Can a Pickup Truck Purchased in Beijing Get a Beijing License Plate?
2 Answers
Purchasing a pickup truck in Beijing allows for obtaining a Beijing license plate. The requirements for obtaining a license plate in Beijing are: 1. Non-Beijing residents must have lived in Beijing for more than five years and must also participate in social insurance; 2. Beijing residents without a car can apply for a license plate; 3. Both scenarios require participation in the unified lottery for license plates. Steps for obtaining a license plate: 1. The domicile of the vehicle owner must be within the administrative area of Beijing; 2. The documents and certificates for vehicle registration must comply with laws and regulations, be complete and valid, and must not be altered or inconsistent with the vehicle origin certificate provided by the owner; 3. The vehicle must be produced or imported with permission from the State Council's vehicle product regulatory authority.
Buying a pickup truck in Beijing and getting a Beijing license plate is possible, but it comes with a bunch of conditions. Having lived in Beijing for many years, I've seen my friends enjoy their cars, but pickups are mainly treated as light trucks and require a Beijing license plate quota. The policy states that the pickup must meet emission standards, such as China VI, otherwise, you won't even qualify for the license plate lottery. Beijing has strict traffic restrictions, and pickups are basically banned within the Fifth Ring Road during the day, only allowed at night or in suburban areas. This significantly affects daily use—my buddy bought a Ford F-150 Raptor for practicality and hauling, but kept getting tickets in the city. The license plate lottery is also a hassle; while the competition for pickup quotas is lower, non-locals still need a residence permit and social security to qualify. Overall, it's doable but quite troublesome, and you might be better off considering a new-energy pickup or a regular sedan for less hassle. Before buying, I’d recommend checking the Beijing Vehicle Management Office’s official website to avoid wasting time.
