China: renting a car from a local?
 

Hi everybody,

just as many other people I've been eager to ride in China for years but don't want to pay the real high prices for the official way including tourguide, etc...
I've read a few reports of people buying a bike locally and driving around 'unoffical', having a great time. If I was on my own that would be my favorite way to go, but since my wife is also eager to see China (and doesn't like to be pillion) I wonder if anyone has ever hired a car from a local person 'unofficial' and travelled like that. Anyone with experience on this?

I realise I could get myself in trouble (wouldn't be the first time :innocent:) if the police stops us, but would it bring trouble to the person who rented me the car also? I have some contacts in China so might be able to rent a car from someone, but I don't want to bring any trouble to local people willing to help me.
Anyway, looking forward to your thoughts...

Koen

Not as easy as you would think on first sight
 

Hi Wuming,

thanks for your feedback. I've seen those sites before and I tried a few times to arrange a car rental in China by using those sites, but the problem is that once you actually start to make a real booking...it doesn't work :thumbdown:.
Just got feedback from the first site that they don't rent out cars in China (although the site is full of advertisement for China rentals :confused1:), Hertz only rents out car + driver (at big costs once again).
So while theoretically it might seem no problem to rent a car in China, in reality it remains a problem. Hence my question if anyone had tried the 'unofficial' way.

Don't wanne wait until China opens up, life's too short for that :mchappy:.
Greetings,

Koen

Hi Koen,

what wuming stated is correct!

In Beijing and Shanghai its possible to obtain a temporary driving license for cars at the airport police station.
Other places are not that familiar with the requiered procedures, but it should be possible allover China...should...

Car rental - you cant book it online, especially as you not a China resident. But your friends here can help you arrange for that. I rent cars from China Auto Rent all the time. They have stations allover China and one-way rentals are possible.
Cheap chinese cars cost around 150RMB/day including all fees. You will need help from "local" Chinese people, as a Chinese Credit Card is requiered. Your passport and driving License need send by scan to the HQ for check, needs around 3 days to clear you. Menas you have some days to expole Beijing/Shanghai first before you head of with the car.