Beijing authorities have announced strict regulations which require driving permits and license plates for riding electric bicycles, Xinhua News reported on Wednesday.
The regulations, which were officially approved on September 29, 2018, will be in force from November 1. After that date, e-bikes on the road without license plates will be impounded and their riders fined RMB 20. For anyone caught riding with forged license plates, the vehicle will be taken away permanently with a fine of RMB 1,000. Anyone purchasing an e-bike after the implementation of the regulations will be compelled to get a driving permit within 15 days of purchase.
Also, segways, as well as customized tricycles or quadricycles, will be prohibited from driving on either main carriageways or bikeways. The penalty will be a fine of RMB 200 and the confiscation of the vehicle.
The traffic management authority will also keep a catalog of all electric vehicles, recording information including manufacturer, brand, model number, and technical parameters, to ensure that all vehicles on the market meet national quality standards, which is a prerequisite to get a license plate.
Anyone whose vehicle fails to meet the quality standards but bought it before the implementation of the regulations can apply for a temporary permit, but this will only be valid for three years and cannot be renewed. Further details on how to get a temporary license will be forthcoming, according to the report.
There are currently over 4 million electric vehicles in Beijing, not including the electric ride on cars that kids love to dride around parks, including many which fail to meet national standards, posing a huge safety threat to the public. Statistics reveal that more than 300,000 accidents involved electric vehicles from 2013 to August 2018, of which 60 percent were caused by electric bicycles.
What do you need for a driving permit and license plate for your electric bicycle?
The application form; your ID card or passport; the invoice and certificate for the bicycle.
You can download the application form here and you might need help from a Chinese friend if you’re struggling with your Chinese. 
And how do you get them?
Take the aforementioned documents and go to your local Transportation Bureau office. There are currently 20 specific offices scattered across the city which provide the registration service, and it will only take the police one day to release your permit if all requirements are met, says the Xinhua report.
Below are the 20 offices where you can apply for a license, and others will be added soon to cover more areas.
Chaoyang District
Chaoyang Transportation Bureau Yayuncun Subdistrict (No.9 A Fulin Lu) 朝阳交通支队亚运村非机动车登记站 (朝阳区拂林路甲9号)
Chaoyang Transportation Bureau Hujialou Subdistrict (North side of Jingguang Bridge) 朝阳交通支队呼家楼非机动车登记站 (东三环京广桥下北侧呼家楼交通大队执法站内)
Changping District
Changping Transportation Bureau (Machikou village, Machikou) 昌平交通支队非机动车登记站 (马池口镇马池口村交通队)
Daxing District
Daxing Transportation Bureau (Haizijiao, Huangcun village) 大兴交通支队非机动车登记站 (黄村镇海子角北口路南)
Dongcheng District
Dongcheng Transportation Bureau South subdistrict (No.26 Mingzhu Beijie, Yongding Menwai) 东城交通支队南区非机动车登记站 (永定门外民主北街26号)
Dongcheng Transportation Bureau North Subdistrict (No.1-4, Douban Hutong, Chaonei Beixiaojie) 东城交通支队北区非机动车登记站 (朝内北小街豆瓣胡同1-4号)
Fangshan District
Fangshan Transportation Bureau (No. 32 Huabei Dajie, Gongchen Street) 房山交通支队非机动车登记站 (拱辰街道月华北大街32号)
Fengtai District
Fengtai Transportation Bureau Lugouqiao Subdistrict (Lugouqiao Administration Building, Xiaotun Xilu) 丰台交通支队卢沟桥非机动车登记站 (小屯西路南口加油站北侧卢沟桥乡综合办公大楼)
Fengtai Transportation Bureau Dahongmen Subdistrict (No. 137 Dahongmen Xiqianjie) 丰台交通支队大红门非机动车登记站 (大红门西前街137号)
Haidian District
Haidian Transportation Bureau (No. 99 Houchangcun Lu, Xibeiwang) 海淀交通支队非机动车登记站 (西北旺后厂村路99号)
Huairou District
Huairou Transportation Bureau (No. 88 Qingchun Lu) 怀柔交通支队非机动车登记站 (青春路88号)
Mengtougou District
Mentougou Transportation Bureau (No. 72 Binhe Lu) 门头沟交通支队非机动车登记站 (滨河路72号)
Miyun District
Miyun Transporation Bureau (Baishiling village, Miyun town) 密云交通大队非机动车登记站 (密云镇白石岭村密云机动车检测场北)
Pingu District
Pinggu Transportation Bureau (No. 29 Pinggu Beijie, Xinggu Development subdistrict) 平谷交通支队非机动车登记站 (兴谷开发区平谷北街29号)
Shijingshan District
Shijingshan Transportation Bureau (No. 8 Yangzhuang Lu) 石景山交通支队非机动车登记站 (杨庄路8号)
Shunyi District
Shunyi Transportation Bureau (No.10 Shunping Xilu) 顺义交通支队非机动车登记站 (顺平西路10号)
Tongzhou District
Tongzhou Transportation Bureau (No. 240 Yunhe Xidajie) 通州交通支队非机动车登记站 (运河西大街240号)
Xicheng District
Xicheng Transportation Bureau North Subdistrict (No. 303 Zhaodengyu Lu) 西城交通支队北区非机动车登记站 (赵登禹路303号)
Xicheng Transportation South Subdistrict (No.33 Honglian Nanlu) 西城交通支队南区非机动车登记站 (红莲南路33号)
Yanqing District
Yanqing Transportation Bureau (Guishui Nanjie, Yanqing village) 延庆交通支队非机动车登记站 (延庆镇妫水南街)
The tight timescale that must be met by the huge number of e-bike owners in the city has meant that the Beijing transportation bureau offices are being overwhelmed by a deluge of people trying to get permits and license plates for their bikes. CCTV News has reported that the authorities are extending the time to apply for permits until April 30, 2019.
We called the Shunyi Transportation Bureau Office to verify the extension, but an official told us that “The extension has not been settled just yet as we haven’t received any official notice.” The official then suggested us to call again after Nov 1 to check the status of the extension. Also, it’s worth pointing out that the official said they’re currently only distributing license plates to two-wheel electric bikes with pedals, but that he wasn’t sure if that is the same case across Beijing’s other 19 transport offices.
We’ll keep you updated sooner.
Beijing’s trusty bike-share systems are still going strong, here is everything you need to know about using them.
Photos: Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, Pexels
14 Comments
Does this include 2 wheel E-Scooters like Xiaomi Jia and the like?
Do we have confirmation if it is only two wheeled bikes with pedals?
Is the address for the bureau in Hujialou correct?
Yep, try searching in Chinese 呼家楼非机动车登记站
What if we don’t have the invoice or certificate because we bought it from someone, not a store?
Hi Jay! When you bought it the previous owner should have given you the paperwork. The best thing is to take what you have and explain. Unfortunately this does rely on luck as to whether you get someone sympathetic or not… hope it all works out OK!
The link to download the registration form doesn’t work. Is there another link you can share?
Hi Phil, I’m afraid it’s now too late to register a bike. The licensing scheme is a temporary step to treating ebikes the same as motorbikes, so it was open for a fixed period of time. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Hi Phil, apologies for giving you the wrong information before, but it’s good news! You can still register, though you have to go in person. Details here:
Wow, that is indeed great news. Thanks so much Andrew! I was about to buy a new scooter this weekend, so your message came just in time.
Hi Andrew, I’ve recently just bought an ebike off someone second hand and can’t find where or how to register it. Have you any information that might help. Many thanks.
Hi Thomas, there was supposed to be a link in the answer above, where it says “Details here”… Here’s the link, hope it appears this time!
http://www.beijing-kids.com/blog/2019/05/10/update-register-e-bike-post-deadline/
Hi Andrew, thanks for all the useful infromation you’ve given. I’ve read the article you’ve linked, it has helped alot. I’m wondering if you know if I can still register my bike if I dont have the proof of purchase or a certificate. I bought it from a friend, who bought it from a friend over 2 years ago, so all I have is the bike itself. Have you any suggestions with what I should do at this point? any and all information is appreciated.
Hi Thomas, personally I suggest you search on the link in the article (http://www.beijing-kids.com/blog/2019/05/10/update-register-e-bike-post-deadline/) to see if your bike is on the qualified list. Then Taobao might have certification for the bike. Somehow different regional Traffic Management Bureau might have different reply on the proof of purchase. Bring what you have now (with passport better), and try if you can still register at your regional bureau.