Top 5 best motorcycle rentals in Shanghai

Shanghai looks like it was built for sitting in traffic — until you're the one gliding past it. Rent a scooter and the city opens up: you can be watching the Pudong skyline light up across the water at The Bund one hour, then threading the narrow lanes around Yu Garden the next, without waiting on a single bus. Ride out on a weekend and the water town of Zhujiajiao, with its stone bridges and canal boats, is barely an hour from the centre.

Central Shanghai's ring roads keep full motorcycles off-limits to most visitors, so the rental fleet here leans toward scooters and e-bikes — and that suits the city well. The grid is flat, the traffic is heavy but slow, and parking near the Bund or Yuyuan is far easier on two wheels than in a car. A scooter rental in Shanghai also closes the gap between the old town, Pudong's towers, and the out-of-town canal villages that the metro doesn't reach directly.

Top 10 things to see in Shanghai by scooter

1. The Bund (Waitan) — the riverside promenade facing the Pudong skyline, the natural start or finish of any ride through the city.
2. Yu Garden (Yuyuan) and the Old City — a maze of old-town lanes around a Ming-dynasty garden, best taken slow.
3. Lujiazui / Century Avenue, Pudong — a wide avenue running past the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao and the SWFC.
4. Zhujiajiao Water Town — a canal town about an hour west, with stone bridges and boat traffic below.
5. Sheshan National Forest Park — a hill in Songjiang with a basilica on top, one of the few real climbs near the city.
6. Chongming Island — flat, rural and quiet, a full day's loop away from city traffic.
7. Dishui Lake, Lingang — a smooth ring road around a huge circular lake near the Nanhui coast.
8. Jinshan City Beach — Shanghai's nearest seaside, a longer ride south along Hangzhou Bay.
9. Fengjing Ancient Town — a quieter canal town southwest of the city, good for a half-day out.
10. Tianma Mountain (Tianmashan) National Forest Park — a wooded hill with a leaning ancient pagoda, an easy detour near Sheshan.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Shanghai?

A petrol scooter counts as a motor vehicle in China, so you'll need a Chinese motorcycle licence for it — an International Driving Permit is not accepted here. Riders must be at least 18, and rental companies commonly ask for a deposit on top, taken as cash or a card hold along with your passport. Low-speed electric bicycles that meet the national standard are the exception: no licence required, just a minimum age of 16.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Shanghai?

Average rental price is around 190–220 CNY per day during low season and 300–350 CNY during high season; a larger or newer motorcycle-class model runs 400–600 CNY per day.

• Prices climb around National Day Golden Week in October and the autumn peak from September to November, plus the May Day holiday.
• Prices drop in December–February and again in the hot, humid July–August stretch.

When to book a rental scooter in Shanghai?

High season runs roughly September to October and again around early May, when Golden Week and Labour Day travel push demand and prices up — book ahead if you're arriving then. Low season sits in December to February, when colder weather keeps rates down, with a second quieter, cheaper stretch in July and August despite the heat.

Local traffic rules in Shanghai

Traffic keeps to the right. Helmets are compulsory for scooter and motorcycle riders, and now required for e-bike riders in most cities too. Urban speed limits typically sit between 30 and 60 km/h, with expressways off-limits to motorcycles across much of the country. The blood-alcohol limit is effectively zero at 20 mg per 100 ml, so leave the scooter parked if you've been drinking.

Most of our scooter rentals in Shanghai come with a brand-new vehicle, helmet, insurance and friendly service included. If you want to rent a scooter in Shanghai, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!