of temporarily entered motor vehicles found engaging in the following behaviors must be handled according to the following regulations by the public security traffic management department:

• Driving motor vehicles without a temporary motor vehicle driving permit or beyond the validity period of the temporary motor vehicle driving permit, in accordance with Article 99 of the “Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China.”
• Driving motor vehicles without temporary entry motor vehicle license plates and driving permits or beyond the validity period of these documents, in accordance with Article 95 of the “Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China.”
• Driving temporarily entered motor vehicles beyond the permitted areas or routes, in accordance with Article 90 of the “Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China.”

Article 20 For border areas with frequent border trade, passenger and freight transportation, border resident exchanges, or transit activities, and where foreign motor vehicles and drivers only operate within certain border areas after entry, provincial public security agencies may provide implementation opinions based on provincial conditions.

Article 21 For motor vehicles from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan Region participating in organized tourism, competitions, or other exchanges, the provisions of these regulations apply. Individuals holding driver’s licenses from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region, and Taiwan Region who temporarily enter the mainland to drive motor vehicles must also comply with these regulations.

Article 22 Temporary entry motor vehicle license plates, driving permits, and temporary motor vehicle driving permits are uniformly printed by the Ministry of Public Security.

Article 23 “Temporary entry motor vehicles” as referred to in these regulations are vehicles registered abroad that need temporary entry into China for driving purposes. “Drivers of temporarily entered motor vehicles” refer to foreign individuals holding foreign motor vehicle driver’s licenses who need to temporarily enter China to drive motor vehicles.

Article 24 The term “departure point” refers to the starting point of organized tourism, competitions, or other exchange activities.

Article 25 These regulations shall come into effect on January 1, 2007. The “Regulations on the Management of Temporary Entry of Motor Vehicles and Drivers” issued on May 1, 1989 (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 4) are hereby repealed. In cases where other regulations issued by the Ministry of Public Security before January 1, 2007 are inconsistent with these regulations, these regulations shall prevail.