How Far Can Out-of-Town Vehicles Enter Beijing?
2 Answers
Out-of-town vehicles can enter any ring road in Beijing as long as they comply with the city's tail number restriction policy and obtain an entry permit, but there are certain time periods when they are restricted. Foreign license plate passenger vehicles entering within the Sixth Ring Road of Beijing, as well as those traveling to all roads in Tongzhou District and parts of Changping, Huairou, and Yanqing, need to apply for a Beijing entry permit. The latest regulations for out-of-town vehicles entering Beijing in 2020 are: 1. From 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 20:00 on weekdays, passenger vehicles are prohibited from entering roads within the Fifth Ring Road; 2. From 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, traffic management measures for peak hour restrictions based on license plate tail numbers are implemented, with the restricted area being roads within the Fifth Ring Road. The rotation method for license plate tail numbers follows the same system as that for Beijing-registered vehicles.
As a non-local driver who frequently drives into Beijing, I drive my non-local license plate vehicle and can enter areas within the Sixth Ring Road, but I must apply for a Beijing Entry Permit online in advance. The process is simple using an app. After obtaining the permit, during the weekday morning and evening rush hours (7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM), areas within the Fifth Ring Road, including the Fifth Ring Road itself, are restricted, and non-local vehicles are not allowed to enter. During non-peak hours, you can drive within the Third or Fourth Ring Roads, but you absolutely cannot enter areas within the Second Ring Road, as it is prohibited all day. Remember, the Beijing Entry Permit is valid for 7 days per application, and you can apply for it a maximum of 12 times a year—don’t exceed this limit to avoid trouble. I recommend non-local friends download traffic apps in advance, avoid entering the city during peak hours, and park outside to switch to public transport, as Beijing has many cameras that can easily capture violations, making it safer to avoid fines. Overall, driving near the Fifth Ring Road during unrestricted hours is fine, but entering within the Second Ring Road is absolutely not allowed.
