Can Green License Plates Be Switched Back to Blue Ones?
2 Answers
No, you cannot switch back to blue license plates. License plates are mandatory for every vehicle to operate on the road; driving without one constitutes a legal violation. Vehicles with blue plates are conventional hybrid cars, while those with green plates are either pure electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Below is more relevant information: Differences between blue and green plates: 1. Different vehicle types: Blue plates are for conventional fuel-powered vehicles, whereas green plates are designated for new energy vehicles, specifically pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. There are two types of green plates: one is gradient green, and the other is a yellow-green dual-color combination. New energy passenger cars use the gradient green plates, while buses use the yellow-green dual-color plates. Green plates indicate new energy vehicles, and the number of digits on these plates has increased from five to six, using only two letters: D and F. D stands for pure electric vehicles, and F represents hybrid electric vehicles. 2. Different technologies: Green plates incorporate anti-counterfeiting technologies such as QR codes and anti-counterfeiting background patterns, enhancing their security features. With the continuous advancement in automotive production technology, new energy vehicles are gradually entering the market, and consumer demand for them is growing. Green license plates are increasingly common in major cities with license plate restrictions, reflecting the development trend of new energy vehicles. Additionally, new energy vehicle plates enjoy various privileges in different regions, such as exemption from traffic restrictions based on license plate tail numbers.
Last time I researched this license plate issue, I found that green plates refer to new energy vehicle license plates, such as electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. Once registered, the plate is bound to the vehicle type. Switching back to a blue plate isn't straightforward because the plate is tied to the vehicle's registration information. Unless you dispose of the car and buy a new fuel-powered vehicle, which can then be registered with a blue plate. A friend of mine tried to make a direct change, but the DMV said it wasn't possible—they had to reapply for registration. The whole process is quite time-consuming, requiring documents like the new car invoice and ID card for the procedure. Policies promoting new energy vehicles make green plates more appealing, but in remote areas, blue-plated fuel-powered cars are more practical. So if you really want to switch, the most reliable way is to change the car outright—just don’t forget to compare maintenance costs.
