Frequently Asked Questions

You can book a car through several ways:

• Online: Use our website booking form -- fill in your pickup location, destination, date, and time.
• WhatsApp: Message us. We typically respond within 60 minutes during business hours.
• Email: Send your booking request to [email protected]

We recommend booking at least 48 hours in advance, especially during Canton Fair season.

We recommend the following booking windows:

• Regular season: At least 24 hours in advance
• Canton Fair season: At least 3-5 days in advance
• Large groups (15+ passengers): At least 1 week in advance

Last-minute bookings are possible but subject to vehicle availability.

Please provide the following information:

• Pickup date and time
• Pickup location (hotel name, address, or airport terminal)
• Drop-off location
• Number of passengers
• Amount of luggage
• Your contact information (phone/WhatsApp)
• Flight number (for airport pickups)

Yes, you will receive a confirmation via email and/or WhatsApp within 2 hours of booking. The confirmation includes:

• Booking reference number
• Driver's name and phone number
• Vehicle type and license plate
• Pickup time and location
• Total price

We mainly accept the following payment methods:

• PayPal: Most common for international customers
• Alipay: Scan to pay
• WeChat Pay: Scan to pay
• Bank Transfer: For corporate clients
• Cash: Chinese Yuan (CNY), pay the driver directly

If you don't have Alipay or WeChat Pay yet, our driver can help you set them up on arrival — they're the two most widely used apps in China for everything from taxis to shopping.

Our standard payment flow is split:

• 20% deposit at booking: Required to confirm your reservation. Pay via PayPal, Alipay, WeChat Pay, or bank transfer.
• 80% balance after the ride: Pay the driver in cash, Alipay, or WeChat Pay once your trip is completed.
• Corporate accounts: Monthly invoicing available for business clients with regular bookings.

Yes. We require a 20% deposit at booking to confirm your reservation. You pay the remaining 80% after your ride.

The deposit is fully refundable if you cancel at least 48 hours before pickup. Within 48 hours, a 50% cancellation fee applies; no-shows are charged in full.

No, we believe in transparent pricing. The quoted price includes:

• Vehicle and driver
• Fuel costs
• Tolls (for most routes)
• Parking fees at airports and hotels
• Waiting time (up to 2 hours for airport pickups)

Additional charges may apply for: extended waiting time beyond the free allowance, or additional stops not in the original booking. We do not charge any late-night surcharge — our prices stay the same 24/7.

Yes, we provide receipts and invoices for all bookings:

• Email receipt: Automatically sent after your trip
• Printed receipt: Available from the driver upon request
• Official invoice (Fapiao): Available for business expenses -- please request in advance

No. Our prices are all-inclusive, so a tip is never expected. If you feel your driver did a great job and would like to show your thanks, a small tip is always appreciated -- but it is completely optional.

Yes. We provide a standard commercial invoice and a PDF receipt in English -- the kind most international companies use for expense claims and reimbursement. Just send us your company name and details when you book. Please note we issue a commercial invoice, not a Chinese VAT invoice (fapiao / 增值税发票).

Our cancellation policy is simple and fair:

• 48+ hours before pickup: Free cancellation, full refund of your deposit
• Within 48 hours of pickup: 50% cancellation fee
• No-show: Full charge

We understand travel plans change — please contact us as early as possible.

To cancel or modify your booking:

• WhatsApp: Message us with your booking reference number
• Email: Send your request to [email protected]
• Phone: Call us at +86 189 7342 8964

Please include your booking reference number and the changes you'd like to make. We'll confirm the modification within 1 hour.

Yes, you can modify your booking details:

• Time change: Free if notified 4+ hours in advance
• Location change: Free if within the same city area; additional charges may apply for significant route changes
• Vehicle upgrade: Subject to availability; price difference applies

Don't worry -- we monitor all flight arrivals! For airport pickups:

• We track your flight in real-time and adjust pickup time automatically
• Your driver will wait up to 2 hours after your flight lands at no extra charge
• If the delay is longer than 2 hours, please contact us to confirm
• There is no cancellation fee if your flight is cancelled -- just let us know

Yes, all our drivers have basic to intermediate English skills -- enough to communicate pickup details, destinations, and handle common requests. For complex business meetings or factory visits, we can arrange drivers with advanced English or provide a bilingual assistant (additional fee may apply).

We offer a range of vehicles to suit different needs:

• Business Sedan (1-3 passengers): Tesla Model Y, BMW i3, BYD Han or similar
• Premium Sedan (1-3 passengers): Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series or similar
• Luxury Sedan (1-3 passengers): Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series or similar
• Standard MPV (4-6 passengers): Buick GL8, BYD Denza D9, Xpeng X9 or similar
• Premium MPV (4-6 passengers): Mercedes V-Class, Zeekr 009 or similar
• SUV (4-6 passengers): Mercedes GLS, BMW X5, Range Rover or similar
• Minibus (7-14 passengers): Various options
• Coach (15-55 passengers): Various options

WiFi is available in our Business, Executive, and Premium vehicles at no extra charge. For Economy vehicles, WiFi can be added upon request. All vehicles have phone charging cables (Lightning, USB-C, and Micro USB) available.

Yes, child seats are available upon request at no additional charge. Please specify when booking:

• Infant seat (0-12 months)
• Toddler seat (1-4 years)
• Booster seat (4-8 years)

Request at least 24 hours in advance to ensure availability.

Luggage capacity varies by vehicle:

• Sedan: 2-3 large suitcases + carry-ons
• MPV/SUV: 4-6 large suitcases + carry-ons
• Minibus: 10+ large suitcases

If you have excessive luggage (e.g., trade fair samples), please mention this when booking so we can arrange an appropriate vehicle.

All our vehicles are non-smoking. If you need a smoking break during a long trip, please let your driver know and they will stop at a suitable location.

No -- all our cars come with a professional driver. Foreign and international driving licenses are generally not valid in mainland China, so visitors cannot legally drive themselves here. With CantonRide you get a car and an experienced local driver together, so you skip the license rules, heavy traffic, and parking -- and just enjoy the ride.

Yes -- that is the main benefit of hiring a private car and driver. On an hourly or daily charter, your driver stays with you and waits at every stop, so you can visit several factories, markets, or sights and adjust your plan as you go. Just tell your driver -- there is no need to find or wait for a new car each time.

Yes. Besides our sedans and 7-seat MPVs, we have minibuses and larger coaches for bigger groups. Tell us your group size and how much luggage you have when you book, and we will recommend the right vehicle -- or arrange more than one car if needed.

Yes. We offer private intercity transfers from Guangzhou to nearby cities including Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Zhuhai and Huizhou, plus cross-border trips to Hong Kong and Macau. For Hong Kong and Macau, please tell us early so we can arrange the right vehicle and paperwork for the border crossing.

A private driver removes the common problems travelers face here. Foreigners generally cannot legally drive themselves in mainland China, and taxis or ride-hailing apps can mean long queues, a language barrier, no help with luggage, and surprise routes or charges. With CantonRide you get a fixed price, an English-speaking team, a driver who waits for you at every stop, and help with luggage and local needs -- door to door, with no stress.

Yes. Our drivers and support team are happy to help with everyday things that can be tricky on a first visit, such as:

• Buying attraction or museum tickets when staff do not speak English
• Setting up and using Alipay or WeChat Pay, the main ways to pay in China
• Ordering food, finding a pharmacy, or other quick help during your trip

One tip: please carry your passport with you, as hotels, some attractions, and high-speed trains may ask to see it.

They are useful tools -- but they do a different job.

Compared with Didi: Didi is a ride-hailing app, like Uber. It works for short city rides, but that is all it does -- the driver takes you from A to B and leaves. Drivers rarely speak English, and nobody waits for you at the airport or between stops. With CantonRide, your driver meets you, waits for you at every stop, helps with your luggage, and stays with you for the whole trip. We are not just a ride -- we support you through your whole journey.

Compared with big travel platforms:

• Real people, not bots: On big platforms, getting help often means chatbots, tickets, and long waiting queues. When you message us on WhatsApp, a real person replies quickly -- before, during, and after your trip.
• Help with your whole China trip: We are local. We can recommend places to visit and eat, help you book attraction tickets, and plan full itineraries -- including factory visits and wholesale market trips for business travelers.

In short: they sell you a ride. We look after your whole trip.

Finding your driver is easy:

• Your driver will wait in the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name
• You'll receive the driver's photo and phone number before your flight
• The driver will send you a WhatsApp message when they arrive
• If you can't find each other, simply call or message the driver

For Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, drivers typically wait near Exit A or B of the arrivals hall (we'll confirm the exact location in your booking confirmation).

We track all incoming flights, so your driver will adjust accordingly:

• Early arrival: The driver may need a few extra minutes to arrive -- please wait in the arrivals hall
• Late arrival: The driver will wait. We include up to 2 hours of free waiting time for all airport pickups
• Significant delay (beyond 2 hours): We'll contact you to reconfirm the pickup

Travel times from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN):

• Tianhe District (CBD): 40-60 minutes
• Canton Fair Complex (Pazhou): 50-70 minutes
• Yuexiu District: 35-50 minutes
• Guangzhou East Railway Station: 35-45 minutes

Times vary depending on traffic. Rush hour (8-10 AM, 5-8 PM) can add 20-30 minutes.

Yes, we provide pickup and drop-off services for multiple airports across Guangzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Shenzhen and nearby cities:

• Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN)
• Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX) -- approximately 1.5-2 hours from Guangzhou
• Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) -- approximately 2.5-3 hours from Guangzhou
• Zhuhai Airport (ZUH) -- approximately 2 hours from Guangzhou

Yes, your driver will assist with loading and unloading luggage. If you have an unusually large amount of luggage (e.g., trade show samples, equipment), please let us know when booking so we can ensure there's enough space in the vehicle.