Car Rental
Ruijie & Sascha
Trail of China · May 2025
Renting a car gives maximum flexibility, but China is one of the places where the practical barriers matter enough that most visitors should question the idea before committing.
Why You Need This
A rental car gives you maximum flexibility when public transport does not reach your destination cleanly, and it can make sense for remote rural areas, scenic routes, and small villages.
Families and groups sometimes find private transport more convenient than coordinating multiple trains, buses, and taxis, but the legal and practical hurdles in China are significant enough that this is rarely the easiest option.
Requirements
- A valid foreign license plus an official translation.
- Or a Chinese driver's license, which is difficult for short-term travelers to obtain.
- A passport for registration.
- A credit card for the deposit.
- Minimum age requirements, often somewhere from 21 to 25 depending on the company.
Rental Companies
International chains like Avis, Hertz, and Enterprise are the obvious starting point, especially at airports.
Local players like eHi (一嗨租车) and Shouqi (首汽租车) are often more relevant on the ground, and Alipay also exposes some rental options through its own ecosystem.
Driving in China
- You drive on the right side.
- Traffic can be aggressive, so expect the unexpected.
- GPS navigation is essential, with Baidu Maps often being the practical choice.
- Speed cameras are everywhere.
- Parking in cities can be frustrating.
- Highways are generally excellent and well marked.
Costs
- Economy car: roughly ¥200 to ¥400 per day.
- Insurance: roughly ¥50 to ¥100 per day and highly recommended.
- Toll roads: around ¥0.5 to ¥1 per kilometer on highways.
- Gas: broadly similar to US or European prices.
- Parking: about ¥10 to ¥50 per day in cities.
When to Rent
Rent a car for rural areas such as parts of Guilin, Yunnan, or other scenic regions where public transport is patchy.
It can also make sense for families or for itineraries that involve multiple small villages.
Avoid it if you are staying mainly in big cities because the tradeoff is rarely worth it.
Consider Carefully
Traffic accidents are common, and local driving style can feel chaotic if you are not used to it.
Road signs are still often Chinese-first, and some cities have traffic restrictions tied to license plate rules.
For many travelers, hiring a driver for roughly ¥500 to ¥800 per day is the better compromise.
Prefer Not to Drive Yourself?
For most travelers, Didi is cheaper, simpler, and far less stressful than renting a car in China.
See the Didi Guide →