Driving in China as a foreign visitor

The 2024 Provisional Driving Licence

Before September 2024 foreign visitors could not legally drive in mainland China without going through the full Chinese driving-licence exchange process (medical, written theory test, and — for non-holders of an equivalent foreign licence — a full practical test). The 2024 reform introduced the 临时驾驶许可 (línshí jiàshǐ xǔkě), a temporary provisional licence valid for up to three months, issued on the same day at participating airports.

Requirements: a valid passport with a current Chinese entry stamp (any visa type or visa-free entry qualifies), a valid non-expired foreign driving licence, one passport-style photograph, and a basic on-the-spot vision test. Fee ¥10. Processing typically 15–30 minutes at the traffic counter.

Airports where the counter is confirmed operational as of 2026: Beijing PEK and PKX, Shanghai PVG and SHA, Guangzhou CAN, Chengdu TFU, Shenzhen SZX, Chongqing CKG, Xi'an XIY, Hangzhou HGH, Nanjing NKG, Kunming KMG, Wuhan WUH, and a growing regional list. Provincial vehicle-administration offices (车管所) issue the same licence for visitors already inside the country.

What does NOT work

An International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention is not recognised on the mainland — China never joined that convention. Bringing your home-country licence alone is also insufficient. The provisional licence, or a full converted Chinese licence, is mandatory. Hong Kong and Macau are separate jurisdictions and both recognise the IDP.

Renting a car

Major international-brand rentals in mainland China operate through local partners:

• eHi 神州租车 — the biggest network; accepts the provisional licence.
• Anji Car Rental (Avis China) — solid airport counters at PVG, PEK, CAN.
• Sixt China — smaller footprint but present in tier-1 cities.

Deposit: ¥3,000–8,000 (¥5,000 typical), held on a credit card at pickup. Foreign cards work at eHi and Anji airport counters; some regional branches take Chinese cards only, so book via the airport branch to be safe. Third-party liability insurance is included; comprehensive coverage is a paid upgrade (recommended for anything longer than a day trip).

Domestic-only rental platforms (EVCard, GoFun, Meituan Car) run on Chinese Alipay / WeChat verification and typically require a full converted Chinese licence — not the provisional. If you want them, do the conversion first.

Rules of the road

• Right-hand traffic. Drive on the right; overtake on the left.
• Blood-alcohol limit: 20 mg/100 ml. Effectively zero. Do not drink any alcohol before driving. Enforcement is heavy and includes random on-the-spot breathalyser stops. Above 80 mg/100 ml is a criminal offence with mandatory detention.
• Speed limits: 30 km/h residential; 40–70 urban; 80 national highway (国道); 100–120 expressway (高速). Automatic camera enforcement is extensive.
• Seat belts required for driver and all passengers, front and back. Children under 4 require a child restraint (patchily enforced).
• Mobile phone use while driving is illegal; hands-free calls permitted.
• Right turn on redis legal from the right-most lane when there's no red arrow specifically prohibiting it.
• Bus lanes and HOV lanes are camera-enforced during peak hours (typically 07:00–09:00, 17:00–19:00 weekdays).

City-specific quirks

• Beijing: licence-plate last-digit weekday driving ban (workday odd/even scheme rotates quarterly). Foreign-plate rentals from eHi and Anji have a Beijing plate and are subject to this — check the schedule before renting for a specific date.
• Shanghai: non-Shanghai-plate cars barred from elevated expressways during peak hours (07:00–10:00 and 15:00–20:00 weekdays). This includes rentals with non-Shanghai plates — a genuine gotcha.
• Chengdu: odd/even ban within the Second Ring during peak, similar to Beijing but softer. Enforced by camera.
• Hong Kong / Macau: right-hand-drive cars, drive on the LEFT. Different licence rules — the mainland provisional is not valid in the SARs.

Parking

Street parking in tier-1 cities is metered and camera-enforced. The payment mechanism is a WeChat / Alipay QR at each parking berth — cash is not accepted at most modern meters. Look for a P sign. If you can't get the QR to load, move on rather than risk the auto-ticket.

Underground carparks at malls, hotels, and office buildings are the safe default. Rates ¥5–15/hour in tier-1 cities, ¥3–8 in tier-2. Tickets are paid at an unmanned machine on the way out — again, WeChat / Alipay QR.

Fuel and charging

Petrol: 92 (regular), 95 (premium), 98 (super). Foreign-brand rentals usually recommend 95. Sinopec and PetroChina are the two national networks with English signage. Pay at the pump or the on-site kiosk; cash still accepted, WeChat / Alipay universal.

Electric rental (an option at eHi and increasingly at Anji) uses the State Grid, TELD, and Star Charge networks. All three accept foreign-visitor payment through the "e出行" mini-programme inside Alipay or WeChat. Range planning matters — the fast-charge network is dense on national expressways and in tier-1 cities, thin in western provinces.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreign tourists drive in mainland China?

Yes — since the September 2024 rollout of the short-term Provisional Driving Licence (临时驾驶许可, línshí jiàshǐ xǔkě). Before that only long-term expats holding a converted Chinese licence could drive. The provisional licence is valid for up to three months and is issued at major international airports (Beijing PEK/PKX, Shanghai PVG/SHA, Guangzhou CAN, Chengdu TFU, and a growing list) or at provincial vehicle-administration offices.

Is an International Driving Permit (IDP) valid in China?

No — mainland China is not a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Road Traffic Convention that underpins the IDP. Your IDP is not recognised. Hong Kong and Macau DO recognise the IDP. On the mainland you need either the provisional licence (for short visits) or a full converted Chinese licence (for longer stays).

How do I get the provisional driving licence?

At the airport traffic-management counter (immigration hall of participating airports) or at a provincial vehicle-administration office. You need: valid passport with a valid Chinese entry stamp (visa or visa-free entry both work), a valid foreign driving licence (must not be expired), a passport photo, and a basic vision test. Fee is ¥10 (yes, ten). Processing is same-day, usually 15-30 minutes.

Can I rent a car in China with my provisional licence?

Yes at the major international rental brands operating in China (Hertz's Chinese partner is eHi 神州; Avis operates through Anji; Sixt has a domestic presence). Domestic-only rentals from EVCard, GoFun, and Meituan sometimes require a full Chinese licence — check when you book. All rentals require a security deposit (typically ¥3,000–8,000) on your credit card and third-party insurance is included by default; comprehensive is a paid upgrade.

What are the rules of the road in China?

Right-hand drive; drive on the right. Speed limits: 30 km/h in residential areas, 40–70 km/h on urban roads, 80 km/h on national highways (国道), 100–120 km/h on expressways (高速). Blood-alcohol limit is 20 mg/100 ml — effectively zero; do not drink any alcohol before driving. Seat belts required for driver and all passengers. Mobile phone use while driving is illegal (hands-free calls permitted). Children under 4 require a child restraint (enforcement varies).

How do the traffic enforcement cameras work?

China has extensive automated enforcement. Speeding, running red lights, driving in bus lanes, entering restricted zones without a permit, and licence-plate rules (Beijing/Shanghai limit driving on certain days by plate last-digit) are all automatically ticketed. Foreign-plate rentals are tracked through the rental company; violations get charged against your deposit. Check the rental company's app before returning the car.

What are the parking rules?

Street parking in tier-1 cities is metered and monitored by camera-based systems. Look for a P sign with a QR code or a booth. Payment is via WeChat / Alipay QR — cash is not accepted at most modern meters. Illegal parking gets a ¥100–200 fine automatically applied to the rental car. Underground carparks at malls and hotels are the safe default (typically ¥5–15/hour in tier-1 cities).

Should I actually drive in China as a tourist?

For a first visit — no. High-speed rail is faster city-to-city, DiDi is cheap intra-city, and the driving culture takes serious adjustment (aggressive lane-changing, unpredictable pedestrian and scooter behaviour, extensive one-way street systems). Renting a car makes sense for: (1) rural / mountain areas where public transport is thin (Yunnan, Sichuan alpine, Guangxi karst backroads), (2) multi-city road trips where you want flexibility, and (3) experienced China visitors who already know a city's driving culture.

Related

• China high-speed rail (usually the better choice)
• DiDi in English for foreign visitors
• Licence conversion by country (for long-term residents)