What is the difference between yellow license plates and blue license plates?
3 Answers
The differences between yellow license plates and blue license plates are as follows: Different load capacities: Blue plate vehicles are small car license plates with a blue background, white characters, and white borders. They are for trucks with a total mass of less than 4,500 KG (excluding) and vehicles with fewer than 20 passengers (excluding the driver). Yellow plate vehicles usually refer to large vehicles, such as trucks over 2 tons or buses, etc. Most commercial vehicles and motorcycles also have yellow license plates. Different costs: In terms of toll fees, yellow plates are more expensive than blue plates. In urban areas, blue plate trucks are allowed to pass (except for special sections), while yellow plates are not allowed to enter the city during designated times.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I'm well aware of the differences between yellow and blue license plates. Blue plates are generally for smaller vehicles, like the private cars we commonly see. They're convenient and cost-effective, making parking and navigating narrow alleys a breeze. Yellow plates, on the other hand, are designated for larger vehicles such as buses, long-distance coaches, or heavy trucks. These vehicles exceed standard size limits and come with a slew of driving restrictions—many city centers prohibit yellow-plated vehicles during daytime hours to prevent traffic congestion, forcing them to stick to outer ring roads. On highways, yellow-plated vehicles move at a sluggish pace, so we smaller car drivers need to be extra cautious when overtaking, given their large blind spots and cumbersome turns. I think the color distinction is great—a quick glance tells you whether to steer clear, making roads much safer. Staying alert and avoiding collisions with large vehicles helps everyone navigate traffic more smoothly, and these rules really do reduce hassles on the road.
As a young driver who just got my license, I'm quite attentive to the differences in license plates. After buying a small car, it was registered with a blue plate, which represents compact vehicles—easy to drive and fuel-efficient. Those yellow plates on the road are mostly for buses or large trucks, which are huge and have special regulations, like certain urban viaducts prohibiting yellow-plated vehicles, making traffic jams even more frustrating. After learning more, I realized that blue-plated cars have cheaper insurance and maintenance, making them suitable for daily commutes. Yellow-plated vehicles, due to their work nature, have higher emissions and costs, and drivers need additional licenses. Observing the color differences while driving helps me adjust my route in advance to avoid congestion.
