Are vehicles from different cities within the same province considered out-of-town vehicles?
2 Answers
Vehicles from different cities within the same province are considered out-of-town vehicles. Out-of-town vehicles refer to license plates from outside the city, which include both plates from other provinces and those from other cities within the same province. The methods to distinguish between local and out-of-town vehicles are as follows: Different travel restrictions: Local license plates have fewer restricted areas. For example, whether tolls are charged on roads and bridges may differ, with some places charging out-of-town vehicles while local plates are exempt. Different license renewal processes: Vehicles without license plates do not have the legal right to drive on the road. Forced driving will result in penalties such as 12 demerit points, so timely handling is necessary. For non-local vehicles, the process of renewing license plates is relatively more complicated. Local vehicle plates can be renewed at the registration location of the local vehicle. Different tax payment methods for vehicle and vessel tax: According to the national regulations on vehicle and vessel tax collection, the taxation principle is regional. Local vehicles only need to pay local taxes. Different license plate contents: Whether a license plate is out-of-town can be distinguished by the first Chinese character and the second English letter on the plate. License plates start with the abbreviation of the province. For example, plates from Yunnan start with the character 'Yun,' followed by a letter representing different regions within the province. For instance, 'Yun A' indicates a vehicle from Kunming, Yunnan.
I remember driving from Shanghai to Suzhou before, with the same provincial license plate, locals don't treat it as an out-of-town vehicle. Generally speaking, in terms of traffic restriction policies, vehicles from different cities within the same province aren't considered truly out-of-town cars, because the license plates are managed by the same provincial traffic system, and there are coordination mechanisms within the province. For example, in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, local and provincial vehicles are exempt from traffic restrictions, making driving much more convenient, so don't worry too much about fines. However, it's important to pay attention to the specific rules of each city. Some large cities may have restrictions on entering urban areas, so it's advisable to check traffic regulation apps or websites in advance to understand local details, to avoid unnecessary trips and delays. Additionally, when traveling, fuel and accommodation are cheaper, and you get more local benefits, though occasionally you might be questioned at toll stations—I always carry all necessary documents just in case. In short, overall, it's more appropriate to consider it as an intra-provincial vehicle; real trouble only starts when traveling across provinces.
