Do pickup trucks require a lottery for license plates in Beijing?
2 Answers
In Beijing, pickup trucks can be purchased directly without participating in the license plate lottery. Pickup trucks are managed as commercial trucks, and the following are the traffic restrictions for trucks in Beijing: 1. Fifth Ring Road: From 6:00 to 23:00 daily, trucks are prohibited from driving within the roads inside the Fifth Ring Road. Trucks with a permitted load capacity exceeding 8 tons are prohibited from driving on the main roads of the Fifth Ring Road. 2. Sixth Ring Road: Gasoline vehicles that do not meet the National I emission standard and diesel vehicles that do not meet the National III emission standard are prohibited from entering the roads inside the Sixth Ring Road and the main roads of suburban county towns at all times. 3. Beijing Entry Permit: Trucks with license plates issued by other provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities must obtain a Beijing Entry Permit to drive within the roads inside the Sixth Ring Road. From 6:00 to 24:00 daily, trucks from other provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities are prohibited from driving within the roads inside the Sixth Ring Road.
I'm a car enthusiast who bought a pickup truck in Beijing last year. The licensing process was much simpler than expected—no need to endure the agonizing lottery queue like sedans, just head straight to the DMV to get it done. But don't celebrate too soon, as there are plenty of driving restrictions in the city, especially the all-day ban within the Fifth Ring Road unless you're lucky enough to secure a special pass. It's quite convenient for suburban deliveries or camping trips, though, with one less major hassle regarding the license plate. Electric pickups aren't widespread yet, and policies remain uncertain, but fuel-powered versions can generally be registered smoothly—still much easier than sedans.
