What are the traffic restriction times for out-of-town license plates in Shanghai in 2020?
2 Answers
In 2020, the traffic restriction times for out-of-town license plates in Shanghai are from 7:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Friday, except for Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. For local vehicles: the restriction times for small passenger cars with temporary license plates, unoccupied rental small passenger cars, small passenger cars driven by probationary drivers, and small cars with Hu C license plates are from 7:00 to 20:00 every day, except for Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays; small cars with Hu C license plates are prohibited from driving in the restricted areas all day. On October 24, 2020, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau issued a notice announcing the extension of the traffic restriction times for out-of-town license plates on elevated roads from the original 8 hours to 13 hours. In addition, starting from the first working day after the May Day holiday in 2021, traffic restrictions will also be imposed on the inner ring ground roads.
I remember in 2020 when I drove to Shanghai for a business trip, the traffic restriction rules for out-of-town license plates were particularly crucial. On weekdays from Monday to Friday, during the morning rush hour from 7 AM to 10 AM and the afternoon rush hour from 4 PM to 7 PM, driving on elevated roads was prohibited, and similar restrictions applied to areas like the Inner Ring Road. That year, due to the early stages of the pandemic, there were some days after the Spring Festival when the restrictions were slightly relaxed, and official notices mentioned a temporary suspension for a while, but overall, the rules remained unchanged for the year, with strict enforcement during peak hours. I tried avoiding the rush hour by leaving early at 5 AM, which was safe. If caught driving during restricted hours, there would be fines and penalty points. Therefore, checking official WeChat public account updates before heading out or using Amap to set up automatic license plate reminders was reliable. Out-of-town drivers all agreed that planning ahead saved a lot of trouble.
