How to rent a car in China?

You can rent a car on site at an international airport and urban car rental outlets, or you can use a car rental app or use Alipay or WeChat to search for a "car rental mini-program", and make an appointment after registration.

1. If you live in China and hold a Foreign Permanent Resident ID card and already have a Chinese driver’s license, you need to bring your passport, or the Foreign Permanent Resident ID card, the valid Chinese driver's license, and an international/domestic credit card.

Note: For a first-time car renter, it is necessary to verify the identity document information at least one working day in advance.

2. If you are visiting China for a limited period of time, you need to bring your passport, overseas driver's license (If you are from a non-English speaking country, you need to prepare a verified English translation of your driver’s license) and its Chinese translation, recent one inch color photos (upper body, no hat, front, white background), and other materials to the Public Security Traffic Management Service Hall to apply for a temporary driving permit for small cars. You can apply for a temporary driving permit with a validity period of three months; for stays longer than three months, the validity period can be extended up to one year. Multiple entries are permitted within the validity period without the need to reapply for a permit.

Note: Currently, China has signed driver's license mutual recognition and renewal agreements with France, Serbia, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates, allowing individuals holding driver's licenses from the aforementioned countries to drive directly within the country or obtain driver's licenses without a test. (This information is current as of July 2025)