How to rent a car?

Foreign travelers can rent cars at international airports and downtown service outlets. You can also use car leasing apps or search for "mini programs for car leasing" on Alipay or WeChat. Once registered, you can make a reservation for car leasing.

1. Foreign travelers who are going to rent cars need to bring your passports or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Cards, valid Chinese driver's licenses, and international or domestic credit cards.

Note: Foreigners renting a car for the first time need to have your identity document information verified at least one working day in advance.

2. Foreign travelers applying for Chinese Provisional Driving Permits for compact cars must take your passports, overseas driver's licenses with a Chinese translation, recent one-inch half-length, bareheaded, full-faced color photos against a white background, and other necessary documents to public security traffic management service halls. Foreigners who enter China for a short-term stay can apply for Provisional Driving Permits with a validity period of 3 months. For those who intend to stay longer than 3 months, the validity period can be extended to a maximum of one year. The permits can be used whenever the holders reenter China during the validity period without the need for reapplication.

Note: China has signed agreements for mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses with France, Serbia, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates. This allows individuals holding driver's licenses from the aforementioned countries to drive directly in China or obtain Chinses driver's licenses without taking a test.

Source: A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates (2025 Edition) issued by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China