What are the restricted hours for non-local license plates in Shenzhen?
3 Answers
In Shenzhen, the restricted hours for non-local license plates are from 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:30 to 19:30 on weekdays. Below are the specific regulations regarding the restrictions: 1. Restricted areas: All roads in Shenzhen (excluding expressways and roads leading to ports). 2. Restricted rules: From 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:30 to 19:30 on weekdays, passenger vehicles with non-Shenzhen issued license plates are prohibited from driving on all roads in the city. 3. Exemption application: Non-local vehicles have one opportunity per month to enter Shenzhen without restriction. Non-Shenzhen vehicle owners can apply for a temporary exemption through self-service declaration. 4. Exempted roads: From 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:30 to 19:30 on weekdays, passenger vehicles with non-local license plates that need to access ports or the airport can drive on the following roads: Shenzhen expressways, Shenzhen Bay Port, Huanggang Port, Futian Port, Luohu Port, Wenjindu Port, Shatoujiao Port, Liantang Port, and Shenzhen Airport. 5. Penalty regulations: For the first two violations of the restricted area rules by passenger vehicles with non-Shenzhen issued license plates, no penalty will be imposed. Starting from the third violation, a penalty will be enforced—a fine of 300 RMB and 3 demerit points.
As a ride-hailing driver in Shenzhen, I'm on the road every day and know the foreign license plate restriction hours best. Currently, the restrictions apply on weekdays from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, with no restrictions on weekends and holidays. I often remind out-of-town passengers to avoid peak hours, especially in key restricted areas like Luohu and Futian. Some visitors aren't aware and get fined 300 yuan per violation when caught on camera. Actually, they can check the Shenzhen Traffic Police APP in advance, which provides detailed restriction zone maps. If caught during restricted hours, waiting at the border checkpoint is the most cost-effective option. Shenzhen's restriction policy has been in place for several years now, and it has significantly reduced traffic congestion during peak hours.
I've been driving an out-of-town licensed car in Shenzhen for ten years and have memorized the traffic restriction rules. The morning and evening peak restriction periods are quite fixed: 7-9 AM and 5:30-7:30 PM on weekdays, while weekends are unrestricted. I remember last year when I was rushing to pick someone up at Bao'an Airport, I drove onto Shennan Avenue at 5:20 PM and quickly found a gas station to wait until after 5:30 PM before continuing. The restricted areas cover all major roads in the city, with special attention needed for strictly controlled sections like Binhai Boulevard and North Ring Road. You can only apply for one exemption from the restrictions each month, which must be done in advance on the official WeChat account. I recommend that out-of-town car owners install Gaode Maps, which automatically navigates to avoid restricted roads.
