Rent a Car in China as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)外国人 2026 年在中国租车指南

1 Before you go: the three things that shape the trip 出发前：决定旅程的三件事

Renting a car feels like the obvious move when you picture a China road trip. But for a first-time visitor the permit question stops most plans before they start. The good news is that China is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel without a car: the high-speed rail network, ride-hailing apps, and airport transfers cover almost everything a tourist needs. This guide explains why your license and IDP usually will not work, what the one real route looks like, and the far simpler ways most visitors move between cities.当你想象一次中国自驾游时，租车似乎是最自然的选择。但对首次到访的旅客来说，驾照许可问题往往还没出发就把计划卡住了。好消息是：中国是世界上最不需要租车也能轻松旅行的国家之一——高铁网络、网约车和机场接机几乎覆盖了游客所需的一切。本指南会解释为什么你的驾照和 IDP 通常不管用、唯一真正可行的途径是什么，以及大多数游客在城市之间更轻松的出行方式。

• Visa. Many nationalities can now visit visa-free for short stays, while others need a tourist (L) visa or qualify for the 240-hour transit rule; eligibility depends on your passport and changes, so confirm your exact entry path early. Our China visa guide walks through it, and the visa entry guide covers the documents you show on arrival.签证。许多国家公民如今可免签短期停留，其他人则需要旅游（L）签证或符合 240 小时过境免签政策；资格取决于你的护照且会变动，所以尽早确认自己的入境方式。我们的中国签证指南有逐步说明，签证入境指南则涵盖抵达时需出示的文件。
• Payments. Alipay and WeChat Pay cover almost everything once set up, from trains to roadside stalls, but binding a foreign card before you land saves a stressful first evening on airport wifi. Our how-to-pay guide has the step-by-step, and the Alipay and WeChat foreign-card setup guide fixes the common failures.支付。支付宝和微信支付一经设置几乎能覆盖一切，从火车票到路边摊都行；但在落地前绑定好外国银行卡，能让你免于在机场 WiFi 下手忙脚乱地折腾第一晚。我们的支付指南有逐步说明，支付宝与微信外国卡设置指南则解决常见失败。
• Connectivity. An eSIM or local SIM means maps, translation, and ride-hailing work the moment you land, which matters far more than a steering wheel when you are navigating Chinese-only signage. Our eSIM vs SIM vs roaming guide helps you pick, and the eSIM setup guide for iPhone and Android gets you online fast.联网。eSIM 或本地 SIM 卡意味着地图、翻译和网约车在你落地那一刻就能用——在全是中文路牌的环境里导航时，这比方向盘重要得多。我们的eSIM 对比指南帮你选择，iPhone 与 Android 的 eSIM 设置指南则让你快速上网。

Driving never appears on that list for most visitors. The three setups above are what actually get you moving. Keep reading for why the car usually drops off the plan.对大多数游客来说，开车从未出现在这份清单里。真正让你动起来的，是上面这三项准备。继续往下读，你会明白为什么租车通常会从计划里消失。

2 The quick answer (save this) 一句话答案（建议收藏）

If you only read one part, read this. Here is where each option typically stands.如果全文你只打算读一段，就读这段。下面是你每种选择通常所处的状况。

The single most common surprise: an International Driving Permit, the little booklet that works in many countries, is not a shortcut to renting a car in mainland China. Our airport transfer guide shows how most visitors skip the car entirely the moment they land.最常见的一个意外是：国际驾照（IDP）这本在许多国家都管用的小册子，在中国大陆并不是租车的捷径。我们的机场接机指南展示了大多数游客落地后如何彻底跳过租车。

Ready to set up the navigation that makes car-free travel painless? Start here:准备好设置导航，让不开车也能轻松出行了吗？从这里开始：

3 Why your license and IDP usually will not work 为什么你的驾照和 IDP 通常都不管用

The International Driving Permit is a translation booklet that rides on top of your home license. It only has power in places that recognize the treaty behind it. Mainland China is not one of those places for ordinary tourist rentals, so rental companies generally will not treat an IDP as a valid stand-in for a Chinese license.国际驾照（IDP）是一本附在你的本国驾照之上的翻译小册子。它只在承认其背后条约的地区才有法律效力。对于普通游客租车而言，中国大陆并不在此列，所以租车公司通常不会把 IDP 当作中国驾照的有效替代。

That leaves your plain foreign license, and on its own it is not enough either. Rental desks here are built to look for a locally recognized permit, and the default answer for a visiting tourist is no keys. You will see listings online claiming an IDP is fine, but treat those as unreliable and confirm the current rule with the official traffic management authority before you build a trip around them.那就只剩下你原本的外国驾照，而单凭它本身同样不够。这里的租车柜台只认本地认可的许可，对来访游客的默认答复就是「不给钥匙」。你会在网上看到一些声称 IDP 就够了的帖子，但别轻信，在据此规划行程前，请向官方交通管理部门确认现行规定。

This is not a matter of being a confident driver. It is a paperwork and recognition issue. The car-rental counter is simply not the place where the decision gets made. A reader once told us he arrived at a Chengdu airport rental desk with a US license and a fresh IDP, sure it would be routine; the counter pointed him to the public security bureau traffic office across town, which was already closed for the weekend. He spent the first two days of his trip on trains instead, and never missed the car.这与你是不是个老练的司机无关，而是一个文件与认可的问题。租车门柜台根本不是做这个决定的地方。一位读者曾告诉我们，他拿着美国驾照和刚办好的 IDP 到了成都机场的租车柜台，以为会很顺利；柜台让他去城那头的公安局交通管理处，而那里周末已经下班。他行程的头两天改坐了火车，后来也并不觉得缺了车。

4 The one route that works: a temporary permit 确实可行的途径：临时驾驶许可

There is a legitimate path, and for short stays it is clearly legal. Under Article 21 of Public Security Ministry Order No. 172 (in force since 1 January 2025), visitors on a short stay can apply for a temporary driving permit, valid for three months, for a 10 RMB fee. Foreigners, Hong Kong and Macao residents, and Taiwan residents can all apply.这条路确实存在，而且对短期停留者来说是明确合法的。依据公安部令第 172 号（2025 年 1 月 1 日施行）第二十一条，入境短期停留者可申领有效期三个月的临时驾驶许可，工本费 10 元。外国人、香港澳门居民、台湾居民均可申请。

• The permit is national, the counters are local. Six cities now issue it at or inside the airport — Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Kunming — while others route you to a vehicle management office.许可全国统一，窗口各地不同。目前北京、上海、深圳、杭州、成都、昆明六城可在机场内或机场旁办理，其余城市需前往车管所。
• It is fast where a counter exists. Most airport counters issue it during your visit; where there is no airport counter, confirm by phone before you book.有窗口的地方很快。多数机场窗口当场办结；没有机场窗口的城市，订车前先打电话确认。

That is the whole legal route. We cover the fee, the documents, the city-by-city counters and the traps in full — see how and where to get a temporary driving permit in China. The hard part is not the permit, it is matching the counter hours to your flight, so check both before you book anything non-refundable.以上就是完整的合法路径。费用、材料、逐城窗口与各种坑，我们另有一篇讲透——见「在中国怎么办理临时驾照、去哪里办」。真正的难点不是许可，而是窗口的办公时间能否对上你的航班，所以订任何不可退的行程前，两样都先确认。

5 What you would actually need to drive legally 合法开车你真正需要准备什么

If you pursue the temporary permit, expect to be asked for a set of documents. The exact list moves, but visitors who go this route are usually asked for a valid foreign license, a passport with a valid visa or stay status, a translation or notarized copy of the license, and sometimes a short-stay justification such as a specific purpose for being in the country.如果你走临时许可这条路，要准备好被索要一整套文件。具体清单会变，但走这条路的游客通常会被要求提供：有效的外国驾照、带有有效签证或居留身份的护照、驾照的翻译件或公证件，有时还需要短期停留说明，比如来华的具体目的。

Even with documents in hand, the process takes time you may not have on a short trip, which is why most visitors quietly switch to trains and ride-hailing. For the full set of pre-departure steps, our first 24 hours in China guide covers the landing sequence, and the trip planning walkthrough keeps the documents you do need in one place.即便文件齐全，办理过程也会占用你短途旅行中可能没有的时间，这也是为什么大多数游客会悄悄转向高铁和网约车。关于出发前的完整步骤，我们的中国最初 24 小时指南涵盖了落地流程，行程规划指南则把你真正需要的文件集中在一处。

6 The easier ways most visitors get around 大多数游客更轻松的出行方式

China is built for car-free travel in a way few countries are. Three options cover almost everything:中国为「无车旅行」而建的程度，在全世界都少有对手。以下三种方式几乎覆盖一切：

High-speed rail高铁

The rail network links most major cities quickly and comfortably, often city center to city center, with trains on key lines running up to around 300 km/h. For planning a multi-city route, our high-speed rail guide walks through booking and riding. This alone removes the need for a car on nearly every classic itinerary, from Beijing to Shanghai and onward to the best cities to visit in 2026.铁路网快速而舒适地连接大多数主要城市，往往是从市中心到市中心，关键线路上的列车时速可达约 300 公里。规划多城路线时，我们的高铁指南有预订与乘坐的逐步说明。单凭这一点，从北京到上海、再到2026 年最值得去的城市，几乎每条经典路线都不再需要租车。

Ride-hailing and taxis网约车与出租车

Apps like Didi cover city trips, and short hops are cheap by Western standards. Set up Amap so you can show the driver a pin and read where you are going. For the airport run, our airport transfer guide lays out the smoothest options per city. Staying connected makes all of this work: see the internet connectivity guide for getting online on arrival.滴滴等 App 覆盖城市内出行，短途按西方标准也很便宜。设置好高德地图，你就能给司机看定位、知道自己去哪。机场那段路，我们的机场接机指南列出了每个城市最顺滑的选择。保持联网才能让这一切运转：上网可看网络连接指南。

Car with a driver包车（带司机）

For a group or a rural day trip, hiring a car with a driver costs more but removes both the permit hurdle and the navigation stress. You sit back while someone else handles Chinese-only signs and local traffic. This is the closest thing to a rental that needs no permit from you at all.对结伴出行或乡村一日游来说，包车（带司机）花费更高，但既绕开了许可门槛，也免去了导航压力。你只需坐着，由别人去应付全中文路牌和本地路况。这最接近「租车」的体验，却完全不需要你本人任何许可。

For visitors comparing a car against the rails, booking the train or a domestic flight ahead of time is usually the move that replaces a rental entirely:对正在把开车和高铁做比较的游客来说，提前订好火车票或国内航班，通常就是彻底替代租车的那一步：

• Trains over a car?火车还是租车？ For city-to-city travel, book your high-speed rail seat in advance through 城市间出行，提前通过 Trip.comTrip.com and skip the rental counter entirely.预订高铁座位，彻底跳过租车柜台。
• Flights for longer hops. If a route is too far for rail, compare domestic flights on a booking platform and fly instead of driving yourself.长途就坐飞机。如果某条路线太远不适合坐火车，就在订票平台上对比国内航班并乘飞机，而不是自己开车。

7 Arriving and getting around the city 落地与市内出行

Most visitors never need a car to leave the airport. The established transfer options (metro, airport express, ride-hailing, and private transfers) get you to the city center without a permit or a steering wheel. Our airport transfer guide breaks down the smoothest option for each major gateway, and the arrival card and 24-hour registration guide covers what to do the moment you touch down.大多数游客根本不需要车就能离开机场。成熟的接机方式（地铁、机场快线、网约车和私人接机）能让你无需许可、也无需方向盘就到达市中心。我们的机场接机指南拆解了每个主要枢纽最顺滑的选择，入境卡与 24 小时登记指南则涵盖你落地那一刻该做的事。

If you would rather land with the ride already booked, you can pre-arrange it:如果你更想在落地前就把车订好，可以提前安排：

• Airport to city.机场到市区。 Pre-book a private transfer or the Maglev train through 通过 Trip.comTrip.com so you land with the ride already sorted, no car needed.提前预订私人接机或磁悬浮列车，落地时车已安排妥当，无需自己开车。

Book your hotels and flights with a foreign card in China through the same platforms, and the arrival day becomes a non-event instead of a scramble.通过同样的平台，用外国银行卡在中国预订酒店和航班，落地那天就会从手忙脚乱变成波澜不惊。

8 If you still want to drive 如果你仍想开车

Some visitors have a real reason: a remote photography spot, a multi-day loop through the countryside, or a road trip that rail does not reach. If that is you, solve the permit first and treat driving as the last step, not the first.有些游客确实有正当理由：偏远的摄影点、穿越乡村的多日环线，或是铁路到不了的自驾路线。如果你是这种人，先解决许可，把开车当作最后一步，而不是第一步。

A teacher we heard from planned a nine-day loop through western Sichuan, certain the scenery justified the effort. The permit came through, but only after a week of paperwork in the provincial capital, which ate the first stretch of her trip. The drive was spectacular. The lesson was that the permit, not the road, was the hard part. If you go this route, build the wait into the plan.我们听说一位老师计划了穿越川西的九日环线，认定沿途风景值得这份折腾。许可批下来了，但前提是她在省会花了一周办文件，吃掉了行程的头一段。那趟自驾确实壮美。教训是：难的不在路，而在许可。如果你走这条路，请把等待时间也写进计划。

• Confirm the temporary permit applies to your exact situation with the official authority before booking anything non-refundable.在预订任何不可退款的项目前，先向官方确认临时许可适用于你的具体情况。
• Keep a translation or notarized copy of your license ready, plus passport and stay documents, in one folder.把驾照的翻译件或公证件，连同护照和居留文件，备齐放在同一个文件夹里。
• Download offline maps in Amap before you lose signal in rural areas.在乡村失去信号前，提前在高德里下载离线地图。
• Expect Chinese-only signage and intense city traffic; build in extra time and avoid driving during the first overwhelmed day after landing.做好全中文路牌与拥堵城市交通的心理准备；预留额外时间，并避免在落地后第一个手忙脚乱的日子开车。
• Ready to book a car?准备订车了？ If your permit is sorted and you still want wheels, compare rental options and book through 如果你的许可已办妥、仍想要四个轮子，就对比租车方案并通过 Trip.comTrip.com so the pickup is confirmed before you land.预订，确保落地前取车已确认。

And remember the border quirk: renting in Hong Kong or Macau and driving into the mainland is a separate problem with its own permit rules. Most visitors cross by train or plane and sort out mainland transport on the other side. Check the official crossing requirements before planning a cross-border drive.还要记住边境这个坑：在香港或澳门租车开进大陆，是另一回事，有它自己的许可规则。大多数游客坐火车或飞机过境，到了对岸再解决大陆交通。规划跨境自驾前，请先查官方过境要求。

Frequently asked questions常见问题