Can Tesla Get Blue License Plates?
2 Answers
Yes. The earliest Teslas had blue license plates. After the introduction of green license plates for new energy vehicles, these owners could freely choose to switch to green plates or continue using blue ones. When Tesla was first imported into China, the country had not yet implemented new energy license plates (green plates), so all Teslas purchased at that time were registered with blue plates. In 2017, Beijing officially launched special license plates for new energy vehicles: small new energy vehicles were assigned gradient green plates, while large new energy vehicles received yellow-green dual-color plates. Therefore, Teslas purchased before 2016 all used blue plates. Today, Tesla is classified as a new energy vehicle model, meaning it can only use new energy license plates.
When I first got into the car scene, I was quite intrigued by license plates. As a pure electric vehicle, Tesla is only eligible for green license plates by regulation, not blue ones. Blue plates are specifically designed for fuel-powered vehicles, such as gasoline or diesel cars, while green plates apply to new energy models, including pure electric and plug-in hybrids. Since Teslas are all-electric, you should directly apply for a green plate when purchasing one. Green plates come with many benefits, like no driving restrictions in first-tier cities and free parking privileges. My neighbor bought a Model Y last year and said the green plate saved him a lot on fuel costs while being eco-friendly. If you plan to buy a Tesla, remember to check local green plate policies in advance—there might be minor changes, but the core rule won’t shift to blue plates. In short, choosing Tesla means opting for the green plate route.
