Plates in Beijing

[Lao Jia Hou]

So i was wondering in reality what actually might happen if you have a B plated bike and get pulled over by police?

If you have a legal B plated bike inside the 4th ring road, and the police want to fine you, I've heard that it is somewhere between 100 and 300 rmb. I've heard mixed stories about whether they can also put 3 points on your driving license. I have heard from someone who just got nabbed and was fined 103 rmb (yes, I know ... ridiculous) and told they have 3 hours to get back outside the 4th ring road.

To be honest I see them more focused about cars than bikes

Yes, that is what these "campaigns" have been focusing on.

Bike Taken away?

No, not if it is a legal B plate. They cannot seize it.

paying such a high price for a A plate?

Actually, it is an investment - you get your money back when you sell the bike. Probably much more than you paid for the plate.

Look at it this way - back home, we pay 7,000 to 20,000 rmb each year ($1,000 to $3,000) for a bike's insurance. At the end of the year, you don't get a refund ... and you have to pay again.

Here, insurance is a paltry 100 to 200 rmb. The plate costs 20,000 rmb but you get the money back ... and perhaps much more.

And you don't have any worries.