What are the inconveniences of having an out-of-province license plate?
4 Answers
Here are the specific inconveniences of having an out-of-province license plate: 1. Lost license plate: If the vehicle registration certificate or license plate is lost, it can only be reissued at the vehicle's registered location. Vehicles without license plates are not allowed on the road, and driving without them may result in penalties such as a 12-point deduction. Therefore, it is necessary to promptly go to the vehicle's registered location for reissuance. 2. Annual inspection: Although there are policies supporting out-of-province annual inspections, the procedures, required documents, and rules vary from place to place. 3. Traffic restrictions: Large cities with high populations impose travel restrictions on vehicles with out-of-province license plates. For example, in Beijing, vehicles with out-of-province license plates cannot enter within the 5th Ring Road during rush hours, and in Tianjin, out-of-province vehicles are not allowed to enter the inner ring.
I've been driving an out-of-town licensed car to work in Shenzhen for almost two years, and the most frustrating part is the traffic restriction policy that forces me to get up early every day to take detours. Many core areas here completely prohibit non-local vehicles from entering during weekday mornings from 7-8 AM. I live in Dongguan and have to leave by 6 AM daily to avoid peak hours, otherwise I'll get ticketed by cameras. Dealing with tickets is even more annoying – non-local violations require queuing at the Dongguan vehicle management office, which wastes an entire day. Insurance is also more expensive, apparently because insurers consider out-of-town plates higher risk. Even shopping downtown is restricted – some malls only reserve parking for local vehicles. The traffic rules keep changing yearly; temporary passes that were previously available are now harder to get. Overall, the inconvenience of this license plate really affects my daily routine. I'm considering switching to a local plate to avoid hassle, but it requires local household registration which is another headache.
My car has an out-of-town license plate, and because of work-related business trips across the country, I often pass through cities with license plate restrictions like Beijing. The biggest issues are the high cost of fines and the inconvenience of handling violations. If caught speeding or parking illegally by cameras, I can't pay the fines online directly and have to go back to the local vehicle management office in my registered area, with travel time and fuel costs adding up to over a thousand yuan. Additionally, violating traffic restrictions during limited hours results in fines of several hundred yuan each time and frequent point deductions. Parking near popular stores often gets rejected for out-of-town plates, forcing me to find more remote spots and wasting time. Annual inspections require returning to the registration location, which is exhausting, and insurance companies raise premiums citing higher risks for out-of-town plates. Modifications or repairs face stricter inspections from the vehicle management office, so it's advised not to make random changes to the car body. These inconveniences mainly stem from local policies protecting local vehicles but add extra pressure to the practical lives of those frequently traveling long distances, requiring advanced route planning.
I've been using an out-of-town license plate on my car for half a year and it's caused quite a few inconveniences, mostly minor daily hassles. Parking in the city center is difficult as shopping malls or hospitals often prioritize local vehicles, leaving few spaces for out-of-town plates and forcing me to circle around. At gas stations, attendants frequently scrutinize out-of-town plates, slowing things down. On restricted driving days, like in Beijing or Shanghai where out-of-town plates are banned from the city center during morning rush hours, I've missed appointments due to these restrictions. If an accident occurs, insurance claims are troublesome as I have to contact agencies from my car's registered location, delaying repair cost reimbursements. Annual inspections require returning to the original registration place, taking time off work. Insurance premiums are slightly higher than for local vehicles. There's also a higher chance of being randomly checked by traffic police, which makes me nervous. Overall, it feels like being an unwelcome outsider, negatively impacting daily travel efficiency.
