Will I be fined for carrying items on the roof of a private car?
2 Answers
Carrying items on the roof of a private car can result in a fine. Below are specific details about private cars: 1. Definition: The term 'private car' originates from Hong Kong and mainly refers to vehicles purchased for personal use, owned and controlled by individuals, who can freely use and manage them as long as no laws are violated. Whether a car is classified as a private vehicle or a public vehicle is determined by the owner's identity when registering at the vehicle management office. If registered under the name of an institution, organization, or company, it is a public vehicle. If registered under an individual's name, it is a private car, owned and possessed by the individual. 2. Classification: Mini cars (displacement below 1L), compact cars (displacement 1.0~1.6L), mid-size cars (displacement 1.6~2.5L), executive cars (displacement 2.5~4.0L), and luxury cars (displacement above 4L).
I recently looked into this and found that whether you get fined for carrying items on the roof of a private car mainly depends on how the items are secured and whether their dimensions are reasonable. As far as I know, Chinese traffic regulations stipulate that the height of the load from the roof should not exceed 0.5 meters, and the total height should not exceed 4 meters. If it exceeds these limits or isn’t tied down securely, you’re likely to be pulled over by traffic police and fined, usually around 200 yuan. This is quite common—for example, when moving house, if you place a box on the roof and the rope comes loose, causing the box to fall or block the rearview mirror, it’s considered a safety hazard and can trigger a penalty. It’s best to secure items properly with professional roof racks, like installing a luggage rack on an SUV, rather than using ordinary ropes for convenience, as they can be troublesome on windy days. Additionally, rules vary by city—Beijing is stricter, while smaller cities may be more lenient. I recommend checking local policies using navigation apps—safety first. The fine itself isn’t a big deal, but compromising road safety is a much bigger risk. Next time you need to carry something, inspect it carefully to avoid trouble on the road.
