How to Register a Scooter in Shanghai

By Rachel Deason, March 1, 2017

Starting today, March 1, all unregistered scooters are in danger of being confiscated by traffic police. The problem here, aside from the obvious one, is that new regulations require scooters to conform to very specific speed, weight, wattage and voltage standards. So if you want to register an old scooter that doesn’t meet the standards, you’re basically SOL.

The new regulations are as follows:

Maximum speed cannot exceed 20 kilometers/hour
Maximum weight cannot exceed 40 kilograms
Continuous power output generated cannot exceed 240 watts
Batteries cannot exceed 48 volts
Other measurements must not exceed the following limits: tire thickness of 64 millimeters, seat length of 550 millimeters, lateral distance of crank of 240 millimeters, length between the front and back axels of 1,350 millimeters. (Full tech specs here, in Chinese only)

A list of certified scooter sellers can be found here. And a directory of acceptable models is available here. (Both of these pages are also only in Chinese).

Xiaomi Niu N1 scooters, popular among motorbike owners in Shanghai, do not meet most of the criteria. If you own one of these scooters, you might want to consider replacing the battery with the 60 volt found in the Niu, as it's thus far unclear how the police are checking lawful and unlawful scooters. But replace at your own risk — Niu scooters exceed other requirements, including wattage, maximum speed and tire thickness.

To register a lawful scooter, you’ll need to go to the designated registration station in your district. The addresses of those 18 bike plate application centers can be found below (via the Shanghai Bicycle Industry Association and Shanghai Daily). Hours for each location are 8.30 am to 5pm (Monday-Saturday):

District	Address	Phone
Xuhui	2138 Longwu Lu, by S20 Outer Ring Expressway 龙吴路2138号，近S20外坏高速	2303 7944
Jing’an (and Zhabei)	251 Gonghexin Lu, by Jiaotong Lu 共和新路251号，近交通路	6380 3970
Huangpu	806 Zhongshan Nanyi Lu, by Luban Lu 中山南一路806号，近鲁班路	5301 7959
Changning	251 Jinzhong Lu, by Jianhe Lu 金钟路251号，近剑河路	2303 9751
Pudong (Jinqiao)	1500 Longdong Avenue, by Jinqiao Lu 龙东大道1920号，近金桥路	2204 4399
Pudong (Nanhui)	3131 Gongji Dong Lu, by Quyou Lu 拱极东路3131号，近曲幽路	5802 4253
Pudong (Dishui Lake)	1969 Luchaogang Lu, by Hangwan Lu 芦潮港路1969号, 近杭弯路	N/A
Putuo	31 Liquan Lu, by Fucun Lu 礼泉路31号，近府村路	2204 9872
Hongkou	222 Yutian Lu, by Miyun Lu 玉田路222号，近密云路	6516 1561
Minhang	3 Shenbei Lu, by Chundong Lu 申北路3号，今春东路	2406 2541
Yangpu	1047 Guohe Lu, by Zhongyuan Lu 国和路1047号，近中原路	2207 0679
Qingpu	6189 Waiqingsong Highway, by Tiyuchang Lu 外青松公路6189号，近体育场路	6971 4190
Songjiang	399 Fanhua Lu, by Songdong Lu 繁华路399号，近松东路	5772 2658
Baoshan	Lane 239 Taihe Lu No. 8, by Tongtai Bei Lu 泰和路239弄8号，近同泰北路	5656 0814
Jiading	2599 Jia’an Highway, by Zhouguo Lu 嘉安公路2599号，近周果路	5953 1635
Jinshan	Lane 8484 Huhang Highway No. 38, by Weiling Lu 沪杭公路8484弄38号，近卫零路	5797 1163
Fengxian	2142 Huhang Highway, by Xiu Nan Center Lu 沪杭公路2142号，近秀南中心路	2406 9420
Chongming	901 Gulangyu Lu, by Huaniao Lu 鼓浪屿路901号, 近乔松路	6962 0708

Make sure you have the right documents when you go. You will need to bring the following:

Passport
Photocopies of photo and visa pages of your passport
Fapiao or receipt for the bike
Certification of authenticity (合格证), which is usually included in the bike’s instructions manual
Temporary residence permit (境外人员临时住宿登记单)

And that’s it. Even if you had a temporary plate before today, you’ll need to get a permanent one if you want to avoid your precious steed being impounded.

READ MORE: Great Shanghai Scooter Crackdown of 2017 Begins

[Image via Bikes Shanghai]