Recently, a man surnamed Qiu, who visited relatives in Illinois, was stopped by police driving in Chuntian, Illinois. Although he showed his Chinese driver's license and the so-called "international driver's license," he was still asked by the police to appear in court on charges of "driving without a license."
A Chinese lawyer said Qiu, surnamed Qiu, had been dropped after he went to court, but he reminded the public that he might be suspected of breaking the law if he intended to drive in the United States with a Chinese driver's license.
The Chicago Police Department said many people have asked whether the Chinese driver's license and the "international driver's license" presented by many Chinese tourists are valid driver's license documents. Some people also called the police saying that the "international driver's license", which was allegedly valid for a period of up to 10 years, had spent hundreds of yuan. Why were they stopped by the police for inspection or were given a ticket or asked to go to court?
Since China is not a party to the United Nations Geneva Convention on Road Traffic and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, China's government will not issue an "international driving license" to its nationals, but a truly legally effective "international driving license". It must be sent out by the home country government from which the passenger came from.
He also mentioned that the so-called "China International driver's license" is in fact only a "translation document." these translation documents must be notarized in order to have a certain certification function. Many people have an international driver's license bought in thousands of yuan. In fact, the real legal utility of "almost no".
Zhu Guoping, who recently received a number of Chinese tourists with "unlicensed driving" requests to appear in court, said that as long as the Chinese drivers' licenses are valid, they are generally allowed to drive during their legal visa stay in the United States.
However, strictly speaking, if the police found you "drive without a license" on the spot, you can not be said to be completely unfounded, and most of these cases will be acquitted by the judges when they arrive at the court, but visitors to the United States should not be willing to get into these troubles.
The Illinois Office of the Secretary of State's website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com, says foreigners who drive in the state and hold a foreign license are legal within 90 days, and should be replaced with an Illinois driver's license after 90 days, otherwise driving without a license.
The Chicago Police Department said all states in the United States have different standards for the issuance of driving licences, such as holding only a Chinese driver's license but driving to other states to travel or do business, it is best to clarify the relevant regulations of the states.
Every year, more and more Chinese travel abroad. It is rumored that they can go to the United States with an "international driver's license" and that they can drive to Canada, but this is not the case.
The so-called "international driver's license," which police say is similar to translation documents, has limited legal effect.
There is nothing more ridiculous than China's international driver's license. How many people have been deceived?!
In fact, most states in the United States support Chinese drivers' licenses, including (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Calif.), Nevada (Las Vegas), Arizona (Yellowstone Park) and Florida (Orlando). New York, (New York), Washington, Seattle, etc. In close to 40 states in the United States, you can hold a Chinese driver's license and open it at will.
Like California.
DMV:, can you use your Chinese driver's license in California, USA? Can I use an international driver's license in California, USA?
A: if you are a visitor to California and have a legal driver's license from your country, you can drive in California without a California license as long as your license is valid. Government, Calif., recognizes a driver's license issued from the driver's residence, government (state, territory) as a legal document.
If you become a California resident, you must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days.
If you have a green card or other U. S. identity, you can't use a Chinese driver's license and get caught, if you're driving without a license, you need to go to court.
Government, Calif., does not recognize an international driver's license InternationalDriving Permit as a legal driver's license.
An international driver's license is just an interpreter of your own driver's license and is not required to drive in California.
Foreign drivers are advised to carry other identification materials, such as your passport, while driving. Carry your passport with you!
We recommend that foreign drivers understand California's traffic rules to avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary distress.
CA statement:
DMV official Web site description:
DMV official address: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/hdbk/ca_dl#adultsvisiting
The California Motor vehicles Authority (DMV) California driving Manual (California Driver Handbook) also clearly states in English:
“Adults Visiting California Visitors over 18 years old with a valid driver license from their home state or country may drive in California without getting a California driver license as long as their home state driver license is valid.”
As long as you are 18 years old and your local driver's license (as far as we are the Chinese driver's license) is valid, you can drive yourself in California without having to obtain a California driver's license.
Note: American laws are different from state to state!
Below is a list of states that allow B1/B2 visa holders to use a domestic driver's license, 16 for 16 and 18 for 18.
Alabama, yes, 16
Alaska, yes, 90 days, 16
Arizona, yes.
Arkansas, no, IDPrequired.
California, yes, 18
Colorado, yes, 16
Connecticut, not, IDP required.
Delaware, yes, 16
Florida, yes, 16 /;
The state parliament amended the rules in 2012 to prohibit legal driving in Florida with a Chinese driver's license from 2013, but the state traffic department announced on February 14, 2013 that it would not enforce the law for the time being. Latest: the governor of Florida signed decree H7059 on April 2, repealing last year's rule that foreigners must have an international driver's license in Florida, and you can continue to hold a valid driving license in your country.
Georgia, yes.
Hawaii, no, IDP required.
Idaho, yes.
Illinois, yes, the whole legal visit
Indiana, yes, 16.5
Iowa, yes.
Kansas, yes.
Kentucky, not, IDP required.
Louisiana, yes, 90days.
Maine, yes, 16
Maryland, yes.
Massachusetts, no.
Michigan, no.
Minnesota, yes, 15
Mississippi, yes, 60 days, 18
Missouri, yes, 16
Montana, yes, 15
Nebraska, yes, 30days.
Nevada, yes, 16
New Hampshire, No, title 21 of the State Law on Motor vehicles does not specify the specific country in which a foreign driver's license is issued as recognized by the State, and the exemption provisions apply to the states / provinces in which the driving license is mutually recognized.
New Jersey, no.
New Mexico, yes, 15
New York state, yes
North Carolina, yes.
North Dakota, yes, 16
Ohio, yes.
Oklahoma, yes, 16
Oregon, yes, 16
Pennsylvania, yes, 16
Rhode Island, yes, 16
South Carolina, yes, 16
South Dakota, yes, 16
Tennessee, yes
Texas, no.
Utah, yes, 6months16
Vermont, no.
Virginia, yes, 16.25
Washington State, yes, 1 year, 16
West Virginia, yes, 90 days, 16
Wisconsin, not, IDP required.
Wyoming, yes.
Washington, D.C., yes, 30days.