Does Sixt require an IDP in China?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in China: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
China does not accept the IDP; foreign visitors must obtain a temporary Chinese licence to drive, so an IDP alone is not valid here.
In China specifically, china lets visitors drive on a valid foreign licence, but Sixt still asks for a licence translation if your licence is not printed in the Roman alphabet — and it removes any doubt at the counter. Rental desks require a Chinese provisional/temporary licence, not an IDP.
Sixt runs a europe / global network; at its China desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format alongside the original licence. China drives on the right, uses the CNY, and sets a minimum driving age of 18; an IDP is still the safest way to avoid a refused booking.
What to bring to the Sixt counter in China
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the internationally recognised format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the CNY deposit; China drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in China Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- IDPs are not accepted — get a temporary Chinese licence.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol enforcement.
- Extensive speed and ANPR camera network.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
Once you collect the keys in China
Most intercity expressways are tolled, paid in cash or by the ETC electronic transponder at booths; rental cars usually come with an ETC card and tolls are billed back to the renter. Costs run roughly RMB 0.4-0.6 per km, so long expressway trips add up quickly.
Cities use metered street bays and paid garages, increasingly cashless via Alipay/WeChat scan-to-pay; many districts (notably central Beijing and Shanghai) restrict parking heavily and tow illegally parked cars. Beijing and several big cities also run last-digit licence-plate driving bans on weekdays that a rental's plate is subject to.
Foreign drivers face fines for speeding, mobile-phone use and seatbelt offences, plus a demerit-point system; serious unlicensed driving can mean vehicle impoundment and administrative detention. Camera-enforced fines on a rental are passed to the renter by the rental firm, often with an admin fee.
Dial 122 for traffic accidents (110 for general police); do not move the vehicles in an injury or disputed crash until police arrive and document the scene. A police report is needed for any insurance claim and for the rental company.
Full driving guide for China →