What is the difference between green and blue car license plates?
2 Answers
Green license plates are the latest 2017-style new energy vehicle license plates. This plate indicates that the vehicle is purely electric with zero emissions. Vehicles with green plates are exempt from traffic restriction regulations. Blue license plates are for ordinary small vehicles. Some early-purchased pure electric vehicles also used blue plates before the 2017-style new energy plates were implemented. Below is relevant information about license plates: A license plate, referring to a vehicle registration plate, is a panel hung on both the front and rear of a vehicle, typically made of aluminum, plastic, or sticker material, displaying the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other basic information. License plates serve as identification numbers for vehicles, with their primary function being to identify the province, city, or county to which a vehicle belongs. Vehicle management departments can trace a vehicle's owner through its license plate.
The difference between green and blue car license plates. Having driven both types, let me share a few words. Green plates mainly refer to new energy vehicles, such as electric or hybrid cars, while blue plates are for traditional fuel-powered vehicles. The biggest difference is that green plates enjoy national policy benefits, such as purchase tax exemptions when buying the car, no traffic restrictions in urban areas, and free parking in many lots, saving a lot of money. Blue plates, on the other hand, don’t have these perks—daily use involves regular fees and traffic restrictions. Additionally, the plate designs differ: green plates have a gradient green background with white characters, and the license number starts with the letter D or F to indicate pure electric or plug-in hybrid; blue plates have a blue background with white characters and a more standard number format. From an owner’s perspective, choosing a green plate is more eco-friendly and cost-effective, but you need charging infrastructure—otherwise, blue plates are more convenient. Green plates have only been promoted for a short time, becoming widespread after 2016, and are still being improved.
