Is renting a caravan in China possible? We finally found a rental for a caravan in Shanghai.
Now, for the first time, we have found that renting a caravan in China is possible, and we have collected some basic information about what we have discovered and seen. Some of the information on this page is from third-party websites and is not necessarily lawful. Still, it might give you an idea of the possibility of travelling in a caravan.
There are new regulations for trailers! From April 2022, you need a class C6 driving license, and the car registration documentation must show the maximum towing capacity.
“Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver’s Licenses”
will be implemented starting April 1, 2022. Add a C6 driver’s license for a light towing trailer model to pull the caravan.
Also, the maximum age for people obtaining a C6 driving license has been raised from 60 to 70 years with some needed additional tests. Update 2024: Currently, the theory test only exists in the Chinese language.
Do you understand these questions about the C6 driver’s license for light towing trailers?
Beijing Traffic Management Bureau Chinese version LINK
Recommended links
If your car is not equipped with a towing hitch.
When deciding on installation, select a good brand. In our case, we needed to reinforce the hitch in Inner Mongolia as it was bent due to poor quality and the weight balance of the caravan. Check the review of the Chinese MIY caravan from our Inner Mongolia trip.
Camping trailer/caravan, then?
Questions and Answers about the caravan on the road in China.
I found some useful information on the internet, but it is in Chinese. There are ten questions and ten answers about trailers on the road. Please bear with me, as these are direct translations from this website.
- Does a camping trailer need a registration plate?
- Yes, it needs it. Since 2008, it has been clarified that all camping trailers need a vehicle registration, a number plate, and a vehicle registration certificate.
- Can a camping trailer go on the road?
- Yes, an official document published in 2015 clearly defined the difference between a camping trailer and a normal trailer. It emphasized that the camping trailer can go onto the city road according to local regulations and can go on highways as well.
- Is a C1 driving license level enough for pulling a trailer?
Yes, since 2016, it has been confirmed that the C1 license can pull the center-axis camping trailer, which is under 2.5 tons in weight, or the normal trailer, which is under 700kg.The trailer is not allowed to carry people. According to the new regulation; a C6 driving license and the total max are needed. 4500kg gross weight from 1st April 2022
- Do the different lengths of camping trailers require different grades of driving licenses?
- According to the above questions, there are no such clear requirements, but as a common understanding, the camping trailer within 8 meters in length, 3.5 in height,2.5 meters in width, and 4.5 tons in weight are acceptable.
- In some countries, when the total length or mass exceeds the limit, you need an additional grade of license.
- What kind of camping trailers can apply for the registration plate?
- The center-axis camping trailer with a hook, a total length of 8000mm, a width of 2500mm, and a height of less than 4000mm can apply for the registration plate.
- The trailer under 700kg need to apply for the registration plate?
- The trailer here can be a mini camping trailer or a normal trailer to carry the goods.
- What is the process of registration of a camping trailer?
- Prepare the sales receipt, and notice the title must be correct; otherwise, it is overly complicated to make a change.
- Go to check the camping trailer.
- Register, choose the plate number with the payment slip to receive all the registration licenses.
- Check the camping trailer in the vehicle management bureau to receive the number plate. all the trailer plates are yellow.
- What kind of car can pull a camping trailer?
- If your car can bear the camping trailer’s weight. New regulation, C6 driving license needed and max. 4500kg total gross weight from 1st April 2022
- What is the highway toll fee standard for a camping trailer?
- According to regulation, the car with a camping trailer should be charged one grade higher than the main car. However since many main cars have installed ETC, the system can not recognize the camping trailer, so in many cases, the ETC system deducts the charge according to the main car.
- Does the camping trailer need compulsory traffic insurance?
- Yes, otherwise, the car that drags the camping trailer needs to take responsibility when an accident happens.
- This is unclear to me as other documents state the car’s third-party insurance will cover it. Consult with your insurance company.
Information for the driver with a caravan in China
If you take a new driving license in China, please notice that the law says you cannot have a trailer within the first 12-month period of the probation license, which is the first 6-year license you get (subsequent licenses are ten years if you never exceed 12 points in a calendar year). If caught with a trailer, it’s automatically 12 points deducted from your license.
When renting the caravan, the personnel working for the companies might have limited knowledge. Also, finding a company that rents them was a challenge.
For example, asking questions about tow ball weights and recommended tyre pressures might make it challenging to get the correct answer. So be prepared; if you have not done caravaning before, please study it.
What is insurance covering, that is a tricky question.
Insurance of the caravan in China.
Here is some information I got from the rental company. It states that the car’s third-party insurance covers the caravan.
I’m always a bit suspicious about these, and after my wife called the insurance company, they don’t know if it is covering, and let’s see when something happens.
If it is not clearly stated in the insurance policy that it is not covered, then it should be good to go.
Sorry about the bad translation; this was done using a WeChat translator. In my opinion, we are taking a risk here, but there is nothing else we can do.
Link to original Chinese text
Notice, make it clear what it is covering and how
The insurance should be valid as long as the car is connected to the caravan.
If disconnected and left, for example, at a camping site, I’m unsure if the insurance is valid anymore as the car’s insurance covers the caravan.
A valid driving license of class C6 is needed, and the maximum total length of 14m and the maximum weight of the caravan is 2500kg. If someone has information confirming this, please let me know.
Link to original Chinese text
ETC on the road
Cars with caravans always use one higher pay grade than expected. Our car rate is A1, and if having a caravan connected, they should give you an A2 token. As per our experience, many toll stations don’t know the law and are confused about how to treat the caravan. To avoid that, here is a good document. WeChat translation of the needed parts is like this.
“The legal basis for the “trailer” on the road legally”5.2: When a single vehicle tows another trailer, the vehicle type of the combination vehicle shall be higher than the main vehicle type. Car model classification standards for one category are implemented.
A person can only obtain ETC with a Chinese ID, and the car must be registered to a person with a Chinese ID. As my car is registered under me, this was impossible. We often needed to explain at the toll gate what class our car should obtain for the toll fee.
Below is a document stating that caravans are allowed on highways.
It was unclear to the workers what they should charge for car+caravan. This is stated in the below document that it should be 2* the car’s toll fee. Translated from this document
JT-T 489-2003 Vehicle Classification of the Toll for highway
I cannot translate this one, but look at paragraph 5.2
Caravan limited by size and weight
This is the GB1589-2016
Attached is a document on Chinese law regarding the use of trailers on the road. Document translated by Bing.
Limits of dimensions. Axle load and masses for motor vehicles, trailers, and combination vehicles
This is the crucial part where the maximum dimensions are stated.
4.1.1.2 Table 2 The maximum limits of the outline dimensions of other automobiles, trailers, and automobile trains: Mid-mounted The length limit of the axle and tow bar trailer is 12000mm, the width limit is 2550mm, and the height limit is 4000mm. The length of the carriage is limited to 8000mm (except for the central axle vehicle transport trailer). The length limit of a passenger car train is 14,500mm, the width limit is 2550mm, and the height limit is 4000mm.
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China GB1589-2016
Link for Chinese version
GB1589—2016 Trailer limits Chinese
Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China
Translated with Google
Road Traffic Safety Law of the Peoples Republic of China, Chinese