What are the time restrictions for non-local license plates in Shenzhen?
2 Answers
Shenzhen restricts non-local license plates from 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:30 to 19:30 from Monday to Friday, with no restrictions on weekends and statutory holidays. Due to heavy traffic flow on Shenzhen roads, the Shenzhen Traffic Police Department imposes city-wide restrictions on non-local vehicles during morning and evening peak hours, with severe penalties for vehicles violating the restrictions. Non-Shenzhen licensed passenger vehicles will not be penalized for the first two violations in the restricted areas, but will be fined 300 yuan and deducted 3 points from the third violation onwards. Vehicles exempt from the restrictions include: military vehicles, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, engineering rescue vehicles, passenger vehicles with road transport certificates, embassy and consulate license plate vehicles, and vehicles approved with temporary vehicle passes. Trucks entering Shenzhen roads must apply for passes according to regulations.
The restricted hours for non-local license plates in Shenzhen are from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on weekdays (Monday to Friday) during peak hours. I always pay special attention to these time slots when driving, and I often get asked about it. There's just too much traffic during rush hours, leading to congestion, and the restriction policy helps alleviate a lot of the pressure. Once, I accidentally drove in during restricted hours and got fined 300 yuan, which was quite a sting. So, I recommend avoiding these times or using public transport like buses or subways instead. On weekends, there are no restrictions, so you can drive freely. Also, downloading the Shenzhen Traffic APP is really handy for checking real-time updates. Safe driving is key—don't take risks just to save time.
