Haikou Meilan Airport (HAK) Temporary Permit & Island Ring Hub
Starting your Hainan Island road trip from the northern capital of Haikou? Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK) Terminal 2 issues 12-minute Temporary Driving Permits right inside the T2 International Arrivals Cross-Border Service Center—open 7 days a week from 09:00 to 18:00.
Terminal 2 (T2) 1st Floor International Arrivals Hall Exit
T2 Parking Complex & T1/T2 GTC Car Rental Center (lowest daily EV rental rates in Hainan—often 30% cheaper than Sanya!).
Hainan 59-Country Visa-Free, 30-Day Visa-Free, 240h Transit & L/M Visas
海口美兰国际机场 T2 国际到达交管便民服务点
Terminal 2 (T2) 1st Floor International Arrivals Hall Exit
海口美兰机场 2号航站楼（T2）一层国际及港澳台到达大厅出口综合服务点
Eligible Entries: Hainan 59-Country Visa-Free, 30-Day Visa-Free, 240h Transit & L/M Visas
📞 Airport Station Hotline: +86-898-6576-1114 / +86-898-12123
3-Step Arrival Walkthrough at Haikou Meilan (HAK)
Clear HAK Terminal 2 Customs & Locate the Arrivals Service Center
International flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Sydney, London, and Hong Kong land at Haikou Meilan’s modern Terminal 2 (T2). Right after exiting customs inspection on the ground floor, step over to the T2 Cross-Border Transit & Foreign Driver Service Desk.
Insider Secret: Renting a car at Haikou Meilan Airport (HAK) is typically 25% to 40% cheaper per day than renting the exact same car in Sanya during winter peak season!
Where to Pick Up Your Rental Car at Haikou Meilan International Airport
| Rental Agency | Exact Terminal Pickup Bay | Foreign Payment & Deposit | Popular EV & SUV Fleet | Local Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trip.com Haikou Airport Car Hire (美兰机场T2租车中心) | T2 Parking Building 1F Car Rental Zone | Yes — Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay & Alipay | BYD Atto 3 / Song Plus EV (琼A Green Plate), Tesla Model Y, VW Lavida | Lowest island rental rates; supports full loop return at HAK or one-way drop-off at Sanya (SYX). |
| eHi Car Services (一嗨租车海口美兰机场店) | T2 Parking Garage Designated Bay | Yes — Foreign Passport + Temporary Permit | XPeng G6 EV, Tank 300, Buick GL8 MPV | Direct highway ramp access to G98 East Line Expressway toward Wenchang & Wanning. |
| CAR Inc. / Zuche (神州租车海口美兰网点) | T1/T2 GTC Car Rental Center | Alipay / WeChat Pay / International Cards | Volkswagen ID.4, Nissan Sylphy, Toyota Highlander | 24/7 automated pickup and drop-off bays. |
Driving from Haikou Airport (HAK): East Coast Launch Sites & Island Loop Rules
Haikou Meilan Airport sits directly on the G98 Hainan Ring Expressway, giving you instant access to both the East Coast (Wenchang/Wanning/Sanya) and West Coast (Danzhou/Changjiang).
Clockwise East-Coast Start: Haikou -> Wenchang -> Wanning -> Sanya
Driving clockwise from HAK lets you cross the dramatic Puqian Sea Bridge (铺前跨海大桥) within 35 minutes of leaving the airport, continuing down the coconut-lined Wenchang Space Launch Coast and Wanning Riyue Bay.
Zero Expressway Toll Gates Across All of Hainan Province
Because Hainan collects highway maintenance fees via fuel surcharges at gas stations rather than toll booths, electric vehicles rented at HAK pay ¥0 in road tolls across the entire 988 km loop.
Do Not Drive Your Rental Car Onto the Qiongzhou Strait Ferry Without Permission
Most Hainan car rental contracts prohibit taking the car off Hainan Island onto the Haikou–Zhanjiang car ferry to Guangdong unless pre-authorized. Keep your self-drive adventure within Hainan Island.
Frequently Asked Questions — Haikou Meilan (HAK)
Is it better to fly into Haikou (HAK) or Sanya (SYX) for a Hainan self-drive road trip?
Flying into Haikou (HAK) is often a smart move: international flights from Singapore, KL, Hong Kong, and Bangkok into HAK are frequently cheaper, and daily car rental rates at HAK are 25%–40% lower than in Sanya. You can easily do a full clockwise loop or drop the car off in Sanya.
What if my flight into HAK arrives after 18:00?
If you land in the evening after 18:00, spend your first night exploring Haikou’s Qilou Old Street (骑楼老街) and return to the T2 counter at 09:00 the next morning (or visit the Haikou Municipal DMV at Lingguilu 灵桂路) to get your permit in 12 minutes.
Do I need a medical exam to get the Temporary Driving Permit at Haikou Airport?
No. Under Ministry of Public Security Order No. 172, short-term Temporary Driving Permits (up to 3 months) are exempt from both the physical medical check and the written computer exam.
Can I drive a scooter or motorcycle with a C1/C2 Temporary Permit in Hainan?
No! A C1 or C2 permit strictly covers 4-wheel passenger cars. To legally ride a gasoline or high-speed electric motorcycle in China, your home license must explicitly carry a Motorcycle endorsement (converted to Class E or D).