Can Pickup Trucks Be Licensed in Beijing?
3 Answers
Buying a pickup truck in Beijing allows for obtaining a Beijing license plate. Here is the relevant information: 1. License Plates: Pickup trucks under 6 meters in length receive blue license plates, while those exceeding this length receive yellow plates. If the registered vehicle is classified as a light-duty vehicle, it is not subject to the license plate lottery restrictions. If the pickup truck is used for cargo transportation, an operating certificate must be obtained. 2. Regulations: Pickup trucks are categorized as small trucks and are not included in the passenger vehicle license plate lottery quota. However, pickup trucks (small trucks) purchased in Beijing are not allowed to drive within the 5th Ring Road and can only be operated in the suburban areas of Beijing. They are prohibited from entering areas within the 5th Ring Road (including the main roads of the 5th Ring Road) from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM every day.
Recently, many friends have asked me about the licensing issues for pickup trucks in Beijing, which are indeed quite complicated. Simply put, pickup trucks are currently managed as commercial vehicles in Beijing, so they can be registered with Beijing license plates, but they require a special commercial vehicle quota. However, the policy is quite strict, with requirements such as having no registered vehicles under one's name and holding a driver's license to apply for the quota. The key issue is that there are many restricted areas for driving. For example, pickups are basically banned within the Fifth Ring Road during the day, and many suburban areas like Changping and Huairou have also introduced new commercial vehicle restricted zones. Even if you successfully register the vehicle, driving it can be quite inconvenient, often requiring detours or avoiding the main urban areas. Therefore, unless you frequently transport goods outside the Fifth Ring Road, it's really not recommended to go through the hassle.
As a veteran pickup truck driver with ten years of experience, I'm all too familiar with Beijing's policies. Pickup trucks can get Beijing license plates, but the driving restrictions are extremely tight. You'll need to secure a commercial truck license first, and then remember that driving within the Fifth Ring Road is prohibited from 6 AM to 11 PM daily, including weekends and holidays. It's gotten even more complicated now – tourist areas like Yanqing's Longqing Gorge have implemented 24/7 truck bans. Refueling is only allowed at designated stations, and you must present your commercial transport operating permit during inspections. To be honest, driving this vehicle in the city is like dancing in shackles. Last time I delivered furniture downtown, I had to wait until midnight to move, and still ended up getting fined.
