What are the latest regulations for vehicles entering Beijing in 2020?
2 Answers
2020 latest regulations for vehicles entering Beijing are: 1. Starting from November 1, 2019, passenger vehicles with license plates issued by other provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities must obtain an entry permit to drive within the area inside the Sixth Ring Road (excluding the road itself) and all roads in Tongzhou District (excluding the main lanes of expressways); 2. Each vehicle can apply for an entry permit up to 12 times per year, with each permit valid for 7 days; 3. If a vehicle does not have an entry permit or the permit has expired, and is parked on urban roads of branch level or above within the aforementioned areas, the number of days the vehicle can apply for an entry permit in the current year will be reduced accordingly based on the number of days parked; 4. If a vehicle does not have an entry permit or the permit has expired, and enters the aforementioned areas to drive, it will be considered a violation of the prohibition sign instructions and will be penalized by the traffic management department of the public security authority in accordance with the law.
I've driven to Beijing several times, and the entry regulations were quite strict back in 2020. Non-local vehicles had to apply for a Beijing Entry Permit in advance, otherwise they'd be stopped at the highway toll gate and fined 100 yuan. The permit was valid for seven days and could be applied for via the 12123 APP by entering the license plate number and owner information. During weekday rush hours from 7-9 AM and 5-8 PM, non-local vehicles weren't allowed inside the Fifth Ring Road, with traffic restrictions based on the last digit of the license plate number (Monday: 1 and 6, Tuesday: 2 and 7, and so on). The emission standard had to be China VI - older cars shouldn't even try as environmental checks were tight. During the pandemic, there were additional hassles: temperature checks and scanning the Beijing Health Kit QR code at every toll station, with long traffic jams if you didn't have the code ready. It's wise to check your permit and phone battery before heading out to avoid trouble. Safety first - taking the subway more often saves both money and hassle.
