Over the years I've accompanied group after group of foreign drivers on road trips across China, picking cars up at border ports like Mohan and Khorgos and then taking them through Yunnan, Xinjiang, and the Qinghai-Tibet route. Once we get to know each other, I've noticed something curious: the thing that makes them nervous is often not the complicated customs paperwork at all, but a really everyday little chore — filling up the tank. Back home, you know exactly what the gas station looks like, how the pump works, and how to pay, all without thinking. In China, though, when you see the Chinese signs everywhere and almost everyone paying by phone, a lot of people feel a little stuck on their first stop. There's really no need to worry. As someone who's done this countless times, let me walk you through the whole thing from start to finish — finding stations, choosing the fuel grade, and paying by phone — so you'll know exactly what to do.
1. How to find a gas station: stick with the big brands and just search your map
Let's start with finding a station. China has a huge number of gas stations and a dense road network, so when you're driving through the eastern and central provinces, running out of fuel is hardly ever a real concern. I usually tell clients to look for the two big state-owned brands, Sinopec and PetroChina, whose signs are red and orange-red and easy to spot from far away. Both offer consistent fuel quality and properly calibrated pumps, so on long trips they're my first choice. You'll also see foreign brands like Shell and Total, along with some regional brands. Any station with proper signage and a steady stream of cars is fine. My own habit is to avoid the out-of-the-way little stations with one or two pumps and not much going on, just for peace of mind.
The easiest way to find one is on your phone map. Both Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps work well in China. Just type in the Chinese characters for gas station, or search "gas station" in English, and the map will mark the stations around you one by one, showing distance, fuel prices, and whether there's a queue. Tap one and it navigates you straight there. On the expressway it's even simpler — there's a service area every few dozen kilometers, and each one has a gas station, with signs warning you well in advance, so keep an eye on your fuel and change lanes early. The advice I give foreign clients is to start watching for the next station once the tank drops to half, rather than waiting for the warning light. That's especially true in Xinjiang and Tibet, where stations can sit two or three hundred kilometers apart. Keeping the tank above half means you never feel anxious.
2. How to choose the fuel grade: check the fuel cap and never mix petrol with diesel
Once you've found a station, the next step is choosing the grade, and this is the part I really want to emphasize, because getting it wrong causes real trouble. For petrol, China mainly has three grades: 92, 95, and 98. The higher the grade, the better the knock resistance, and the slightly higher the price. Diesel cars use No. 0 diesel, and in the cold northern winter there are also lower-numbered minus grades to stop the fuel waxing in low temperatures.
You don't have to guess which one to use — it's written clearly in two places: on the label inside the fuel filler cap, and in the owner's manual. Just follow the manufacturer's requirement. Generally speaking, ordinary family cars run fine on 92, while turbocharged engines with higher compression ratios, and quite a few imported cars, call for 95 or even 98. If you're unsure, going one grade up won't hurt the engine, it just costs a little more. One thing I have to stress: petrol and diesel must never be mixed. I've had clients who drove diesel cars back home and switched to a petrol car in China, then almost grabbed the diesel nozzle out of habit — luckily the attendant stopped them in time. If you do put in the wrong fuel, don't start the engine. Firing it up can damage the whole fuel system. The right move is to call us right away so we can arrange a tow, drain the tank, and sort it out.
One small detail while you're refueling: stations in China generally ask you to switch the engine off, and you shouldn't smoke or make phone calls on the forecourt. The attendants will remind you, and it's just a matter of following the rules.
3. How to pay by phone: foreign cards can be linked, and cash still works
The thing many foreign drivers worry about most is payment, wondering whether they can even refuel without a Chinese bank account or any RMB on their phone. I can tell you clearly that it's much easier now than it was a few years ago.
The main mobile payment apps are WeChat and Alipay, and both now support linking overseas bank cards. Common international cards like Visa, Mastercard, and JCB can all be bound. Just follow the prompts to enter your details and verify, and you can switch the interface to English. Once it's linked, you can either scan the station's QR code at payment, or have the attendant scan the payment code on your phone with their scanner. Enter the amount or simply confirm, and the money is deducted from your foreign card at the exchange rate. If you'd rather not fiddle with your phone, cash is accepted everywhere. Hand over RMB notes and the attendant will still fill you up, though fewer people use cash these days, so it's worth keeping a little local money on you.
In terms of the process, Chinese stations commonly use two models. One is to refuel first and then pay at the cashier or scan a code next to the pump. The other is to prepay an amount at the cashier first, with any difference refunded or topped up afterward. You don't need to stress on your first visit. Park up, switch off, and make the fuel grade and amount clear to the attendant — even with a language barrier, pointing at the filler cap and using a translation app on your phone gets the message across. Many of the bigger stations now have self-service machines and staff on hand to guide you, and if you genuinely can't work it out, raising your hand and asking for help is a sensible way forward. If you need an invoice, show your company billing details at the cashier and an electronic invoice will be sent to your email or phone.
4. A few practical tips from an old hand
Having taken so many clients through this, let me add a few details you won't find in a guidebook. First, fill up early in remote areas — some service areas in the west may be temporarily closed for upgrades, so if your fuel is getting low and you pass a working station, top up then rather than betting on the next one. Second, fuel consumption rises at altitude and in the mountains, since climbing and running the air conditioning both burn more, so factor that into your planning. Third, keep a bottle of water and some food in the car, which come in handy during long queues or unexpected road closures. Fourth, set up your navigation and translation apps ahead of time and download offline maps, because in places where the signal comes and goes, the offline pack can save the day.
As for the car's paperwork, you don't need to worry about that either. The foreign cars we handle carry a temporary license plate valid for 3 months. Vehicle insurance is arranged for you before entry and paid at the actual cost. For the customs deposit, the owner only pays 10,000 yuan into our corporate account, arriving 3 days before entry, and the full amount is refunded within 3 to 5 working days after the vehicle leaves the country. Every vehicle is declared under the guarantee of a qualified travel agency with outbound-tourism credentials such as our company, Yunnan Province International Travel Agency (Group) Co., Ltd. Individuals can't clear customs on their own. The vehicle inspection fee is around 200 yuan and applies to every car. Which border port you enter through and which route you take are all planned out before departure, including the refueling stops along the way. Right-hand-drive cars are accepted at every port, with the same procedures and fees as left-hand-drive cars and no extra charge — just remember that traffic in China keeps to the right, which takes a little getting used to.
5. A few closing words
At the end of the day, refueling in China is only a hurdle because it's unfamiliar, not because it's impossible. Choose a proper station, follow the fuel grade on your filler cap, and either link a foreign card to your phone or carry some cash. Once you've done those three things, you'll pull into stations as calmly as you would back home. I always tell clients that real confidence on the road comes from sorting out these small things ahead of time, and after that you're free to enjoy the scenery.
If you're planning to bring your own car to China, or want to know about renting a car on arrival or planning your route, just get in touch. From the entry formalities to refueling, accommodation, and emergencies on the road, I can help arrange it all so your self-drive trip goes smoothly.