Missing a right lower limb or both lower limbs, you can still take a driving test; the permitted vehicle class is C5

If the right lower limb or both lower limbs are missing or cannot move, but you can sit steadily on your own and the upper limbs meet the conditions, you can take the test for a disability-dedicated automatic small-car licence, code C5. Missing one palm with the other hand meeting conditions can also apply. People with single-eye vision impairment or hearing impairment each have vehicle classes they can take. The physical exam must be at a specialized hospital recognized by the province.

Cost

Tuition is about the same as an ordinary licence, usually a few thousand yuan in most places. The car must be modified for manual control. A physical check every three years.

Benefit

Annex 1 of the Provisions on the Application for and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licences (机动车驾驶证申领和使用规定) sets physical conditions in detail. Item 8: “If the right lower limb or both lower limbs are missing or have lost motor function but the person can sit independently, and the upper limbs meet item 5 of this section, the person may apply for a driving licence for the disability-dedicated small automatic passenger-car class. If one palm is missing, the other hand has an intact thumb and two other intact fingers, upper-limb and finger motor function is normal, and the lower limbs meet item 6 of this section, the person may apply for a driving licence for the disability-dedicated small automatic passenger-car class.” Item 6: if only the left lower limb is missing or has lost motor function but the right lower limb is normal, the person may apply for the small automatic-car class. Vision: “single-eye vision impairment, with the better eye’s uncorrected or corrected vision at 5.0 or above on the logarithmic chart and horizontal visual field of 150 degrees,” may apply for small car, small automatic, low-speed goods, three-wheel, and disability-dedicated small automatic passenger-car classes. Hearing: with hearing impairment but able to tell sound-source direction while wearing a hearing aid, may apply for small car and small automatic classes, and must wear the hearing aid when driving. Article 85: the physical-condition certificate submitted when handling disability-dedicated small automatic passenger-car licence business shall be issued by a specialized medical institution recognized by the provincial health administration. Holders of this class shall have a physical check every three years and submit the physical-condition certificate within thirty days after the end of a demerit cycle. Article 78: when driving, the disability motor-vehicle special mark shall be placed on the vehicle as required. Article 79, paragraph 1, item 9: for holders of the disability-dedicated small automatic passenger-car class, “if the physical-condition certificate is not submitted within one year after the end of three demerit cycles,” the vehicle administration shall cancel the driving licence (nationwide, as amended by Ministry of Public Security Order No. 172, in force from 1 January 2025). Article 23, paragraph 1, item 5 of the Provisions on Motor Vehicle Registration (机动车登记规定) states that after adding, removing, or replacing limb-disability operating aids on small or micro automatic passenger cars, the owner shall apply for change filing with the registration vehicle administration within thirty days. Article 24: for that filing, submit identity proof, driving permit, motor-vehicle safety technical inspection certificate, and operating-aid installation certificate, and present the vehicle (Ministry of Public Security Order No. 164)

Notes

A much lower-threshold path is the disability motorized wheelchair. Article 119 of the Road Traffic Safety Law (道路交通安全法) lists disability motorized wheelchairs whose design speed, unladen mass, and outer dimensions meet national standards as non-motor vehicles, so no driving licence is needed; Article 58 caps speed on non-motor lanes at fifteen kilometres per hour. A C5 car needs limb-disability operating aids installed; after installation get the installation certificate and file the change at the vehicle administration within 30 days. If the physical-condition certificate is not submitted within one year after three demerit cycles end, the licence is cancelled.

Sources · 3

1. 公安部令第 172 号. 机动车驾驶证申领和使用规定（第七十八条、第七十九条、第八十五条、附件 1）. gov.cn/gongbao/2025/issue_11866/202502/conten…
2. 公安部令第 164 号. 机动车登记规定（第二十三条、第二十四条）. gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5682413.htm
3. 中华人民共和国道路交通安全法（2021 年修正，第五十八条、第一百一十九条）. flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8081817ab231eb017a…