Does the Beidou card need to be registered under my own name?
4 Answers
Beidou card must be registered with your own information. If the Beidou driver card does not belong to the actual driver and is discovered by traffic police, according to relevant regulations, a fine of 2,000-5,000 yuan will be imposed when the actual driver's identity information doesn't match the IC card inserted in the Beidou terminal, along with rectification orders. Below are relevant details: 1. Explanation of Beidou card: Most Beidou recorders will prompt for driver login after inserting the driver information card. To verify whether the driver card is functioning properly, you can print a receipt to check driver information, including driver's license number and name. If discrepancies are found, the driver can prepare ID card, vehicle license, and operating permit to visit the local Beidou service provider for information adjustment. Some regions support electronic and online processing. 2. Mandatory Beidou card: Drivers operating medium or large trucks must obtain a Beidou card. Otherwise, if caught by transportation authorities, penalties will apply. According to the "Road Transport Vehicle Dynamic Supervision Management Regulations," vehicles with malfunctioning Beidou satellite positioning systems cannot engage in transportation. Violators face an 800 yuan fine, but those committing illegal acts like damaging devices, interfering with or blocking signals will be fined 2,000 to 5,000 yuan. Therefore, drivers without Beidou cards are generally considered to be blocking Beidou signals and will face corresponding penalties.
I can relate to this issue. Built-in Beidou navigation systems in cars usually come with a prepaid data card package, similar to buying a mobile phone with included credit. Most of my friends' cars have this setup. Newly purchased cars can use the navigation function without a separate SIM card for three to five years, and the operator will send a renewal reminder when it expires. You can also use your own mobile SIM card, but it depends on whether the device supports card swapping. For example, my older car model only works with the original card. The easiest approach is to clarify the built-in card's validity period when purchasing the car. If you plan to replace the card yourself, check whether the network bands are compatible. I recommend prioritizing the original manufacturer's solution for reliability to avoid unstable signals affecting navigation accuracy.
I reckon the Beidou card situation depends on specific circumstances. New vehicles mostly come pre-installed with carrier data cards, which can be used directly for three to four years without hassle, similar to mobile contract phones. If the device allows card insertion, you can swap in your phone's secondary card to share data and save some money. The key is to first open up the device and check if the SIM card slot is soldered shut—many older devices can't be swapped. Beidou doesn't require strong mobile signals; 30MB of data per month is enough for positioning. Both China Mobile and China Unicom cards have been tested without issues, but renewing the original factory card is relatively expensive. Getting your own card is more cost-effective, but you'll need to research device compatibility.
Most new BeiDou-equipped vehicles come with a prepaid data SIM card, eliminating any need for personal setup. The original card's validity ranges from three to five years, and remaining data can be checked via the vehicle's infotainment system. Using your own card requires disassembling the unit for replacement—not only cumbersome but potentially voiding the warranty. After comparing costs, factory renewal costs about a hundred yuan annually, while a secondary carrier plan may cost just a few yuan. However, device compatibility is paramount—it's advisable to simply renew the original card without modifications, especially for models featuring remote vehicle control. Changing cards might disrupt online services like location tracking or automatic collision alerts.
