What is the difference between blue and yellow license plates for large vehicles?
3 Answers
Blue license plates are applicable to vehicles within 6 meters in length, while yellow license plates are for vehicles exceeding 6 meters. Advantages of blue license plates: Blue license plates belong to green-label vehicles, eligible for H-certificate and urban entry permits. Drivers with a C1 or higher license can operate them. Yellow license plates belong to yellow-label vehicles, which are not allowed in urban areas and require drivers to hold a B-class or higher license. There is a significant cost difference between the two. For example, for a truck with a 4.2-meter cargo box, the annual insurance and vehicle usage tax for a yellow license plate are much higher than for a blue one. Advantages of yellow license plates: Yellow license plates have a higher rated load capacity, allowing for loads over 2 tons, even up to 5, 6, 7, or 8 tons. This reduces the likelihood of overloading during cargo transport and helps withstand inspections by traffic police and transport authorities. Blue license plates, with a rated load capacity limited to under 2 tons, are more prone to overloading in practice, leading to fines and penalty points during inspections.
I've been driving heavy trucks for over a decade, so I'm very familiar with the blue plate and yellow plate system. Blue plates are usually for smaller vehicles with shorter bodies and lighter loads, up to 4.5 tons maximum. Most long-haul drivers like us use yellow-plated vehicles, which are required when the vehicle exceeds six meters in length or carries over 4.5 tons of cargo. Driving yellow-plate trucks requires a B2 driver's license, which I specifically obtained back then. Yellow-plate vehicles have higher toll fees on highways, and many urban areas restrict their access, forcing us to take longer detours. For heavy loads like construction materials, blue plates simply aren't sufficient, so yellow plates are mandatory. By the way, yellow-plate vehicles also have more complicated annual inspections and higher insurance costs compared to blue-plate ones.
Last time my relative wanted to buy a used large vehicle, I explained the difference between blue and yellow license plates when helping check the registration. Blue plates allow a maximum of 9 seats, suitable for small passenger transport or store deliveries. Yellow plates mainly depend on length and tonnage - vehicles like buses and cement mixers use yellow plates. Driver requirements differ too - a Class C license can drive blue-plated vehicles, while yellow plates require at least a Class B license. Also, yellow-plated vehicles pay tolls by tonnage at checkpoints, which is significantly higher than blue plates. For commercial vehicles, yellow plates must obtain transport operation certificates, while blue plates don't have this complexity. It's best to choose the plate type based on actual usage needs - don't just go for the cheaper option and end up with the wrong type that can't pass annual inspections.
