Why is a small car violation recorded as a medium-sized vehicle?

[MacEverly]

Possible reason: The vehicle length exceeds 6 meters. Here are the details: Reason: Small cars are defined as those with 7 seats or fewer and a length under 6 meters, while medium-sized buses are those with 8 to 19 seats and a length also under 6 meters. Any bus exceeding 6 meters in length, regardless of passenger capacity, is classified as a large bus. Applying for administrative reconsideration: If a small car violation should have been recorded with penalties applicable to small cars but was mistakenly recorded otherwise, the driver can apply for administrative reconsideration to overturn the penalty. If a motor vehicle driver disagrees with the penalty for a traffic violation and applies for administrative reconsideration or files an administrative lawsuit, and the original penalty decision is legally altered or revoked, the corresponding penalty points will also be adjusted or revoked.

[Kelly]

Last time when I helped a friend handle traffic violation records, I also noticed this situation. Actually, vehicle classification is determined by the registered parameters on the vehicle license, not by its appearance or size. For example, a 9-seater Jinbei minivan would be classified as a medium-sized passenger vehicle if its length exceeds 6 meters. Some 7-seater SUVs, although they may not look big, will be automatically categorized as medium-sized vehicles by the system if their curb weight exceeds 4.5 tons. There are also cases like the Wuling Hongguang, whose classification changes once registered as a commercial vehicle. It's recommended to directly check the vehicle type noted at the bottom of the supplementary page of the vehicle license, or use the Traffic Management 12123 app to check the electronic records for more accuracy. If still unsure, one can always visit the vehicle management office to check the records, as the information registered in their system is the most authoritative.

[AuroraRose]

This topic often comes up in our veteran driver group chat. The other day, Old Wang got ticketed on the highway while driving his 7-seater GL8 - the citation clearly listed it as a medium-sized passenger vehicle. Later we learned that vehicle classification mainly depends on two hard criteria: the passenger capacity stated on the vehicle registration certificate and the maximum designed total mass. Private passenger vehicles exceeding 9 seats are considered large, but the same model registered as ride-hailing commercial vehicles would be classified as medium passenger cars even with just 5 seats. Modified vehicles are more prone to misclassification - for instance, if seats are removed for cargo transport and caught during inspection, the DMV will reclassify the vehicle type. The key point is the registered parameters on the vehicle certificate - it's completely different from our everyday perception of vehicle size.

[OLaila]

Last year, I encountered a similar situation when handling company vehicle violations. A 3-ton logistics van was recorded as a medium-duty truck violation. The customer service explained that it was classified according to the national standard GB7258 'Motor Vehicle Type Terminology': vehicles with a length ≥6 meters or a total mass ≥4.5 tons are considered medium-duty. Many light trucks have their cargo boxes modified, and if the declared mass exceeds the limit, their classification changes. In reality, the system mainly checks the original parameters in the traffic management database during identification. For example, models like the Jiangling Transit: the 6-seater version is classified as a small passenger vehicle, while the 9-seater version automatically jumps to the medium-duty passenger vehicle category. When handling such cases, it's safest to bring the vehicle registration certificate to the counter for verification, as sometimes it's just an identification error during system entry.

[VanGiselle]

Last time I drove my relative's Mercedes-Benz Vito to get it licensed, I fell into a trap. It looked about the same size as a GL8, but the vehicle management office registered it as a medium-sized passenger vehicle based on its 9-seat capacity. The staff said vehicle classification depends on three hard indicators: approved passenger capacity, vehicle length, and total mass. Family cars exceeding 7 seats are prone to being classified into a higher category, like the Multivan and Iveco, which are mostly medium-sized. Here's a lesser-known fact: the gasoline version of the same model might be classified as a small passenger vehicle, while the diesel version could be categorized as medium-sized due to differences in curb weight. Don't rush to pay fines after getting a traffic violation; first check if the vehicle type was mistakenly labeled. Once, a violation captured on a provincial highway was due to the system misidentifying the license plate type.