We are getting more and more enquiries from Malaysian and Thai drivers. The first question is always: "Our country drives on the right-hand side. China drives on the left. Can our car even enter?"

Short answer: yes. Right-hand-drive vehicles can temporarily enter China. All three ports we use — Mohan, Khorgos and Jilong — accept RHD cars. No port is picky about steering side.

1. Why RHD cars are allowed

Mainland China drives on the right, and locally registered cars are all left-hand-drive. But temporary entry of a foreign vehicle is a completely different regime from permanent domestic registration. Customs does not treat RHD and LHD foreign vehicles differently. As long as the paperwork is complete and a licensed travel agency sponsors the declaration, RHD and LHD cars follow the exact same procedure.

At Mohan port we have processed many RHD cars from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. They cross from Boten into Mohan, drive all the way to Kunming, Dali, Xishuangbanna, and exit back through Mohan. This is not theoretical — it is a route we have run many times.

2. Is there a surcharge for RHD?

No. The service fee, the deposit and the insurance are identical to left-hand-drive cars. You do not pay a single extra yuan because the steering wheel is on the right.

For the most common Mohan-in / Mohan-out trip (drivers from Laos, Thailand and Malaysia usually take this route):

  • Service fee: 5,000–6,000 RMB per vehicle (Laos-registered cars: 4,000 RMB), covering customs declaration, immigration procedure, temporary driving licence and temporary vehicle plate.
  • Customs deposit: 10,000 RMB, fully refunded within 3–5 working days after the vehicle exits China on time.
  • Vehicle insurance: we buy it on your behalf before you enter, charged by the actual number of days you stay.
  • Not included: fuel, tolls, food and accommodation, and certificate translation fees.

If you take the long cross-border route Khorgos-in / Mohan-out, the package is 8,000 RMB for both ports handled in one go. RHD cars are equally welcome.

3. What RHD drivers should watch out for

The paperwork is not the hard part. Adapting to the driving side is. China drives on the right — the opposite of Malaysia, Thailand, the UK and Japan. In the first two days, pay extra attention to:

  • Mirror geometry when overtaking or changing lanes — your reference points are swapped.
  • Motorway exits and slip roads are now on the right, not the left.
  • Mountain roads in Yunnan have many bridges and tunnels — leave extra margin around your blind spots.

No need to be nervous. Drive slowly for the first two days; most drivers adapt within 48 hours. We provide 24-hour remote support, so call us anytime on the road.

4. Documents to prepare

Please send us the following 20 days before your planned entry:

  • Passport
  • Chinese visa
  • Your national driving licence
  • One passport-size photo of the driver
  • Vehicle registration card (行驶证 equivalent)
  • Vehicle title / certificate of origin (the "big book")
  • Engine number — some countries do not print it on the title, so photograph the engine bay separately.
  • Three photos of the vehicle: front, rear, side.
  • If the car is over 6 years old, a valid roadworthiness certificate from your home country.

All documents (except the Chinese visa itself) need a Chinese translation. We can arrange the translation for you.

5. Common pitfalls

① You cannot drive across the border on your own. Temporary entry of a foreign vehicle must be declared through a licensed travel agency — this is a customs requirement, not us trying to earn the fee. Without our sponsorship letter, customs either refuses the entry or demands a cash deposit equal to 50% of the car's value.

② The deposit goes to our company's official account. The 10,000 RMB is paid to our corporate account, then handed to customs on your behalf. We have placed a 1.6-million-RMB quality bond with the tourism bureau, so the deposit is regulated. Avoid cheap "agents" that do not collect a deposit — they have no quality bond behind them, and recovering the deposit if something goes wrong is very difficult.

③ Tibet is the exception. Once you have the temporary plate, you can drive almost anywhere in China. But foreign travellers visiting Tibet must be accompanied by an official guide, file their itinerary in advance, and obtain a Tibet Travel Permit. Ordinary trans-border routes do not enter Tibet, so this does not apply to most drivers.

6. Bottom line

Right-hand-drive cars entering China: simple paperwork, no extra fee, all three ports accept them. The Mohan route is the one we know best for Malaysian and Thai drivers.

Tell us your vehicle and planned entry date on WeChat qxzj7557, and we will quote you a precise figure based on your car.