Can foreigners drive in Hainan?
Quick answer
Not with your home license or an International Driving Permit; China doesn't recognize either. Hainan does offer foreign visitors a provisional driving permit you apply for online, valid only in Hainan for rented small cars. For most short trips, hiring a driver is far easier.
The rules
- Foreign driving licenses and International Driving Permits (IDPs) aren't valid in China.
- Hainan issues a provisional driving permit to foreign visitors. It covers rented small cars, only inside Hainan Province.
- Validity can't exceed your permitted stay or your home license's expiry, whichever is sooner.
How to apply (as reported in 2026)
- Apply online through the Hainan public security traffic platform before you arrive. The fee is about ¥10.
- Complete a short English video course before the form unlocks.
- Upload your passport, both sides of your home license, an official Chinese translation of the license from a translation agency or notary, and a 1-inch white-background photo.
- Review takes about 2 working days. You'll get an email.
- Collect the physical permit at a vehicle management office after you arrive.
This process comes from a traveler's write-up from September 2026. Confirm with Hainan traffic police before you rely on it.
The easier option
For most short trips, book a licensed car service with a driver. No permit, no Chinese road signs, no parking hunting. Between Haikou and Sanya, the high-speed train is quick and cheap.
Source: Tropical Hainan: applying online for a provisional driving permit.