Shanghai plates - price and advice

**JackieYuen** · 11-05-2012, 12:21 PM

Hi MCMers,

*Moderator, if I posted this wrong I am sorry, didn't know where to go*

It has come to a time where I'm in need of you MCMers updated expert opinions and advice again concerning price and getting plated in Shanghai. I've read plenty of post by bikerdoc and euphonius, how to get legal and plated and such, but couldn't find anything related to my headaches.

I went to this Benelli shop on Pubei Road this weekend (Saturday) and I immediately fell in love with the white Benelli with its red decor. I asked a young guy how much a Hu A plate would cost and he replied 80.000RMB. Today (Monday), when I called back and talked to an older woman (probably the owner or the owner's wife), she said the price plate was now up to 85.000RMB! The price was given to her by a 黄牛 "yellow cow", some guy who deals with plats and related. And to my surprise, it was a Hu B plate(?).

My question is; is the price given legite? I mean, it was 70.000RMB last month and it keeps heading north in a pretty fast pace. And what's the different between a Hu A and a Hu B? According to the older lady in the shop, there is no different. You can still drive in the inner circle with it, just that in the old time Shanghai, Hu A was for some kind of special vehical and then things changed, Hu A was then equal to Hu B. Is this information also legit?

I've been reading a post (I think it was by euphonius') when he got his steed plated and what a hassle it was. So I decided to ask the shop to plate it for me, just to avoid the inconvenience. How does this procedure usually go? I know that the shop charge a fee for doing this but since the plate cost 85.000RMB(!) could the fee already be included? Or are they trying to scam me now that they now I want to buy the beauty?

Some thoughts and advices are highly appreciated.

/Jackie

**Lao Jia Hou** · 11-06-2012, 11:57 PM

Sorry, don't know about the differences between Shanghai A and Shanghai B plates (actually, I have never heard of Shanghai B plates).

Anyways, I do know that many bike dealers in Beijing add at least 5K to the market price of a plate (Beijing is like Shanghai, inasmuch as A plates are in the secondary market). It is just pure profit for the dealers, usually inflicted upon foreigners. The dealer for one expensive foreign brand, in Beijing, adds at least 10K.

Wow, 85K ... expensive, but an investment, I guess.

**998S** · 11-07-2012, 02:04 AM

Same here, not heard about a B plate, but it is possible.

We bought a Benelli for my friend at the same shop last month, and had the same problem.
There are/were no motorbike Hu-A plates avaiable in the market, hence the only (small) supply is from the yellow-man.
Don't have to tell those how to make money on it, pity for you.

My Chinese friend was in a big hurry to have the plate, not the bike, just for this.
He predicts it will be 100k soon, guess he is right.

E.

**TB-Racing** · 11-07-2012, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by 998S

Same here, not heard about a B plate, but it is possible.

A friend (AJ) has a real Shanghai "B" plate and rego on his BMW 1200GSA bought from Joy Motor (Jimmy)......

**JackieYuen** · 11-07-2012, 06:23 AM

Thanks for the info guys and I also did some investigation on my own. Hu A and Hu B are apparently equal, just that when they are running out of numbers on Hu A, they go with Hu B, Hu C and so on.

Originally Posted by 998S

He predicts it will be 100k soon, guess he is right.E.

Yes, that's why I went for it and bought a white one yesterday and coughed up 85000 for deposition and the damn plate. Still got 39800 for the bike and 5200 I didn't really know what I was paying for. Some mandatory insurance and other strange fees I guess. Now I just have to do the driver license switch. That's an interesting adventure too I heard.

However, I can't say that the shop owner wasn't helpful (atleast I guess the older woman was the owner). But on second thought, I'm buying a freakishly expensive toy so why wouldn't she be helpful? Just hoping that the maintenance service there is good and proffesional.

Originally Posted by Lao Jia Hou

Wow, 85K ... expensive, but an investment, I guess.

That's what I'm hoping too...

**TB-Racing** · 11-07-2012, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by JackieYuen

Hu C....

limited driving in the suburbs only, not allowed to enter all districts inside the outer ring road (S20) cost under 10000RMB last time i checked during my Jialing sidecar registration.

**JackieYuen** · 11-07-2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by TB-Racing

limited driving in the suburbs only, not allowed to enter all districts inside the outer ring road (S20) cost under 10000RMB last time i checked during my Jialing sidecar registration.

True! My bad, my brain must been taking a time-out while writing that. Also checked the price for Hu C, price is 14000 now.

**Lao Jia Hou** · 11-07-2012, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by JackieYuen

... the price for Hu C, price is 14000 now.

WOW! Plates are better investments than shares in Apple!

I think Euphonius commented a while ago that the Shanghai A plates can be converted into car plates, but can't be switched back. That can only mean one thing - a continually diminishing supply of premium plates in Shanghai. Add to this the increased demand as new bike models are being offered.

Maybe one day you can trade your legal bike for a new apartment!

**Tuna** · 11-13-2012, 11:43 AM

Hey Guys,

More confusion... I have a 2011 Yamaha YBR250 with Hu A plates. I'd like to sell the Hu A plates and get Hu C plates on my bike. But owner of the shop I go to says I cannot do this.

Supposedly, once a motorcycle has been registered with A or C plates, and they've been removed, it can no longer be registered in Shanghai. Then it can only registered in a wai di - risking confiscation in Shanghai. This also reduces the value of the bike since it can no longer be ridden in SH...

Does anyone know if this is true or any light to shed on the matter?

Thanks!

Ben