License renewal scheme at hospitals
Starting tomorrow, Shanghai residents can apply to renew their driving licenses at certain hospital when they receive their mandatory physical exam.
Previously, drivers had to first complete a physical examination and then submit their application at a local vehicle management center, or apply through an official app.
Shanghai traffic police said yesterday that application services will be available at 11 hospitals, but coverage will soon expand to at least one hospital in each of the city’s 16 districts.
Applicants can register at participating hospitals by scanning a QR code and then entering their ID card or passport number through an online interface. Applicants must also upload a photo with their application.
Physical exam documents can be printed at a separate station and then completed by a doctor. These documents are shared with traffic authorities, and if no medical issues are reported the applicant can receive their new license by mail in just a few days.
To obtain a driving license, an applicant must pass a physical exam that tests mobility, color blindness and vision, among other abilities necessary to safely operate a motor vehicle.
The new service is available for first-time applicants as well as license renewals.
Authorities say the service is meant to reduce crowding at vehicle management centers.
Drivers in China must renew their licenses every six years.