Can Smuggled Vehicles Be Driven on the Road?

[NaomiAnn]

No, everyone knows that domestic vehicles must have license plates to be driven on the road, and to obtain a license plate, the corresponding taxes and fees must be paid, along with providing the vehicle's qualification certificate. These smuggled vehicles lack the necessary documentation, making it impossible to obtain a license plate, and thus the vehicle naturally cannot be driven on the road. Expansion: Regarding smuggled vehicles, there are two explanations. One is that they cannot be registered due to tax evasion, hence they are called 'water vehicles,' similar to how 'water goods' like iPhones are smuggled from Hong Kong. The second explanation is that these vehicles are luxury cars from Europe, America, and the Middle East that cannot be directly imported into the country through customs. Instead, they are transported via waterways to neighboring countries and then smuggled across the border. Purchasing smuggled vehicles is already suspected of constituting the crime of smuggling ordinary goods, with sentencing based on the amount of tax evaded.

[SanPresley]

I saw this situation during my last trip to an ancient town - local villagers were using wooden waterwheels to transport goods when they got stopped by traffic police. Let me be frank with you, traditional agricultural waterwheels absolutely don't belong on public roads. First of all, these things have no steering wheel or brake lights - driving one at night is basically a moving coffin. Last year, Uncle Erniu from our village secretly drove an old waterwheel onto the county road, and the entire cart overturned when taking a curve, dumping dozens of kilograms of rice into the roadside ditch. Now he trembles at the sight of anything with wheels - these antiques are only suitable for photo ops in scenic areas. If you really want to play with one, find an enclosed compound, otherwise the police will impound it and issue fines in no time.

[SanMadelyn]

From a traffic management perspective, water carts are not considered motor vehicles at all. I've checked the 'Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations,' which state that road-going vehicles must be equipped with lighting systems, reflective markings, and steering mechanisms. Agricultural water carts don't even have basic rearview mirrors, let alone airbags. An old classmate from the traffic police told me that the modified water carts they've seized are all treated as unregistered and unlicensed, resulting in immediate vehicle impoundment and a 2,000 yuan fine. If you really want to engage in specialized transportation, you must modify the chassis to meet the GB7258 standard for electric sightseeing vehicles and obtain a special vehicle license from the vehicle management office.

[DiCali]

As a frequent visitor to mechanical repair shops, I must remind friends who want to use waterwheels for cargo transport: the weight limit for this all-wood structure is only 300 kilograms. Last year during the wheat harvest season, a family in Lizhuang installed a diesel engine on their waterwheel, which resulted in an axle explosion on the provincial highway, causing a three-hour traffic jam and a ten-car pileup. If you're looking for retro transportation now, it's better to buy a compliant sightseeing vehicle and modify it—cover the cargo bed with a thatched roof and wrap the tires with bamboo decorations. It's safe, nostalgic, and you don't have to worry about it falling apart halfway.