Which digit of the license plate number is restricted?
3 Answers
Traffic restrictions are based on the last digit of the license plate number. Taking Beijing as an example, from April 10, 2011, to July 9, 2011, the restricted last digits of motor vehicle license plates from Monday to Friday were: 2 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 9, 5 and 0, 1 and 6 (including temporary license plates; for license plates ending with an English letter, it is managed as 0; the same applies below). From July 10, 2011, to October 8, 2011, the restricted last digits of motor vehicle license plates from Monday to Friday were: 1 and 6, 2 and 7, 3 and 8, 4 and 9, 5 and 0. Additional Information: The following motor vehicles are not subject to the above restrictions: 1. Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and engineering rescue vehicles; 2. Public electric buses, interprovincial long-distance passenger vehicles and large buses, taxis with Jing B license plates (excluding rental vehicles), postal service vehicles, vehicles holding tourist bus operation certificates issued by the municipal transportation administrative department, and unit shuttle buses and school buses approved by the municipal public traffic management department; 3. Administrative law enforcement vehicles and special obstacle removal vehicles with unified body markings performing official duties.
As a seasoned driver with over a decade of experience, I often encounter license plate restrictions, which are actually quite simple—just look at the last digit of the license plate. In big cities like Beijing, these restrictions are implemented to ease congestion and pollution. The digits are divided into groups; for example, 1 and 6 are restricted on Monday, 2 and 7 on Tuesday, and so on. The digits range from 0 to 9, so just glance at the last number before driving to know if you can hit the road. Forgetting can lead to fines—I’ve learned the hard way, so now I make it a habit to check my phone app every night for restriction reminders. Rules vary slightly between cities, but they mostly rely on that last digit. In short, remembering your plate’s last digit is a little daily driving trick—don’t wait for the traffic police to stop you before regretting it.
From a traffic management perspective, the key to the vehicle restriction policy lies in the last digit of the license plate number. This digit, typically ranging from 0 to 9, is grouped to designate restricted days. For example, on restricted weekdays, digits 1 and 6 may be grouped together for Monday restrictions, aiming to balance traffic flow and reduce emissions. Why choose the last digit? Because it's easily identifiable—traffic police and electronic surveillance can quickly scan and recognize it, making enforcement highly efficient. Many cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, employ this system. For license plates with letters, specific conversion rules apply occasionally. The digit grouping also considers fairness to prevent certain numbers from always being disadvantaged. To avoid penalties, drivers are advised to download local traffic apps to check restricted days, plan routes in advance, and opt for public transport—both convenient and eco-friendly.
