Driving Permit for China
China does not accept the IDP or foreign licences: mainland visitors need a temporary Chinese driving permit or a full Chinese licence. Traffic drives on the right and the alcohol limit is 0.02%.
- Drive on
- Right
- Convention
- Not a party
- IDP validity
- Not permitted on a foreign licence or IDP — a temporary Chinese driving permit or Chinese licence is required
- Processing time
- 24-48 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in China?
Mainland China is one of the few major destinations where an International Driving Permit carries no legal weight at all. Contrary to what many travel sites suggest, the People's Republic of China is not a party to either the 1949 Geneva Convention or the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so neither an IDP nor your home driving licence is valid there. Both the UK Foreign Office and the Government of Canada are unambiguous on this point: to drive in mainland China you need a Chinese driving licence and valid Chinese insurance, and driving without them risks fines and detention.
There are two legal routes for foreigners. Longer-term residents holding a residence permit can apply for a full Chinese licence through the local traffic authority, a process that generally requires an official Chinese translation of the home licence. Short-term visitors can instead apply for a temporary Chinese driving permit, issued by the traffic police at designated service points, again on the strength of a valid home-country licence. In practice most tourists never self-drive: mainland rental desks cannot legally hand over a car to anyone without a Chinese licence or temporary permit, so chauffeur-driven hire and ride-hailing are the standard alternatives.
On the road, mainland China drives on the right — although Hong Kong and Macau, as separate licensing jurisdictions, drive on the left. Enforcement is strict: the blood-alcohol limit is just 0.02%, drink-driving is punished severely even at very low readings, and after a serious accident you should call the police and leave your vehicle where it is until they arrive. The minimum age for a standard car licence is 18.
China has not ratified either UN road-traffic convention.
China is not a contracting party to the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so no treaty obliges it to recognise an International Driving Permit. That does not automatically make an IDP useless: rental companies and police often ask for a readable translation of a foreign license, and many drivers carry one for exactly that reason. Read the country detail below and confirm the current rules with your rental company before you travel.
What you need to drive in China
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
Chinese driving licence required — foreign licences and IDPs are not valid in mainland China
Short-term visitors: apply for a temporary Chinese driving permit through the traffic police, based on a valid home-country licence with an official Chinese translation
Minimum age for a standard car licence: 18
Valid Chinese motor insurance is mandatory
Mainland China is not a party to the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna road traffic conventions, so an IDP has no legal standing there — one of the few major economies where this is the case.
The blood-alcohol limit is 0.02%, and police can confiscate a driver's licence on the spot if they suspect drink-driving.
The minimum age for a standard car licence is 18; higher vehicle categories such as large buses require older drivers.
Drivers suspected of being responsible for a road accident can be detained by police until the case is closed, which can take a long time.
Traffic drives on the right in mainland China but on the left in Hong Kong and Macau; the Lotus Bridge to Macau physically switches vehicles between the two systems.
Drivers licensed for less than a year must display a standard new-driver mark on their vehicle.
What to know before you turn the key
China drives on the right — the driver sits on the left, and roundabouts flow anti-clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Mainland rental desks cannot legally rent a self-drive car to anyone without a Chinese licence or temporary permit — chauffeur-driven hire and ride-hailing are the standard alternatives for visitors
Mainland China drives on the right; Hong Kong and Macau are separate licensing jurisdictions and drive on the left
After a serious accident, call the police and do not move your vehicle until they arrive; drivers suspected of causing an accident can be detained during the investigation
Driving without a valid Chinese licence or insurance carries harsh penalties including fines and detention. Drink-driving is punished severely even at very low levels against the 0.02% limit — fines, on-the-spot licence confiscation, detention and imprisonment are all possible — and drivers suspected of causing an accident can be held by police until the case is closed.
Local rules to watch in China
Low-emission zones, tolls, and city-specific rules that catch visiting drivers out.
Beijing and Shanghai: most visitors skip self-driving entirely — metro networks, taxis and ride-hailing are extensive, and car hire with a driver is widely offered.
Hong Kong and Macau: separate licensing jurisdictions where the mainland rules described here do not apply, and traffic drives on the left.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road China keeps.
Common questions about driving in China
An IDP will not let you drive in China.
We are not going to sell you a document that will not work. China does not accept the International Driving Permit, so an IDP from us — or from anyone else — cannot make you road-legal there. Follow the official route described above instead.
Travelling on to other countries as well? An IDP is recognised across 150+ destinations, and you can check any of them in our country directory.