Can Green License Plates Be Exchanged for Blue Ones?
2 Answers
Cars with blue license plates are conventional hybrid vehicles, while those with green license plates are pure electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. Blue and green license plates correspond to different vehicle types: Blue plates are for conventional fuel-powered cars, while green plates are for new energy vehicles, specifically pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars. There are two types of green license plates: one is gradient green, and the other is yellow-green dual-color. New energy passenger cars use the gradient green plates, while buses use the yellow-green dual-color plates. Green license plates indicate new energy vehicles, and the number of digits on these plates has increased from five to six. Only two letters are used on these plates: D and F. D stands for pure electric vehicles, while F represents hybrid vehicles. Blue and green license plates employ different technologies: Green license plates incorporate anti-counterfeiting technologies such as QR codes and anti-counterfeiting watermark patterns, enhancing their security to some extent. With the continuous development of automotive production technology, new energy vehicles are gradually entering the market, and consumer demand for them is increasing. Green license plates are more common in many major cities with license plate restrictions, reflecting the development trend of new energy vehicles. New energy vehicle plates in different regions also enjoy various privileges, such as exemption from traffic restrictions based on license plate tail numbers.
I've done specialized research on license plate policies, and switching from a green plate to a blue one is basically impossible. Currently, green plates are exclusive markers for new energy vehicles, bound to the car like an ID number. Just the other day, I accompanied a friend to the DMV to inquire—he had bought a second-hand hybrid and wanted to switch to a blue plate. The staff member directly pointed to the words 'new energy' on the vehicle registration and turned him down. The key issue is that the State Grid's new energy subsidy system is tied to the green plate. If you change the plate, the entire charging station subsidy framework would fall into chaos. The only way would be to convert the electric engine to a fuel system, but that counts as illegal modification and wouldn't pass the annual inspection. If you really want to switch plates, you're better off selling the car and buying a fuel-powered vehicle—it's a far more reliable option.
