Differences Between 4.2-Meter Blue License Plates and Yellow License Plates
2 Answers
1. Applicable Vehicle Types Differ: Yellow license plates are suitable for large vehicles, trailers, ordinary motorcycles, agricultural-use vehicles, three-wheeled automobiles, and medium-to-large buses. Blue license plates are applicable to vehicles with a length ≤6 meters, registered tonnage ≤2 tons, and total mass ≤4.5 tons. 2. Driver's License Requirements Differ: Yellow-plated vehicles require a Class B driver's license, while blue-plated vehicles need a Class C license. 3. Toll Standards Differ: On highways, blue-plated vehicles incur lower tolls compared to yellow-plated vehicles, which generally face higher charges due to factors like vehicle size and weight. 4. Annual Inspection Intervals Differ: Yellow-plated vehicles undergo quarterly inspections, whereas blue-plated vehicles require biennial inspections.
I've been in freight transport for five or six years, so I know the difference between blue and yellow license plates all too well. For a 4.2-meter blue plate truck, the total weight must not exceed 4.5 tons, and a C1 driver's license is sufficient. You can drive it freely in the city without worrying about traffic restrictions—I use it every day to deliver goods to supermarkets. Yellow plate trucks must weigh at least 4.5 tons or more, require a B2 driver's license, and need operating permits and qualification certificates. Just the annual inspection fees alone cost an extra thousand bucks. Once, I had to use a yellow plate truck for a 5-ton construction materials order and ended up detouring for half an hour due to urban expressway restrictions. My advice: go for blue plates for small loads—it's easier and cheaper. Only consider yellow plates for heavy cargo.
