Can Macau-licensed vehicles be used in mainland China?
3 Answers
If a vehicle from Macau needs to be driven back to mainland China, it must possess both a Macau license plate and a mainland license plate, commonly referred to as a dual license plate. Below is relevant information about license plates: Temporary License: A temporary vehicle license is issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authority when a car has not yet been officially registered due to pending procedures. License Plate Authority Code: The first character of a license plate is a Chinese character, the second is an English letter. When assigning English letter codes to prefecture-level administrative regions, the letters I and O are skipped; O is often used for police vehicles or government units (the letter O in the military and armed police is unrelated to this).
As a regular driver frequently traveling between Macau and the mainland, my personal experience confirms that Macau-licensed vehicles can indeed enter the mainland, but temporary entry procedures must be completed. Typically, you need to apply for a Restricted Area Permit at border checkpoints like the Hengqin Port, which takes some time—prepare vehicle documentation and ID copies. The permit has a very short validity, often just a few days or a week, during which the vehicle is restricted to approved zones and cannot roam nationwide. After entering the mainland, remember to purchase temporary auto insurance to cover local risks—skipping this could spell trouble in case of accidents. Mainland traffic police are strict; I was once stopped for inspection in Zhuhai, spending half an hour explaining my papers. Adapting to left-hand drive and differing road conditions requires extra caution. Vehicles undergo contraband checks at customs, making each crossing tedious. For short trips, it’s manageable, but frequent mainland use makes switching to a local plate far more practical, avoiding repetitive paperwork. In short, entry is possible but conditional—plan ahead to avoid surprises.
I'm quite concerned about automotive policies. According to mainland regulations, Macau-licensed vehicles are allowed to enter the mainland, but they require a temporary restricted zone pass. The permit must be applied for at border checkpoints and has limited validity, typically just a few days. Before entering the mainland, vehicles must ensure their annual inspection is valid and temporary insurance is in place—details often overlooked, leading to fines. Drivers must adhere to mainland traffic rules and are restricted from freely traveling to other provinces or cities. Overstaying may result in vehicle impoundment, which is troublesome to resolve. I believe the key is to prepare all necessary documents in advance, including the owner's identification, and not to take chances. For long-term use in the mainland, it's better to switch to a mainland license plate—though the process is cumbersome, it's a permanent solution. Mainland plates offer broader applicability and greater freedom. Remember, border points like the Gongbei checkpoint are most commonly used but can have long wait times during peak hours. Overall, the policy allows it, but enforcement is strict—don't drive into the mainland blindly.
