What is the quota for small passenger cars in Shenzhen?
3 Answers
In July 2021, a total of 3,333 ordinary small passenger car incremental quotas were allocated to individuals and organizations through a lottery system. Organizational quotas: 400. Individual quotas: 2,933. Overview: Vehicle type refers to a form of vehicle distinguished by common characteristics, intended use, and functionality. Examples include sedans, trucks, buses, trailers, and incomplete vehicles, each being a separate type. Others: Heavy-duty vehicles have a length ≥6m and a total mass ≥12,000kg. Medium-duty vehicles have a length ≥6m and a total mass ≥4,500kg but <12,000kg. Light-duty vehicles have a length <6m and a total mass <4,500kg. Mini vehicles have a length ≤3.5m and a load capacity ≤1,800kg.
I'm always interested in cars and want to buy a new one in Shenzhen, but you need a car quota first. Simply put, there are two types of quotas: regular and new energy. For regular quotas, you have to enter a lottery or bid for one. A friend of mine waited over a year to win the lottery, and if you're unlucky, you have to bid—last year, he spent over 30,000 RMB. New energy quotas are easier to get, basically free to apply for, with more spots available. But you need to meet certain conditions, like having a Shenzhen hukou or paying social security for two consecutive years to participate. There are thousands of spots each month, but the winning rate is very low. Why so strict? To control the number of cars and reduce congestion. My advice is not to rush—check your eligibility first before applying, or consider a new energy car for a hassle-free and eco-friendly option, especially since there are many subsidies now. Personally, I think the lottery is more cost-effective; bidding is too expensive and not worth it. If you can wait, just wait.
I'm an office worker, exhausted from squeezing onto the subway every day, and have always wanted to buy a car for convenience. In Shenzhen, you need a license plate quota to buy a car. The regular lottery is hard to win—I've tried several times without success, and the winning rate is said to be less than 2%. If you don’t want to wait, you can bid for a plate, but I find it too expensive, averaging 30,000 to 40,000 RMB, which my salary can’t handle. The new energy vehicle (NEV) quota is hassle-free—you can apply directly, and it’s basically free, making it ideal for ordinary people like me. The eligibility requires a Shenzhen household registration or two years of social security contributions, which I didn’t have initially, causing delays. The strict purchase restrictions aim to ease traffic issues, but I think the efficiency is low, and the government should increase NEV quotas. My personal strategy: prepare the materials early, apply for an NEV quota—it’s fast and eco-friendly, and driving out for weekend getaways is much more enjoyable.
