What is a small car quota?
3 Answers
Here is the relevant introduction about the quota: 1. Quota: The quota refers to the meaning of a place, just like when dining or buying a house is popular, you need to queue up to get a number, and only with the number can you qualify to purchase. 2. Restriction: The car quota also means this, because there are too many cars, and with so many existing cars, you need to obtain a car quota. With the quota, you can buy a car, but without it, even if you buy a car, you cannot get a license plate. 3. Number of codes: For ordinary minibus quotas, there are a total of 2,353,439 valid personal application codes and 66,116 valid unit codes.
As a fresh graduate struggling in the city, I spent half a year researching the car license plate quota system before buying a car. It's essentially an entry permit for car purchases in big cities, which you can only obtain through a government lottery. This system is designed to ease traffic congestion and protect the environment, but the waiting process is agonizing - my friend waited a whole year before winning the draw, though electric vehicle quotas turn out to be easier to get. Policies change frequently, with varying requirements across cities; usually only locals or those with long-term work permits can apply. Buying a car without a quota means you can't drive it on the road - totally useless! I recommend keeping an eye on official updates early. The rise of shared mobility options like Didi and car rental services has been a godsend for easing the pressure. Taking public transit like buses and subways regularly is both hassle-free and eco-friendly. Since EV quotas are more lenient, prioritizing them makes perfect sense.
For middle-aged individuals like me, with elderly parents above and children below, the small car quota is a daily source of frustration, referring to the purchase permit that must be obtained through a lottery. The reason is simple: urban traffic is saturated, and air quality is deteriorating too quickly, prompting policies to control growth. I’ve experienced multiple lottery failures and found it more reliable to switch to public transport for school runs. The quota has also spurred economic impacts, with used car prices soaring and repair shops thriving. From a safety perspective, avoid illegal agents to prevent fines and embarrassment. New energy vehicle quotas offer better chances, with more government subsidies, saving money and being practical. After traffic congestion eases, the pace of life slows down, and morning rush hours become less stressful. Public transport may be crowded but is efficient—just get used to it.
