Identify the missing document before choosing a service
Losing an existing Chinese driving license is a different problem from losing an overseas license before conversion. It is also different from renewing a Chinese license that is about to expire. Start your enquiry by naming the missing document clearly, including whether it is a regular Chinese driving license or a temporary driving permit.
This guide concerns replacement of an existing Chinese driving license. It does not establish a replacement procedure for temporary permits or foreign-issued documents. If the passport or phone associated with your driving record has also disappeared, mention that immediately: restoring access to an account and proving identity are separate tasks from replacing the card.
Make a short loss-and-record summary
Write down the issuing city, the license category and the approximate time you last had the card. Use an existing private record if you have one; do not reconstruct an unknown document number from memory. Explain whether you are still in the issuing city or travelling elsewhere, and whether your identity document has changed since issuance.
Keep the summary factual. If you cannot tell whether the card was lost or stolen, describe what you know rather than inventing a definitive account. Ask the receiving authority which statement or evidence it requires. A saved photo can help you describe the record, but do not treat possession of that image as a decision about your present permission to drive.
Check the receiving office and its material list
Beijing's official replacement guide, checked on 10 October 2026, lists the driver's identity document and two driver portraits. It directs foreign nationals with a changed name, nationality or identity document to the main Office of Vehicle Management; other foreign nationals may use that office or its branches. Confirm the current requirements for your own record before visiting.
Tell the office if another person will assist. The same Beijing guide describes identity and authorization requirements for representatives. Assistance with language or transport is not automatically authority to submit or sign on your behalf. Ask which actions you must perform personally and use only the officially accepted authorization process if representation is available.
Choose an online or in-person route deliberately
A Beijing Traffic Management Bureau answer dated 9 July 2026 describes two options: a replacement handled in another city can involve transfer of the issuing record, while an application through the 12123 app is handled by the issuing-location platform and delivered by post. It tells drivers to confirm local procedures when replacing a license away from home.
These options are not interchangeable for every person. Before choosing, ask which authority will issue the new document and whether your other records need attention. For an online request, check the delivery address and ability to receive it. Do not choose a hotel simply because it appears in an old account if you will leave before delivery.
- Which city will issue the replacement?
- Does the proposed route include a record transfer?
- Can the identity record and account be verified without guesses?
- Will you still have access to the confirmed collection or delivery location?
Follow the request through to an actual result
Save the official application reference and check the transaction status. A completed upload, payment screen or delivery selection is not proof that a new license has been issued. If the request remains incomplete, follow the stated correction route rather than placing overlapping applications through several channels.
Keep travel plans flexible while the status is unresolved. Ask the traffic authority what documents and current license status are required before driving, and separately tell any rental company about the missing card. Do not assume that a replacement request, a rental reservation or a helper's assurance independently authorizes driving.
Check the replacement and close the old request
When you receive the replacement, compare its identity information, permitted vehicle category and dates with the confirmed record. Beijing's replacement guide also says existing electronic-license holders must re-apply for the electronic version after replacement. Follow the applicable official instructions rather than assuming that an earlier display has automatically refreshed.
If the missing card later turns up, ask the issuing authority how to handle it; do not alternate between documents. For a preparation enquiry, use https://chinadriverslicense.com/contact-us/ and explain that the issue concerns an already-issued Chinese license. Confirm what assistance RIDE CN can provide before sharing identifying documents or arranging any service.
Sources and verification
- Beijing Government: Replacement of Driving Licenses (checked 2026-10-10)
- Beijing Traffic Management Bureau: Replacing a lost driving license away from its issuing city (checked 2026-10-10)
- RIDE CN: Contact us (checked 2026-10-10)
- Beijing Traffic Management Bureau: Replacement of a driving license (January 2026) (checked 2026-10-10)
Requirements may differ by city and individual circumstances. Confirm the current requirements with the authority handling your application before you travel or pay for a service.
