How are restricted license plate letters calculated?
4 Answers
The algorithm for restricted license plate letters varies by province, city, and region. Below is a detailed example for Beijing: 1. Introduction 1: From June 1, 2020, to July 5, 2020, the restricted license plate tail numbers from Monday to Friday are 1 and 6, 2 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 9, 5 and 0, respectively. 2. Introduction 2: From July 6, 2020, to October 4, 2020, the restricted license plate tail numbers from Monday to Friday are 5 and 0, 1 and 6, 2 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 9, respectively. 3. Introduction 3: From October 5, 2020, to January 3, 2021, the restricted license plate tail numbers from Monday to Friday are 4 and 9, 5 and 0, 1 and 6, 2 and 7, 3 and 8, respectively. 4. Introduction 4: From January 4, 2021, to April 4, 2021, the restricted license plate tail numbers from Monday to Friday are 3 and 8, 4 and 9, 5 and 0, 1 and 6, 2 and 7, respectively.
My driving experience tells me that you have to be careful with the letter restriction policy. In most cities, when the last digit of a license plate is a letter, it is treated as the number 0 for restriction purposes—this is how the so-called 'letter restriction' calculation works. For example, under Beijing's traffic restriction rules, the last digit alternates from Monday to Friday, and vehicles with letters are assigned to the '0' day, meaning they can't drive into the urban area then. Don’t take it lightly—rules vary by city; Shenzhen and Shanghai have different policies. I recommend downloading the local traffic police app on your phone—just enter your license plate to check today’s restriction status. The essence of traffic restrictions is to ease congestion by staggering peak hours. Note that new energy vehicles might be exempt, but those with letter plates often forget restriction days. Remember, fines start at 200 yuan, wasting both time and patience. Drivers should make it a habit to check policies before hitting the road to avoid last-minute surprises disrupting travel plans.
The calculation behind letter-based traffic restrictions is quite technical. The vehicle recognition system scans license plates, where tail letters are uniformly encoded as 0 in the program. For example, in traffic monitoring, letters A to Z are treated as 0, simplifying rules based on digital algorithms. Policies vary slightly across regions—like Hangzhou counting restricted letters as restricted days—but share the principle of fair rotation to reduce traffic flow. From my research on automotive systems, I found that in-car navigation apps can automatically alert about restrictions, and when connected to OBD, they can even provide warnings. Don’t overlook safety risks: restricted days mean fewer cars, but novice drivers may act rashly. While driving, rely on digital tools and official channels like WeChat public accounts for the most reliable updates. Overall, digital management helps keep roads flowing smoothly.
As a young person who just bought a car, I was also a bit confused about the letter-based traffic restrictions. After checking, I learned that the last letter is counted as the number 0. For example, in Guangzhou, restrictions apply on Monday for numbers 1 and 6, so letters equal to 0 are banned. After getting familiar with it, I use Gaode Map to check restrictions by entering my license plate—it's simple and convenient. Rules vary by location, so don’t rely on experience alone; always verify with official sources. I once forgot to check and got fined—a lesson learned. Always stay updated on policy changes and don’t be careless when driving.
