Riding or driving foreign registered vehicles and motorcycles over land borders into China requires permits from an approved, licensed moto tour company.
We are often asked if it is possible to take motorcycles across the border into China, or is it possible to put the bike on a truck and then start riding once you’ve crossed into China? Whilst freedom to ride around the World is something as motorcyclists we all dream of, many Countries including China have their own unique rules and laws to govern how we must comply in order to cross their land borders with our foreign owned vehicles and motorcycles.
It may currently seems a somewhat outlandish thing to do. But a while back, organising all of the required permits and procedures had become fairly routine for us.
THE CHINESE DRIVING PERMIT RULES
China highway laws state that it is a legal requirement that you must have motor travel permits from each Province that you wish to ride through.
All your motorcycling overland China travel questions answered
The whole overland permit process takes aprox three months to organise before your date of arrival into China and the correct procedures include;
A/ Collating the correct rider and motorbike travel documents which must be in the registered name of the person accompanying the bike or vehicle.
B/ Submission of travel and vehicle paperwork in the correct format
C/ Licensed Beijing agents in China, handling the Beijing Ministry of Tourism clearances
D/ Local approved travel agents for processing local provincial travel applications, for each Chinese Province
E/ Police and army clearance, which forms part of the permit process for each Chinese province you intend to travel through overland
F/ Specialist customs brokers to organise the customs clearance & Motorcycle and vehicle Bond (Chinese equivalent of a Carnet de Passage)
G/ Traffic department inspection; A Chinese form of MOT. Our MotoExplorers guide will organise this inspection and the application of the temporary Chinese driver license issued by the Chinese Traffic Police, which takes 1 to 2 days after arrival into China.
You will then be issued with your own Chinese temporary drivers license, vehicle registration and free to go travelling overland China, Motoexplorers style.
THE UK SPECIALISTS FOR MOTORCYCLE OVERLANDING CHINA
Scouting, exploring, inspiring and sharing – we support the true spirit of adventure motorcycling.
Travel the Silk Road freely at your own pace, paying fair local prices, enjoy the support of a ride team & professional, experienced local guides and fixers, without over pampering, or over-charging!
We first rode overland China in 2009, on a mission to scout out the MotoExplorers expeditions, riding across Country to Beijing, West to Eastern China. There has always been a lengthy process to follow, which does tend to fluctuate year to year, just to add to the challenges! The bottom line is; you need to co-work your travel plans, with local licensed Chinese travel agents, government approved tour operators who hold the correct qualifications and operators license.
With over a decade of experience organising the MotoExplorers China Expeditions; we have built excellent relationships with our Chinese partners, having worked with reliable Chinese motorcycle tour agents since 2009. Our Chinese travel partners are familiar with the correct procedures and are well connected with additional ‘local contacts’, in the western Xinjiang province, which is the best border for western travellers to enter China from.
Filling motorcycles using the China Kettle system is just one of the many cultural quirks you’ll soon get used to! apparently it’s to help keep your motorcycle safe from combustion from filling a dangerous vehicle with a real pump! It’s not a practice I’ve seen anywhere in Europe, just yet! It will be interesting to see how this system evolves once we all switch to electric motorcycles!
MotoExplorers friendly English speaking Chinese guide will not interrupt your own freedom and pleasure to travel independently day by day. Many people are sometimes hesitant at the prospect of travelling with a local guide, but they are not there as minders! & our own local guides are relaxed, friendly and understanding of your desire to enjoy the riding adventures and freedom from the saddle.
So long as you stay roughy in line with our filed route plans, you are free to stop-start and travel at your own pace in China. Generally once you are on the right route, you will soon gain an understanding of where other riders & the local guides vehicle are in relation to yourself – you’ll soon get into a comfortable ride pace which suits your own riding style and is far nicer than all riding in one long motorcycle-convoy!
POLICE HAVE CHECK POINTS FOR TRAVEL PERMITS AND DRIVER LICENSES
China motorcycle outriders © MotoExplorers
With all of your paperwork in correct order, you will not be chased by the Chinese traffic Police!
At toll booths you can safely proceed around the outside barriers without need to pay road tolls.
At highway inspection points you will have the correct licenses, permits and documents, for legal permission to motorcycle through China.
MotoExplorer is here to help and assist, guide you through guide regulations and travel rules for Motorcycle touring in China.
XINJIANG TORUGART PASS BORDER PERMITS FOR CROSSINGS INTO WESTERN CHINA
We recommend the Torugart Pass from Kyrgyzstan for entering China at a land crossing border with your own vehicle or motorcycle. MotoExplorers Chinese partners have local agents who are government licensed and fully familiar with the regulations and correct procedures for obtaining the correct permits and permissions for crossing this border and travelling into Kashgar where they will assist you completing the remaining formalities at the vehicle transport department in China.
Western China is seldom in the press, it’s a part of China that very few westerners get to travel overland, especially using your own motorcycle! Media often focuses the restrictive aspects of China, of which there are increasingly more rules and check-points, but once you’re travelling away from the major cities things do become much more free-spirited the further inland you travel.
My own GS800 first scouting through China in 2009
With all of the correct documents and paperwork in order, you will be free to travel overland in China, riding your own bike at your own pace. You will be free to stop when you like and interact with the friendly local people who will usually be curious to see you and your motorcycle, where-ever you stop.
If I can help further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.