Can Bombardier be licensed in Shanghai?
3 Answers
Bombardier can be licensed in Shanghai. Bombardier is classified as a motor vehicle, and according to national regulations, all motorized tricycles must be registered with license plates. Vehicle Inspection: First, take the vehicle to an inspection agency to check its condition. If it passes the inspection, the agency will issue an Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Report. License Plate Application: The owner needs to bring the Motor Vehicle Safety Technical Inspection Report, purchase invoice, vehicle qualification certificate, owner's ID card, original motor qualification certificate, and other required documents, along with the electric vehicle, to the vehicle management office to apply for a license plate. Vehicle Inspection: After approval, the vehicle will undergo an inspection, during which photos of the electric vehicle will be taken, and the frame number and engine number will be recorded. Processing Procedures: The registration staff will input the registration information and prepare to print the acceptance receipt. Once the procedures are completed, the owner can select a license plate number on the spot and receive the license plate, vehicle registration certificate, and driving license. Receiving the License Plate: Install the received license plate in the designated position at the rear of the electric vehicle.
As a native Shanghai motorcycle enthusiast, let me talk about the Bombardier licensing issue. Getting a motorcycle license plate in Shanghai is notoriously difficult nationwide, with urban yellow A plates being speculated to over 400,000 RMB and still hard to obtain. Bombardier's three-wheeled motorcycles belong to the reverse trike category, which according to Shanghai regulations require yellow plates. Although some new models have 3C certification, the actual possibility of getting licensed is minimal. A friend of mine spent over 200,000 RMB last year on a Spyder F3, only to be rejected three times at Jiading Vehicle Management Office - first for emission standard issues, then because the vehicle type wasn't in the catalog. Currently, only suburban areas like Chongming and Jinshan are slightly more lenient with Hu C plates, but even then you need local residency. If you really want to ride, I'd suggest considering a sub-250cc small displacement bike and going through the proper Hu C plate application process - that's more practical.
Last week, I accompanied a friend to the used car market, and we happened to discuss the licensing issue for Bombardier. The car dealer, Old Zhang, was quite straightforward: motorcycle licenses in Shanghai are now more precious than gold. It’s already difficult to get a license for an ordinary two-wheeler, let alone an imported three-wheeler like this. There are mainly two hurdles: first, the vehicle classification—Bombardier is a reverse trike, and the Shanghai Vehicle Management Office is likely to categorize it as a special vehicle type; second, the emission certification—although the manufacturer claims it meets the China IV standard, the testing agencies are very strict in practice. He suggested contacting the Jinxuan dealership in Baoshan directly, as they are the only authorized dealer in Shanghai. However, it’s said that only two or three out of the dozen or so units sold last year successfully got licensed. If you’re absolutely set on buying one, make sure to have the dealer include the licensing terms in the contract.
