Driving in China as a Visitor: Shanghai Temporary Permit

Can you drive in China with an international driving permit?

No. The UN treaty record of the 1949 Geneva Convention does not list the People's Republic of China as a participant; it applies only in Hong Kong and Macao, through declarations China made when it resumed sovereignty. The 1968 Vienna Convention record does not list China either. So neither IDP format has legal force on the mainland. The UK government puts it simply: you must have a Chinese driving licence and valid insurance to drive in China, with harsh penalties, including fines and detention, for driving without them.

For a visitor, the "Chinese licence" is the temporary driving permit (临时机动车驾驶许可). Article 21 of the Ministry of Public Security's Order No. 162, in force since 1 April 2022, says a holder of a foreign licence who needs to drive temporarily must apply to a vehicle management office. On a short stay the permit is valid for three months; if you stay longer than three months, its validity can be extended to one year. For the difference between the two IDP conventions elsewhere, see our IDP guide.

How do you get a temporary driving permit in Shanghai?

The Shanghai government's bilingual guide, published in December 2024, sets out who can apply and where.

Who can apply. Foreign nationals entering China temporarily. You cannot apply if you are under the minimum age (18 for small cars, C1 and C2), have a hit-and-run record in China, have unresolved traffic violations or accidents, or reached 12 penalty points without completing the required retraining.

What to bring.

• Passport or other entry and exit document
• Your foreign driving licence
• A Chinese translation of the licence if it is not in Chinese; the guide says translation agencies or the vehicle management office can help with this

What the permit covers. The permitted vehicle type follows your foreign licence. For a rental car, the permit is limited to small cars (C1) or small automatic cars (C2). The guide asks drivers of rented Chinese cars to keep the rental contract in the car for traffic police checks.

What happens at the office. You bring the documents, have your photo taken, complete a traffic-safety education session, and receive the permit on the spot.

Where and when to apply in Shanghai

Which plan fits your arrival

The permit rule, the office hours and your rental pickup time interact. This table puts them together for a visitor landing in Shanghai.

Leave margin in each case: immigration and baggage take time, and the translation and education session add more.

Worked example: a week touring outside Shanghai

A visitor lands at Pudong at 14:00 on a Friday and wants a rental car for seven days to visit water towns. The airport office's Friday session ended at 11:00 and offices are closed at the weekend, so the permit cannot be issued until Monday. The practical plan is two days in the city by metro, the airport office or a branch on Monday morning with passport, licence and translation, and a rental pickup on Monday afternoon. Because the stay is under three months, the permit is valid for three months, which covers the whole trip. If the visitor cannot wait, a car with a driver or train travel is the alternative; our guide to choosing a water town day trip covers how to reach them without driving.

What happens if you drive without the permit?

Driving without a licence valid in China is treated as driving unlicensed. The Shanghai Public Security Bureau lists the penalty under Articles 19 and 99 of the Road Traffic Safety Law: a fine of 200 to 2,000 yuan, with detention of up to 15 days possible, and the vehicle may be held if no licensed driver is available to take it away.

Other rules in the Road Traffic Safety Law that catch visitors:

The UK government warns that penalties for driving under the influence are harsh even at very low alcohol levels, and that in a serious accident you should call the police and not move the vehicle until they arrive. If there are injuries, you may be held responsible for medical costs.