What are the traffic restrictions for non-local license plates in Beijing?
2 Answers
Non-local license plates in Beijing are subject to the following traffic restrictions: During weekday morning and evening peak hours from 7:00 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, they are prohibited from driving on the main roads, auxiliary roads, and roads within the Fifth Ring Road. From 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, they must comply with the local tail number restriction policy, which is the same as for Beijing-registered vehicles, with the restricted area being the main roads, auxiliary roads, and roads within the Fifth Ring Road. Vehicles entering roads within the Sixth Ring Road and all roads in Tongzhou District must obtain an entry permit for Beijing. The entry permit should be placed on the lower left side of the vehicle's front windshield. Each vehicle can apply for a maximum of 12 entry permits per year, with each permit valid for up to 7 days. Before the permit expires, the vehicle must leave the aforementioned areas.
I think Beijing's restrictions on out-of-town license plates are quite strict, mainly within the Fifth Ring Road. During weekday rush hours, specifically from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, vehicles with out-of-town license plates are not allowed to drive inside the Fifth Ring Road unless they have obtained a Beijing Entry Permit, which is a temporary pass that can be applied for online or at inspection stations. Additionally, there is a tail number restriction, meaning vehicles with certain license plate tail numbers are prohibited from driving on specific days of the week. For example, on Mondays, vehicles with tail numbers 1 and 6 are restricted. It's usually manageable, but adjustments are made during holidays, like the National Day holiday when restrictions are relaxed. I've driven into Beijing before and had to check the schedule in advance; otherwise, getting caught would result in a 3-point deduction and a 100-yuan fine. I recommend friends from out of town use public transport or the subway to avoid rush hours and prevent delays. Overall, these measures are in place to ease congestion and reduce pollution, so it's best to understand and comply.
