Hiring a Car With a Temporary License for a West Sichuan Trip in April (2026)
Yes, foreign tourists have been doing this in 2026. Apply for a Chinese Temporary Driving Permit 临时驾驶许可 at Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU) or Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) on arrival. Bring your home-country license plus a notarized Chinese translation, your passport with valid visa or stamp, and 2 passport photos. Processing takes about 30 to 60 minutes at the airport DMV counter, the permit is free, and it stays valid up to 3 months. No road test or medical exam is required.
Rent a 4WD SUV through Trip.com car rental, eHi 一嗨, or a local Chengdu agency. Expect ¥400 to ¥600 a day for a Toyota RAV4 or Haval H6 including basic insurance; deposits run ¥3,000 to ¥10,000 on a foreign credit card. Confirm in writing that the contract permits travel into Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 甘孜藏族自治州 — some agencies block this region by default. April weather on the Kangding-Tagong-Ganzi road is unpredictable; passes above 4,000 m can still see overnight snow into mid-month, and chains may be required on G318. Carry tire chains, a portable oxygen can (¥30 to ¥50), and a power bank.
No Tibet Permit is needed for Ganzi prefecture; you only need it for the Tibet Autonomous Region. Police checkpoints sit at most prefecture borders — keep your passport, permit, and rental contract reachable. Download Gaode Maps 高德地图 (offline pack for Sichuan) and Apple Maps; Google Maps misroutes mountain passes. Cash in ¥100 and ¥10 notes still matters past Kangding; Alipay coverage gets patchy in villages.
- Pick up the Temporary Driving Permit at Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) or Shuangliu (CTU) on arrival; free, 30 to 60 minutes, valid 3 months.
- Bring your home license, a notarized Chinese translation, passport with visa, and 2 passport photos — without the translation the counter rejects you.
- Rent a 4WD SUV for ¥400 to ¥600 a day with a ¥3,000 to ¥10,000 deposit; confirm the contract permits Ganzi prefecture travel.
- April still sees snow on passes above 4,000 m on G318 — pack chains, a ¥30 to ¥50 oxygen can, and warm layers.
- No Tibet Permit needed for Ganzi (Tagong, Kangding, Litang); Tibet TAR is a separate restricted zone with different rules.
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