Car rental in China
Choose a city to see cars from local rental companies with prices and terms. Book online in minutes.
Cities with car rental in China
Each city lists cars from local rental companies with prices and terms.
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Cars in China
Choose a city and dates — the form shows available cars from local companies, total price, deposit and insurance.
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Driving in China: licence and road rules
What you need to rent a car and drive here as a visitor. Rules change — check with your rental company before the trip.
An EU/EEA licence and IDP are not enough — a local temporary driving permit is required.
A UK licence and IDP are not enough — a local temporary driving permit is required.
A US licence and IDP are not enough — a local temporary driving permit is required.
Foreign licences and IDPs are not recognised; a 90-day Chinese temporary driving permit is required (available at some airports such as Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong and Chengdu Tianfu) with a certified Chinese translation of your licence.
Most expressways are tolled at booths or ETC lanes. Manual lanes accept cash and usually WeChat Pay/Alipay; rental cars may have an ETC tag billed later.
Tip: Navigation needs Chinese apps (Amap/Baidu Maps) because Google Maps is unreliable, and electric scooters and pedestrians appear from all sides in cities; consider a car with driver for short trips.
How to rent a car
Four steps from choosing a city to getting the keys in China.
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Choose a city and dates
Pick where and when to collect the car. You can return it to the same place or, with many companies, in another city.
Pick-up and drop-off in the form -
Compare the cars
Each car shows the total price for your dates, the deposit, insurance, mileage limit and driver requirements.
All terms before you book -
Book online
The rental company confirms the booking. Usually a small prepayment online and the rest on pick-up.
Confirmed by the company -
Get the keys
Bring your passport and driving licence. The car is handed over at the office, the airport or, often, at your hotel.
Passport + licence
Car rental FAQ
The essentials, so you can plan your trip with confidence.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in China?
EU/EEA licence: An EU/EEA licence and IDP are not enough — a local temporary driving permit is required. UK licence: A UK licence and IDP are not enough — a local temporary driving permit is required. US licence: A US licence and IDP are not enough — a local temporary driving permit is required. Foreign licences and IDPs are not recognised; a 90-day Chinese temporary driving permit is required (available at some airports such as Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong and Chengdu Tianfu) with a certified Chinese translation of your licence.
Where do I get an International Driving Permit?
Get it at home before the trip: in the UK at PayPoint shops, in the US through AAA, in EU countries from the licensing authority or national automobile club. It is a translation of your licence and is valid only together with it.
What are the speed limits in China?
Typically 50 km/h in towns, 70 km/h outside towns and 120 km/h on motorways. Limits are set by signs and vary widely (30–80 in cities, up to 100 on national highways); camera enforcement everywhere. Always follow the signs — cameras are common and fines reach you via the rental company.
Are there toll roads or vignettes in China?
Most expressways are tolled at booths or ETC lanes. Manual lanes accept cash and usually WeChat Pay/Alipay; rental cars may have an ETC tag billed later.
What is the drink-driving limit?
The limit is 0.2 ‰ blood alcohol (0.2 g/l = drink-driving offence; 0.8 g/l and above is a criminal offence (drunk driving)). The safest rule is not to drink at all before driving.
Where can I pick up a car?
Sanya.
Can I return the car in another city?
Many companies allow it, sometimes for a fee. You can choose the drop-off location in the booking form.