By xiaoyue\June 11 2025
Reasons to drive around China
If you are traveling to China for more than 2 weeks or planning an in-depth trip to certain areas of China, then traveling by car may be a good choice.
You may have some concerns, such as is it safe to drive in China? What are the road conditions like? Are the driving rules and customs different from most countries in the world? Is it very difficult to get a “Chinese Driver’s License” and so on.
First of all, it’s normal for anyone to be a little bit worried about going to a strange country, but secondly, I would like to tell you that traveling to China, including driving, is a very easy and fun thing to do, and many of the rules are actually the same as in most countries.
So you really don’t have to worry too much, let me tell you how to travel legally and safely by car in China.
How do I know if I can drive in China?
Usually you need to be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license from your home country, a valid entry document, and most importantly a “Temporary Driver’s License” issued by China, then you can legally drive in China.
How to Get a Chinese Temporary Driver’s License ？
Example of Chinese Temporary Driver’s License
Usually there are “Vehicle Management Service Stations” at the airports of major port cities (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.), and you need to apply for a “Temporary Driver’s License” in person at one of these organizations when you arrive in China. Of course, you can also apply for a temporary driver’s license at a Vehicle Management Office near your hotel or place of residence.
The following documents are required to apply for a temporary driver’s license.
-Driver’s License: A valid driver’s license from your home country with a Chinese translation.
-Passport: A valid passport with a visa of at least three months.
Photographs: Two recent half-face, one-inch color photographs with a white background, usually taken at the DMV, but fees may apply.
-Physical Examination Report: If you are applying for a provisional license for a car or motorcycle, you are exempt from submitting a physical examination report.
In China, the traffic police are responsible for the verification of driver’s licenses, so the person who applies for your “temporary license” is usually a “police uncle” (a nickname for a Chinese police officer) wearing a police uniform, so don’t be nervous, they are very kind.
After submitting your application, you can usually get your “temporary license” within 3 working days, and it is usually valid for 3 months, but you can apply for an extension to 1 year if you need it.
Ps: There are Vehicle Management Offices (VMOs) on the first floor of T3 at Beijing Capital Airport and at Beijing Daxing International Airport, where you can apply for a Temporary Driver’s License on-site.
How are the roads in China?
Most of the roads in China’s cities are in good condition and the traffic order is good, but the traffic volume is usually high and the speed limit is strict, especially during the rush hours, so you should pay special attention to driving carefully and slowly.
China’s highways are usually tolled, while national and provincial highways are usually free, but the road conditions are good, and you can drive safely on both highways and national and provincial highways.
Some remote areas, especially mountainous areas in the central and western parts of the country, may be in poor condition, such as narrow and complicated roads, etc. It is recommended to be extra careful when traveling to remote areas for the first time, and it is best to be accompanied by a local person.
What are the traffic rules and regulations in China?
In Mainland China and Taiwan, cars drive on the right, the same as in the United States and most Commonwealth countries, but not the same as in Australia and Japan (Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left).
Traffic signals in China, as in most countries, are controlled by traffic lights, “stop on red, go on green, yellow will switch”. In most cities in China, traffic lights are either “round” or “arrow”.
If it is a “round” green light, on behalf of any direction can pass, but left-turning vehicles need to yield to straight vehicles, through the intersection need to slow down, observe the pedestrians, vehicles.
If it is an “arrow” green light, it means that only the direction of the arrow can pass.
“Blinking yellow light”, no matter round or arrow, is a reminder that the red light green light is about to change, in China, if the green light changes to red, you can pass during the blinking yellow light, but in order to be safe, it is recommended to wait for the next round of green light.
If it is a “round” red light, it means that vehicles cannot go straight or turn left, but can turn right.
About Navigation
Navigation system: It is highly recommended to use Gaode Maps(AMAP) or Baidu Maps for accurate and up-to-date information, route planning and real-time traffic conditions. However, since these two map apps are only available in Chinese for the time being, considering the language problem, you may use Apple Maps or Google Maps, but don’t worry too much about it, the navigation of the big destination cities and attractions can still be fully satisfied.
What are the best places to travel by car? What routes are recommended?
If you enter Beijing, you can go to Tianjin, a municipality directly under the central government, which is about 100 kilometers away from Beijing, or go to Hebei Province, which surrounds Beijing and has a lot of beautiful landscapes and historical and cultural relics; if you are starting from Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Yangzhou, Nanjing are all good places for self-driving trips. If you are traveling from Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Yangzhou and Nanjing are all good places to go. There are also many other routes to choose from, such as Shenzhen and Zhuhai from Guangzhou, Chongqing from Chengdu and Xian from Xi’an.
If you need detailed recommendations, please leave us a message or send us an email and we will be happy to help you. The most important thing is that these recommendations are completely free of charge.
How do I rent a car in China?
Many Chinese people actually rent cars for traveling, especially for touring, so it is very convenient to rent a car in China. All you need is a temporary driver’s license, a credit card and your passport.
Below are the major car rental companies you can find in China, you can choose according to your preference.
- Hertz：https://www.hertz.com
Hertz must be no stranger to you, maybe I don’t know as much as you do. Hertz has service outlets in 23 Chinese cities, covering major destination cities, and you can check the nearest shop via the official website.
- Avis: https://www.avis.com
Avis is another international car hire company that is better known in China and has opened services in 25 cities in China, again covering major destination cities.
- China Auto Rental: https://en.zuche.com
China Auto Rental, the earliest car rental business in China and currently the largest car rental company in China, has a nationwide service network, many models, standardized service and reasonable prices.
- eHi Car Services： https://en.1hai.cn
eHi Rent-A-Car is another national car rental company, founded in Shanghai, slightly later than Shenzhou Rent-A-Car, but can be said to be a latecomer, the network is now all over the whole, with a selection of car models and warm and caring service is known.
Usually these rental companies are also very convenient by supporting car rental through the official website or official APP, or you can go to the nearby car rental outlets to do it on-site.
Depending on the brand and model, it usually costs about $30-50/day for economy models and $50-150/day for mid-range and high-end models.
Well, now you have started your China driving trip, but driving safety is always the first question, please follow the rules and drive safely, wish you have a happy trip!
