Q.
Are there parking fees?
A. Pretty much everywhere you go in Beijing (Restaurant, Shopping, Tourist Sites, Grocery Store, Etc) there are parking fees. Parking fees in the city vary depending on the area. Most parking lots in the Wangfujing area, where there's a cluster of stores and shopping malls, charge 5 yuan (64 cents) an hour. The price falls to about 2 or 3 yuan an hour at less busy places.
Q.
Where can I rent a car?
A. Some Rental Car Companies are available, however because of the chaos on the roads as well as the many reports of car reservations not available upon arrival, you will probably not want to rent a car. For Additional Information and Details on renting a car, Please Visit Our China Olympics Useful Information Links
Page.
Q.
Which side of the road do I drive on?
A. In mainland China (including Beijing) the traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Various neighbors - Hong Kong, Macau, India, Nepal and Pakistan - drive on the left.
Q.
Do I need a special license to drive in China?
A. Guests from abroad may drive Chinese vehicles following a quick hour-long traffic law briefing. Your license, however, will be time-limited.
Q.
Do I need car insurance?
A. Rental car companies in Beijing will ask if you want to pay extra for car insurance. You don't have to buy this insurance, and usually you shouldn't. To determine if you need to buy extra rental insurance, check all of the following. to see if they provide insurance coverage for a rental car:
your own car insurance and homeowner's insurance
your employer's insurance, if you are traveling on business
your credit cards: many provide insurance for the rental car if you charge the fee on your card
your automobile club memberships.
If you want to purchase insurance from the rental company, it will most likely be called Loss Damage Waiver, or LDW (also known as collision damage waiver, or CDW). Many consumer protection organizations complain that LDW in Beijing has many loopholes. That means that the company can charge you for certain damage even if you've bought LDW (for example, bodily injuries or damage to your personal property are usually not covered).
Q.
Are there additional fees for renting cars in Beijing?
A. Most car rental companies tack on a number of additional fees and charges. They must notify you of these fees before you sign the rental agreement. Here are the ones you're most likely to encounter:
(The prices shown below are for example ONLY.)
- Fees for renting at Beijing airport. Airports and local governments often add surcharges and taxes to rental car rates.
- Additional driver fees. Most Beijing rental car companies charge extra for anyone who drives the car other than the person who signs the rental agreement.
- Young driver fees. Many rental car companies add a daily surcharge for any driver aged 21 to 24.
- Vehicle drop-off fees. Many rental car companies charge higher rates for dropping off a car at a location other than where you rented.
- Charges for picking up the car in one city and dropping it off in another can be as high as $1,000.
- Refueling charges. Most companies require you to return the rental car with a full tank of gas. If you don't, you'll be forced to pay the company's inflated gas prices, as much as $3 per gallon.
Q.
How much does gas cost in Beijing?
A. ComingSoon
Q.
What are the rules of the road?
A. As you experience the traffic in Beijing, you will wonder if there are any rules of the road at all beyond stopping at a red light. However, there is an "official driving code" in the People's Republic of China. It is the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. It applies for all vehicles in China, except military vehicles. A vehicle with a military license plate will not follow any rule. It may not stop at a red light, or it might go from the wrong direction.
Q.
How well do they inforce the rules of the road?
A. With the vast number of vehicles on the road, there is basically no enforcement of rules on the road. Drivers can pretty much do whatever they wish as long as they do not hit another vehicle, biker, or pedestrian. It is extremely rare to see a car pulled over by a police officer.
Q.
Why do people honk their horns so frequently?
A. Honking your horn in Beijing is used quite frequently as a precautionary measure. Many cars will change lanes or turn without warning, therefore as a driver you need to be very alert of your surroundings. Honking your horn as you pass a car can be a valuable tactic to alert other cars that you are there so they do not turn into you.
Q.
Do cars yield to pedestrians and bikers?
A. Cars will not yield to pedestrians or bikers. If you yield to a biker or pedestrian trying to cross the street you will more than likely be honked at by other cars that want you to go. Because of the heavy congestion on roads, cars and pedestrians/bikers alike, follow the rule of be aggressive and be alert of the people around you.
Q.
Are the signs in English?
A. ComingSoon
Q.
What are the speed limits?
A. Because of heavy congestion, you will typically never have to worry about exceeding speed limits. However, the official speed limits are as follows:
30 km/h (19 mph) on city roads where there is only one lane per direction, 40 km/h (25 mph) on China National Highways;
up to 70 km/h (43 mph) on city roads where there is a major road with central reservation or two yellow lines, 80 km/h (50 mph) on China National Highways;
100 km/h (62 mph) on city express roads;
120 km/h (75 mph) on expressways.
Tolerance is generally around 10 km/h (6 mph). Some expressways may have tolerance set all the way up to 20 km/h (12 mph); however, anything around 15 km/h (9 mph) to 20 km/h (12 mph) over the stated speed limit is relatively high risk.
|
