What is the difference between Su U and Su E license plates?

[LeClayton]

The difference between Su U and Su E license plates is the time of issuance: Suzhou first issued Su E license plates; with the development of the automotive industry, Su U license plates were introduced. License plates in various regions of Jiangsu: Su A Nanjing, Su B Wuxi, Su C Xuzhou, Su D Changzhou, Su E Suzhou, Su F Nantong, Su G Lianyungang, Su H Huaian, Su J Yancheng, Su K Yangzhou, Su L Zhenjiang, Su M Taizhou, Su N Suqian. The first character of a license plate is a Chinese character, representing the abbreviation of the province where the vehicle is registered. The second character is an English letter, representing the code of the city where the vehicle is registered. 'A' is the provincial capital, 'B' is the second-largest city in the province, 'C' is the third-largest city, and so on.

[McJulianna]

As a veteran long-haul driver with decades of experience, I've driven vehicles with various license plates across Jiangsu. The Su E plate has long been the representative of Suzhou, commonly seen since my younger days. However, in recent years, Su U plates have become increasingly prevalent on the roads. This is due to the explosive growth in vehicle numbers in Suzhou, which exhausted the Su E number range. Consequently, around 2021, the traffic authorities introduced Su U to expand capacity. In reality, Su U also represents the Suzhou area and is functionally identical, allowing free travel within the province—unlike Shanghai's Hu C plates, which have urban entry restrictions. Friends driving Su U vehicles tell me there's no difference in plate color or traffic regulations. It's similar to how Nanjing added Su K after Su A numbers ran out. Overall, this is purely a change in allocation mechanisms and doesn't affect daily driving. New drivers can choose either; the key is to follow the rules.

[JuliannaRose]

As a post-95s generation living in Suzhou, I love discussing car topics with friends. The difference between Su U and Su E is simple: both are license plates from Suzhou. Su E is the traditional first batch of representative plates, like a symbol of Suzhou. However, with the surge in vehicles, especially after the popularity of new energy vehicles, Su E resources became insufficient. The management department then introduced Su U as a new series to supplement. When my friends and I drive cars with Su U plates, they feel no different from Su E—smooth access to highways and roadside parking, with the same blue-green background and white characters on the license plate. Nowadays, Su U cars are very common in Suzhou. This phenomenon also exists in other cities, such as Shenzhen where Yue B was insufficient and Yue Y was added. If you buy a new car and get a Su U plate, don’t hesitate—it’s just as good as the old plates.

[Gabrielle]

As a regular customer at an auto repair shop, I've worked on various Su-licensed vehicles. The SuE plate is closely tied to Suzhou, being the long-standing standard plate. However, the SuU plate introduced after 2019 is also an upgraded code for Suzhou, added purely due to the increasing number of vehicles. There's no practical difference between the two: same registration process, same annual inspections, even the colors are identical. When choosing a car, don't get hung up on SuU or SuE—just like Beijing's JingA and JingY plates, they're merely different sequences with no additional restrictions. Both are equally reliable to drive, so focus more on your driving habits.