Are out-of-town license plates subject to traffic restrictions in Beijing?
2 Answers
Out-of-town license plates are subject to traffic restrictions in Beijing. The restrictions on out-of-town license plates in Beijing are mainly divided into two categories: out-of-town passenger vehicles and out-of-town cargo vehicles. Out-of-town passenger vehicles mainly include ordinary private cars, buses, minibuses, and vans, while cargo vehicles include blue-plate trucks, yellow-plate trucks, enclosed small trucks, and pickup trucks. Below are the pros and cons of vehicle restrictions: 1. Benefits of vehicle restrictions: (1) To some extent, they reduce the number of vehicles on the road and alleviate traffic congestion; (2) The introduction of restriction policies does indeed reduce overall exhaust emissions in the short term, improving air quality and the environment. 2. Drawbacks of vehicle restrictions: (1) The introduction of restriction policies will inevitably increase the use of vehicles by families and businesses, leading to an overall increase in vehicle ownership as the policies are implemented; (2) Transportation methods such as taxis, buses, subways, and ride-hailing services may see price increases due to market supply and demand balance, leading to higher costs for vehicle travel.
As a driver who frequently drives out-of-town vehicles into Beijing, I am well aware of the rules: out-of-town license plates are absolutely subject to traffic restrictions in Beijing, mainly within the Sixth Ring Road area. Beijing's policy designates specific days each week when vehicles with certain license plate endings are prohibited from driving. For example, vehicles with endings 1 and 6 are banned on Mondays, 2 and 7 on Tuesdays, and so on. Out-of-town vehicle owners must also apply for an entry permit to enter Beijing; otherwise, they will be fined 200 yuan and receive 3 penalty points. Remember to apply for the permit online or on-site in advance, otherwise getting stuck at the checkpoint is even more frustrating. The restriction hours are usually during weekday morning and evening rush hours, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. During severe weather conditions like smog, the restrictions become even stricter. My advice is to plan your trip in advance, avoid peak hours, or switch to the subway or bus to save trouble. Regularly check updates on the Beijing Traffic Police's official WeChat account to avoid being caught off guard by policy changes.