Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into China: 9 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
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Tick before you go
9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Foreign licences not valid: temporary Chinese permit required
China does not recognise IDPs (1949 or 1968) or foreign licences; you must obtain a Temporary Driving Permit (TDP) on arrival at major airports or via the local Vehicle Management Office, valid up to 3 months.
Passport with valid visa or visa-free entry stamp
Carry your passport at all times when driving: police spot-checks are routine and the TDP is tied to your passport number.
Bringing your own UK/EU car is effectively impossible
Private foreign-plated vehicles cannot be driven in mainland China without a pre-arranged escorted convoy permit from the Public Security Bureau; rent locally or hire a car with driver instead.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left: opposite to the UK.
Speed limits 120 / 80 / 30-60 km/h
Expressways 120 km/h, national/rural highways 80 km/h, urban roads 30-60 km/h, residential areas 30 km/h; cameras are dense and fines automatic.
Zero-tolerance alcohol limit 0.2 g/L
BAC over 0.2 g/L is a fine and 6-month licence suspension; over 0.8 g/L is a criminal offence with detention: effectively do not drink and drive.
No right turn on red unless signed
Right turns on red are only permitted where a green arrow or sign explicitly allows it; assume red means stop in all directions.
Low-emission restrictions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou
Major cities run plate-number rotation bans (e.g. Beijing bans one digit pair per weekday inside the 5th Ring Road) and ban high-emission out-of-town vehicles; rentals are compliant but check daily restrictions.
Warning triangle and reflective vest
A reflective warning triangle must be placed 50-100 m behind the vehicle in a breakdown; a hi-vis vest is expected when exiting on expressways.
China does not recognise IDPs (1949 or 1968) or foreign licences; you must obtain a Temporary Driving Permit (TDP) on arrival at major airports or via the local Vehicle Management Office, valid up to 3 months.
Carry your passport at all times when driving: police spot-checks are routine and the TDP is tied to your passport number.
Private foreign-plated vehicles cannot be driven in mainland China without a pre-arranged escorted convoy permit from the Public Security Bureau; rent locally or hire a car with driver instead.
Compulsory third-party liability insurance is bundled with all rentals; UK green card and European insurance certificates have no validity in China.
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left: opposite to the UK.
Expressways 120 km/h, national/rural highways 80 km/h, urban roads 30-60 km/h, residential areas 30 km/h; cameras are dense and fines automatic.
BAC over 0.2 g/L is a fine and 6-month licence suspension; over 0.8 g/L is a criminal offence with detention: effectively do not drink and drive.
Right turns on red are only permitted where a green arrow or sign explicitly allows it; assume red means stop in all directions.
Dial 122 for traffic accidents, 120 for ambulance, 110 for police; operators outside major cities rarely speak English so have a Mandarin speaker or translation app ready.
Take a ticket on entry and pay cash, WeChat/Alipay or ETC card on exit; expect roughly CNY 45-55 (EUR 5.50-7) per 100 km on most expressways.
Major cities run plate-number rotation bans (e.g. Beijing bans one digit pair per weekday inside the 5th Ring Road) and ban high-emission out-of-town vehicles; rentals are compliant but check daily restrictions.
A reflective warning triangle must be placed 50-100 m behind the vehicle in a breakdown; a hi-vis vest is expected when exiting on expressways.
Snow chains or winter tyres are strongly advised Nov-Mar in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Tibet; many mountain passes (Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet G318) close or require permits in winter.
Driving into Tibet Autonomous Region requires a Tibet Travel Permit plus a guided tour; sensitive border areas in Xinjiang have military checkpoints.
Petrol around CNY 8/litre (EUR 1.00) and diesel CNY 7/litre (EUR 0.90); WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate: link a foreign card in advance as many stations no longer accept foreign Visa/Mastercard.
Declare on entry if carrying over USD 5,000 equivalent in foreign currency or CNY 20,000 in renminbi; no tipping at fuel stations (attendants pump for you, no tip expected).
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into China.
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Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left: opposite to the UK.
Expressways 120 km/h, national/rural highways 80 km/h, urban roads 30-60 km/h, residential areas 30 km/h; cameras are dense and fines automatic.
BAC over 0.2 g/L is a fine and 6-month licence suspension; over 0.8 g/L is a criminal offence with detention: effectively do not drink and drive.
Right turns on red are only permitted where a green arrow or sign explicitly allows it; assume red means stop in all directions.
Major cities run plate-number rotation bans (e.g. Beijing bans one digit pair per weekday inside the 5th Ring Road) and ban high-emission out-of-town vehicles; rentals are compliant but check daily restrictions.