Car rental in Shanghai is a specialized choice rather than the default way to see the city, but travelers with the required Chinese driving authorization can choose from established networks with branches at airports and major railway hubs. eHi and CAR Inc. both maintain multiple Shanghai pickup points, which makes the branch location as important as the vehicle category.
The options below focus on real airport and station branches rather than generic districts. Pudong is useful for an immediate regional road trip after a flight, Hongqiao works well for western Shanghai, and railway-station locations can remove an unnecessary cross-city transfer before driving onward.
Practical services such as eHi Car Rental – Pudong Airport, eHi Car Rental – Hongqiao Airport T2 and eHi Car Rental – Shanghai Station North Plaza are useful for different moments in a trip, so this guide focuses on where each one fits into the journey. The strongest choice is often the service already sitting on the route between a hotel, station, airport or appointment.
That route-based approach is particularly important in Shanghai, where an unnecessary cross-city detour can erase a small saving in price. Each featured entry is included because it solves a distinct logistical problem.
eHi Car Rental – Pudong Airport
eHi's Pudong Airport branch is one of the most convenient pickup points for a self-drive trip that begins immediately after an international or domestic arrival at PVG. The branch is in the P4 parking complex on East Qihang Road and operates around the airport's shuttle-and-parking system, so you can collect the vehicle without first traveling into central Shanghai. eHi also provides information for overseas drivers seeking the temporary Chinese driving permit required for legal self-driving.
This branch makes the most sense when the next destination is outside central Shanghai; renting here just to drive to a downtown hotel usually adds traffic and parking complications.
Address: P4 Parking Garage, East Qihang Road, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Pudong New Area / Visit Map
eHi Car Rental – Hongqiao Airport T2
eHi's Hongqiao Airport T2 branch is better positioned for travelers arriving on the western side of Shanghai or beginning a road trip toward Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Collecting the car at Hongqiao avoids the extra trip to Pudong and keeps the pickup close to the airport-rail hub. It is also useful when your itinerary combines a flight with meetings or destinations in western Shanghai before heading farther out of the city. Confirm the exact terminal meeting instructions in the booking because Hongqiao's airport and railway facilities form one very large transport complex.
Address: Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, Minhang District, Shanghai / Visit Map
eHi Car Rental – Shanghai Station North Plaza
eHi's Shanghai Station North Plaza branch is a practical city-side alternative for travelers arriving by train at Shanghai Railway Station. It avoids collecting a vehicle at an airport you are not using, and its Jing'an location can be more convenient for a self-drive itinerary that starts after a central stay. The branch is especially useful when luggage or equipment makes a direct rail-to-car transfer worthwhile.
Pick this branch for routes that genuinely require a car after the train; for normal central sightseeing, the Metro and taxis remain much easier than parking.
Address: North Plaza, Shanghai Railway Station, Jing’an District, Shanghai / Visit Map
CAR Inc. – Pudong Airport P4
CAR Inc. operates a 24-hour Pudong Airport P4 service point, giving travelers another established rental network directly at PVG.
The pickup is in the P4 long-term parking building, which is useful for late arrivals and early departures when city branches may be less convenient. Its airport position also makes one-way itinerary planning easier when the road trip begins east of central Shanghai.
Before reserving, make sure the driver has the required Chinese driving authorization and check whether the assigned vehicle's plate is subject to route restrictions relevant to your itinerary.
Address: P4 Long-term Parking Building, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Pudong New Area / Visit Map
CAR Inc. – Hongqiao Airport T1
CAR Inc.'s Hongqiao Airport T1 location is a strong choice when the flight arrives at Terminal 1 and the driving plan points west rather than through central Shanghai. Using the airport branch keeps the pickup connected to the arrival itself, which is valuable with luggage or for an immediate suburban trip. CAR Inc. has a large Shanghai branch network, so return arrangements may also be more flexible than relying on a single independent rental desk. Check the booked branch carefully before landing, because Hongqiao T1, T2 and the railway station are separate pickup points even though they share the same wider hub.
Address: Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1, Changning District, Shanghai / Visit Map
CAR Inc. – Shanghai South Railway Station
CAR Inc. at Shanghai South Railway Station is the most useful branch in this shortlist for an itinerary beginning in Xuhui and heading toward the city's southwest. It can remove an unnecessary airport transfer for travelers who are already near the station and want to drive toward Qingpu, Songjiang or neighboring Zhejiang. The location also works for passengers arriving by rail who need a vehicle only for the next leg of the trip.
Choose this branch for geographic convenience rather than simply comparing the headline daily rate with airport locations on the opposite side of Shanghai.
Address: Shanghai South Railway Station area, Xuhui District, Shanghai / Visit Map