What is the penalty for overloading a car by one person?
3 Answers
Private cars overloading by one person will be deducted 2 points and fined; passenger vehicles overloading by one person will be deducted 6 points. Relevant regulations: According to the new traffic regulations, driving a passenger vehicle (excluding buses) or school bus with passengers exceeding the approved number by less than 20% will result in a 3-point deduction; driving a passenger vehicle (excluding buses) or school bus with passengers exceeding the approved number by less than 20%, or driving other passenger vehicles with passengers exceeding the approved number by more than 20%, will result in a 6-point deduction. Small cars: Small cars refer to vehicles with a total mass not exceeding 4.5 tons, seating capacity (including the driver) not exceeding 9 people, or a vehicle length of less than 6 meters.
I've been driving for over a decade and seen plenty of unlucky incidents caused by overloading. Small cars usually have a limit of 5 passengers, and exceeding that by even one person to make it 6 can lead to big trouble if caught by traffic police. The fine typically ranges from 200 to 500 yuan, plus around 3 demerit points. But that's not all - if the insurance company finds out, they might increase your premiums, and repairs and maintenance could become more expensive. Most importantly, the safety risks are huge: more passengers mean longer braking distances, and the car is more likely to roll over during sharp turns. A friend of mine had an accident due to overloading - it was just a minor scrape, but he ended up paying a lot in compensation. It's best to avoid overloading by planning seating arrangements properly and not seeking temporary convenience. If you do get fined, accept the penalty without argument - a good attitude might prevent additional penalties.
As a frequent driver of small cars, I find dealing with overloading by one passenger quite troublesome. If caught, the police will issue an on-the-spot ticket with fines starting from 200 yuan, possibly up to 500 yuan, and deduct 3 points from the driver's license. Accumulating too many points can affect your driving record and complicate the next annual inspection. Safety-wise, it's even worse—more passengers increase the car's weight, putting extra strain on the braking system, slowing response times, and increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. From experience, if you're unexpectedly fined, quickly call a taxi to send the extra passenger away to avoid a second penalty. Also, check if the tire pressure is unstable, as overloading can prematurely wear out brake pads, increasing maintenance costs—more trouble than it's worth.
