China's Driving Test Explained: Subject 1, Subject 2 and Subject 3
If you apply for a Chinese driver’s license from scratch, you take a series of tests. The provisions say that the contents and standards of the examinations are uniform across the country, and that the test items depend on the vehicle class. This guide focuses on the small-car classes: C1 (manual) and C2 (automatic).
If you already hold a foreign license, you generally take only Subject 1 for a car class. See how foreigners get a Chinese driver's license. Also note that provincial and city traffic bureaus may add items to Subject 2 and 3, and booking details can change. Confirm with your local vehicle administration office (车管所) or the Traffic Management 12123 app.
The three subjects at a glance
| Subject 1 | Subject 2 | Subject 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content | Road traffic laws and related knowledge (written) | Driving skills in a closed test field | Driving skills on a real road, and safe and civilized driving knowledge |
| Pass mark (small cars) | 90 out of 100 | 80 out of 100 | 90 out of 100 for the road test, and 90 out of 100 for the knowledge part |
| Time / distance | 45 minutes | Not specified in our sources for small cars | Road route of at least 3 km |
For large vehicles (large bus, heavy tractor-trailer, city bus, medium bus, large truck, light trailer), the Subject 2 pass mark is 90.
Subject 1: laws and traffic knowledge
Subject 1 tests road use rules, traffic signals, handling of traffic violations and accidents, the application and use of driver’s licenses, vehicle registration, and other road traffic safety laws and rules. You need 90 out of 100 and have 45 minutes. Read more in Subject 1: what to expect and practice with the mock exam.
The learning certificate
After you pass Subject 1, the vehicle management office issues a driving learning certificate within one working day. It can be paper or electronic with the same effect, and you can print or download it from the online traffic safety service platform. It is valid for three years. You must pass Subject 2 and Subject 3 within that time or your passed results are voided. You must carry it when learning to drive on the road.
Subject 2: the test field
The items depend on the class:
| Class | Subject 2 items |
|---|---|
| Small manual car (C1) | Reverse parking, stopping and starting on a ramp, parallel parking, curve driving, right-angle turn |
| Small automatic car (C2) | Reverse parking, parallel parking, curve driving, right-angle turn (no ramp item) |
The provincial traffic authority can add items.
Subject 3: the road test and safe-driving knowledge
Subject 3 has two parts, and each is scored out of 100 with a pass mark of 90.
- Road driving skills: pre-driving preparation, starting, driving straight, changing gears, changing lanes, pulling over, going straight through junctions, left and right turns, crossing a crosswalk, school zones, bus stops, meeting oncoming vehicles, overtaking, U-turns and night driving. For small cars the route must be at least 3 km. Candidates who do not take a night test are tested with simulated night lighting.
- Safe and civilized driving knowledge: operating requirements, safe driving in bad weather and complicated road conditions, handling a tyre blowout and other emergencies, preventing secondary accidents, and first aid. You can take this part on the same day after passing the field and road parts. If you fail it, your road-test result stays valid.
Waiting periods before you can book
| Test | Earliest booking after you receive the learning certificate |
|---|---|
| Subject 2, small cars (C1, C2) | 10 days |
| Subject 2, large vehicles | 20 days |
| Subject 3, small automatic car (C2) | 20 days |
| Subject 3, small manual car (C1) | 30 days |
| Subject 3, large vehicles | 40 days (30 days if you already hold a car license) |
The Beijing English page gives 30 days for Subject 3 for “small vehicles and small automatic vehicles”. The national provisions give 20 days for the automatic class, so check which applies to your class.
Booking and retake rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| How to book | National exam booking system: internet, phone or service window, including the Traffic Management 12123 app |
| Retake | Each subject can be retaken once per booking. If you fail the retake, or skip it, that booking ends |
| Waiting before rebooking Subject 2 or 3 | At least 10 days |
| Maximum bookings | Not more than 5 bookings each for Subject 2 and Subject 3 during the certificate’s validity. If you fail the fifth, your other passed results are voided |
| Cancelling | Cancel at least one day in advance. Not turning up counts as a fail |
| Moving to another city | If you have passed some subjects, you can change your exam location, up to three times |
Cheating
If you cheat, your exam qualification is cancelled, your other passed subjects are voided, you may be fined up to 2,000 yuan, and you cannot apply for a license again for one year. See failing and cheating on the test.
After you pass
You complete at least 30 minutes of safe-driving education and accident case warnings, take part in a license oath ceremony, and receive the license the same day. After that you start a 12-month probation period.