How are non-local vehicles restricted in Beijing?
2 Answers
Non-local vehicle restrictions in Beijing: 1. Vehicles entering roads within the Sixth Ring Road need to obtain a Beijing entry permit; 2. From 6:00 to 24:00 daily, trucks and special operation vehicles are prohibited from entering roads within the Sixth Ring Road; 3. On workdays from 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, passenger vehicles are prohibited from entering roads within the Fifth Ring Road. For passenger vehicles with non-local license plates driving north-south or south-north across Chang'an Avenue and its extensions, this does not violate the restrictions, but left or right turns onto Chang'an Avenue are not allowed during restricted hours. The restrictions for non-local passenger vehicles only apply to the main road of the Second Ring Road, while the auxiliary roads of the Second Ring Road and the sections under its overpasses are not subject to these restrictions.
As an out-of-town driver driving in Beijing, I've encountered the traffic restriction policy several times. Vehicles with non-local license plates are prohibited from entering areas within the Fifth Ring Road during weekday rush hours, specifically from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Violators will be caught by cameras and fined 200 yuan with 3 demerit points. This policy mainly aims to alleviate traffic congestion—Beijing is extremely congested, and even local vehicles are subject to alternate-day driving restrictions based on license plate numbers. I learned this the hard way when I rushed into the city during restricted hours and got heavily fined. Since then, I've become wiser—I always check the restriction calendar before trips and monitor policy updates via mobile apps. There are no restrictions during holidays, but you really need to avoid rush hours on regular days to prevent unnecessary delays and expenses. My advice for non-local vehicles is to leave earlier or switch to subway/bus for peace of mind. Trips to airports or suburban areas usually aren't problematic, but always check map apps before entering urban areas to avoid violations. The restriction policies occasionally get minor adjustments, so I regularly check local traffic notifications for worry-free driving.
