How Long Does Rental Car Deposit Refund Take in China? (2026)
Foreign guests renting in Lijiang always ask: how much deposit? Do you refund it on the spot? Will you hold it forever? This guide explains the deposit for Lavida and Tank 300, why we wait 5-7 working days, why traffic fines upload late, where the refund goes, and the 600 RMB booking deposit rules.
How much deposit
Two cars, fixed deposits: Lavida/Jetta 3000 RMB, Tank 300 5000 RMB. This is on par with other Lijiang rental companies. The deposit is held to cover possible traffic fines and car damage during your rental. It is not rent, not a fee, not profit — it comes back to you once everything is clean.
Why not refund on the spot?
Many guests push: I returned the car, no scratches, why not refund now? Chinese traffic violation records upload with a delay. A speed camera catches you the day after you return; the record may not enter the police system for 5-7 working days. If we refunded immediately and a fine shows up two weeks later, you are already on a flight back to Taipei — we would be chasing you for money.
So the process is: return the car, inspect together, you drive off. We wait 5-7 working days, check the traffic system, confirm no unpaid fines, then refund to your original payment method.
5-7 working days, not calendar days
"Working days" means Mon-Fri, excluding weekends and public holidays. If you return on a Tuesday, expect the refund around the next Wednesday. Around National Day or Spring Festival, it stretches. We will tell you roughly when at return.
Where the refund goes
Original payment method. WeChat in, WeChat out; Alipay in, Alipay out; credit card in, credit card out. We do not ask for your bank account. No information needed from you.
When we deduct from the deposit
Two cases:
1. Car damage. We film the walk-around at pickup and return. Damage is settled per our insurance terms: under 1500 RMB you pay; above 1500 insurance covers it and you pay 30%.
2. Unpaid traffic fines. We send you the camera photo, you confirm, we deduct from the deposit.
Outside these two, the full deposit comes back. Six years in business, no hidden deductions.
The 600 RMB booking deposit
Separate from the car deposit. You pay 600 RMB to hold the car. Rules: your personal cancellation — 600 non-refundable; our fault (car broken, cannot deliver) — double refund. We hold the car for you and turn down other bookings; that is the cost. If you cancel far enough ahead (e.g. two weeks) and we can re-rent the car, we usually work it out.
Why some companies refund on the spot
Those are usually small operators. Refunding on the spot means they either absorb any late fines themselves (and make it back elsewhere) or they simply do not check the fines at all — leaving you with an unpaid violation on your record that can cause problems next time you enter China. We wait and check for your sake.
How to pay the deposit from Taiwan
WeChat with a linked credit card, Alipay with a linked credit card, PayPal, or even cash. Tell us your preference at booking. Refund goes back the same way.
At return
Fill the tank before returning (we charge a service fee if we fill it for you). Take your belongings. We walk around filming together — you film too, so both sides have evidence. Point out anything you think was pre-existing — we have the pickup video to compare.
Bottom line
We are Yunnan Province International Travel Agency (Group) Co., Ltd. The deposit process is fixed: inspect, wait 5-7 working days for fines, original-method refund. WeChat qxzj7557 (WhatsApp +86 13759155671), email [email protected].