To help newbies with questions and concerns regarding motorcycle ownership in mainland China.

NB: these rules may or may not apply to all relevant towns, cities, provinces of China. While many of the following applies to Shanghai, not all points do, but the rules are often similar to what one can find elsewhere. Keep in mind that not all cities welcome or allow motorcycles to be ridden inside the city boundaries (motorcycle bans).

* To ride or drive any gasoline/diesel/gas powered vehicle in PRC one must have a valid motor vehicle drivers license, and this applies to all motorcycles & motor scooters. The exception is electric powered scooters, where a drivers license is not required (though electric bikes must still have a valid vehicle licence plate).

* Nearly all vehicles are required to be licensed and carry a valid vehicle licence at all times when driven in public areas/roads. Exceptions apply to military/police vehicles, which foreigners are NOT allowed to be in charge of or drive.

* In Shanghai you can ride with plates from other cities after 8:00pm or 10:00pm and on weekends. This is also the case in some other cities in PRC where motorcycles are banned.

* Police can be very strict, and will confiscate illegal motorcycles/scooters.

* Local Shanghai vehicle plate license cost 17,000RMB (price fluctuates often). Plates for <49cc bikes may cost less, again prices fluctuate.

* May only licence motorcycle with Shanghai issued receipts (fa piao). Thus bikes bought legally outside Shanghai may not be able to get a legal Shanghai licence plate with an our of town fa piao. (please substitute Shanghai with any other city since the rules are pretty much the same elsewhere in mainland China)

* There are no black licence plates issued for motorcycles in Shanghai.

* Black plates are provided only in Beijing and a few other Chinese cities.

* Each city has different requirements and tolerance for motorcycle riders. Check what applies for you where you intend to ride.

* Why do some shops offer Hebei plates? 99% of those are fake, the China license registry is not a nation wide system thus some people will sell fake plates and it is very hard for people to find out if they are real or not. Shops that sell those usually have no access to legal bikes with proper documents and these bikes cost more. Many Hebei Plated bikes are from questionable sources. ***BE WARNED***

* While riding, BEWARE there are people that are willing to jump in front of you to make a few hundred RMB, so you better have proper documents when the police arrives on scene.

* There are rules as to where and what streets are open for motorcycles. Please check before you ride your bike.

* The police do stop riders and check for licences/licenses. Make sure you carry your registration (blue) booklet.

* Always carry your drivers license when riding any motorcycle in China. If you're stopped and don't have it, the bike can be confiscated.

* 3rd party insurance is compulsory, and is renewable every year.

* New motorcycles, must be inspected for road worthiness every 2 years for the first 4 years from initial purchase, then annually thereafter for a further several years before being inspected every 6 months thereafter. Always check these requirements in the city you are in as these rules may vary throughout China.

* Having a car drivers license does not transfer or mean that one can ride a motorcycle legally in China, same as it doesn't apply in most other countries.

* A standard Chinese motorcycle drivers (riders) licence does not allow one to ride/drive the 3 wheeled sidecars (ChangJiang) BMW copies. This requires a "D license" - 3 wheeled sidecar motorcycle license which is a separate category.

*There are several different categories of motorcycle drivers/riders license; D, E & F. 'D' license allows rider to ride all types of motorcycles including the 3 wheeled sidecar, whereas 'E' allows the rider to ride any 2 wheeled motorcycle of any engine capacity. F restrict the holder to engine capacity/type.

* Motorcycles are banned in a number of cities in China, usually within certain boundaries and/or within certain hours, always check what restrictions apply. Some Chinese cities impose outright motorcycle bans period.

* >250cc are usually motorcycles that have been imported, and need to have special documents/taxes/duties paid to apply for the appropriate and applicable certificates and licence plate. ***BEWARE*** some motorcycles >250cc are smuggled into China and may have a fake plate (see Hebei licence plate warning above).


* <49cc motorised bikes can use bicycle lanes in Shanghai. Caution This rule may not apply elsewhere.

* Motorcycles are banned from the Expressways period! irrespective of engine capacity.

* Motorcycles, motor scooters irrespective of engine capacity do not have to pay tolls on any of the inter-provincial highways or any other tolled roads, with the exception of the expressways where motorcycles are banned. See above comment.

* What’s the difference between Yellow motorcycle licence plates and Blue motorcycle licence plates?
--Blue plates are for motorcycles/motor scooters with engine capacity 49cc or lower.
-- Yellow plates are for motorcycles/motor scooters with engine capacity 50cc and greater

* In Shanghai motorcycles/motor scooters with Blue licence plates travel on the HuangPu river ferries at half the cost of bikes with Yellow plates.

* Blue licence plated motorcycles/motor scooters come under same category as bicycles (TIC!) and can use roads and areas specifically designated for bicycles (i.e. bicycle lanes) in Shanghai.

* For a reasonable English explanation of the various road rules/traffic law in PR China, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_law - though it lacks good references it provides good oversight.

* Useful information on driver's licensing (Beijing) see here www.bjjtgl.gov.cn

* Licence plates can be checked via the jiaotong website. You will need someone who can read Chinese to assist. http://www.shjtaq.com

* Contact numbers for the different area's in Shanghai: http://www.shjtaq.com/dwfwck/dwfwck.asp

* Motorcycle bylaws & regulations from the Shanghai Government website: http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/nod ... ai837.html

For other valuable discussion on this subject see here> http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/phpbbfo...-a-t99016.html