September 12, 2026 New Notice: Traffic Restrictions Extended Another Year
The Traffic Management Bureau of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau issued the "Notice on Passenger Vehicles with Non-Local License Plates Being Required to Travel on Designated Times, Routes and Areas" on September 12, 2026, meaning Shenzhen's "non-local vehicle traffic restriction" policy continues for another year. The new notice takes effect from September 17, 2026 to September 16, 2027. Where it conflicts with the old notice (Shenzhen Public Traffic [2025] No. 231), the new notice prevails.
This article is compiled from the original notice text, not from second-hand media reports. For anything involving fees, times, or exemption scope, remember to check the latest official announcement again before departure, as exempted road sections at checkpoints and expressways are adjusted as construction progresses and new venues open.
1. Restricted Hours and Restricted Area
- Restricted hours: Every working day 7:00–9:00 (morning peak) and 17:30–19:30 (evening peak).
- Restricted area: All roads citywide, except the exempted roads listed in Article 1 of the notice and roads in the Shenshan Cooperation Zone.
- Exception dates: The notice states that "working days between January 29 and February 20, 2027" are not restricted — that is, from the 22nd day of the 12th lunar month to around the Lantern Festival, driving to Shenzhen during Chinese New Year is basically free from morning and evening peak restrictions.
One thing to note: the restriction targets passenger vehicles with non-local license plates, i.e. private cars with Hong Kong plates, Macau plates, or plates from other provinces and cities. Renting a car in Shenzhen or using a "Yue B" plate for ride-hailing is not subject to this restriction.
2. Need to Enter/Exit Checkpoints or the Airport? These 10 Groups of Roads Are Not Restricted
Article 1 of the notice is very clear: passenger vehicles with non-local plates entering or exiting checkpoints, the airport, and the Huafa Ice and Snow World in Bao'an District during weekday morning and evening peaks may use the following roads. The checkpoints most commonly used by Hong Kong people are all on the list.
(1) Shenzhen City Expressways: 17
S3 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Yanjiang Expressway, G4 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, G15 Jihe Expressway, S33 Nanguang Expressway, S31 Longda Expressway, G94 Meiguan Expressway, S29 Qingping Expressway, G4E Yanpai Expressway, S28 Shuiguan Expressway, G4E Boshen Expressway, G0422 Wushen Expressway (newly added this year), S30 Huishen Coastal Expressway, G15 Shenshan Expressway, G25 Changshen Expressway, S86 Outer Ring Expressway, Eastern Transit Expressway, G2518 Shencen Expressway.
The Wushen Expressway is the new highlight compared to the old notice: if you drive from Hong Kong through eastern Shenzhen toward Huizhou or Heyuan, there is now one more expressway to legally avoid peak-hour restrictions.
(2) Designated Roads for Seven Checkpoints + Airport + Ice and Snow World
- Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint: S3 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Yanjiang Expressway, Dongbin Tunnel, Dongbin Road, Shahe West Road (nearby is the Shenzhen Bay MixC commercial area).
- Huanggang Checkpoint: G4 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, Huanggang Road (Huanggang Checkpoint section), Baihe Road, Baihe 2nd Road, Baihe 3rd Road (newly added this year), Tongqing Road, Futian South Road (Huanggang Checkpoint section).
- Futian Checkpoint: G4 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, Guihua Road, Guohua Road, Yuheng Road.
- Luohu Checkpoint: S29 Qingping Expressway, Yuping Avenue, Nigang Road (Hongling Interchange to Honghu Interchange section), Honghu West Road, People's Park Road, Heping Road, Yanhe South Road auxiliary road eastbound direction (Renmin South Road to Wenjin South Road section).
- Wenjindu Checkpoint: S29 Qingping Expressway, Yuping Avenue, Nigang Road (Hongling Interchange to Honghu Interchange section), Wenjin North Road, Wenjin Middle Road, Wenjin South Road.
- Shatoujiao Checkpoint: S30 Huishen Coastal Expressway, G4E Yanpai Expressway, Shenyan Road, Shayan Road, Shashen Road.
- Liantang Checkpoint: G25 Changshen Expressway, Eastern Transit Expressway.
- Shenzhen Airport: S3 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Yanjiang Expressway, G2518 Shencen Expressway, G4 Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, G15 Jihe Expressway, Airport South Road, Linghang Viaduct, Konggang 8th Road.
- Bao'an Huafa Ice and Snow World: Fengtang Avenue, Zhancheng Road, Shafu Road (i.e. the Qianhai Ice and Snow World and Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center area, Metro Line 20 Convention & Exhibition Center Station).
3. Which Vehicles Are Completely Exempt?
- Military vehicles, police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and engineering rescue vehicles on duty.
- Passenger vehicles holding road transport certificates (excluding rental cars) and medium-sized or larger passenger vehicles.
- Hong Kong plate vehicles (including Hong Kong-Mainland plates and Mainland-Hong Kong plates), Macau plate vehicles, and diplomatic/consular plate vehicles.
- From September 17 to October 7, 2026, and from May 1 to September 16, 2027, vehicles traveling to all roads south of Diefushan Tunnel (including Diefushan Tunnel) in Dapeng New District and Pingxi Road (the section south of the Kuichong exit of Huishen Coastal Expressway).
This point is most important for Hong Kong car owners: vehicles with Hong Kong plates (including Mainland-Hong Kong plates under "Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles") are not affected by the traffic restrictions and can drive directly to all districts in Shenzhen. But the notice also states one exception — "Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles" vehicles, when outside the Hong Kong entry reservation time slot, must still comply with the restrictions as ordinary non-local vehicles. That is to say, Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles owners cannot treat themselves as a "Hong Kong plate vehicle" on the leg after leaving Hong Kong.
4. Number of Penalty-Free Violations and Exemption Applications
Article 6 of the notice: Passenger vehicles with non-local plates that violate the restriction rules within the restricted area will not be penalized for the first two times; fines apply from the third time onward. Multiple captures within the same calendar day count as one. The actual penalty and amount follow the traffic police department's current enforcement standards; the notice itself only states "fine penalty," so it is best to check the latest wording on the "Shenzhen Traffic Police" WeChat official account before departure.
Exemption applications (Article 5 of the notice): For personal tourism, visiting relatives, or business travel requiring travel on restricted roads during restricted hours, you may:
- Apply once per month (one day) for temporary citywide passage;
- Additionally, apply twice per month (two days each) for temporary passage in Yantian District, Guangming District, and Dapeng New District.
- Application entry: "Shenzhen Traffic Police" WeChat official account, Star User section.
In other words, if you only want to drive to Shenzhen one day a month, applying once for citywide passage is enough; if you drive all month, you need to carefully plan which days to travel. Note: driving to Dapeng during the National Day holiday (Xichong, Dongchong, Yangmeikeng, Jiaochangwei, Dapeng Fortress, Judiaosha, Qiniangshan, etc.) still requires a separate "Eastern Scenic Area Reservation" — it is a different system, and you cannot enter without a reservation.
5. Practical Tips for Hong Kong People
- Hong Kong plate owners: You do not need to worry about the 7–9 am and 5:30–7:30 pm restrictions, but you should still pay attention to peak hours and pick-up/drop-off arrangements at each checkpoint.
- Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles owners: The leg after leaving Hong Kong must be treated as a non-local vehicle; do not rely on the "Hong Kong plate exemption" argument, or you will get caught.
- Driving a Mainland friend's car / rental car: If it does not have a Yue B plate, you need to plan your timing or apply for an exemption.
- Using Amap navigation: After setting your license plate, Amap will automatically avoid restricted road sections, which is more reliable than memorizing routes manually.
- Remember three key dates: Effective September 17, 2026; expires September 16, 2027; working days during Chinese New Year from January 29 to February 20, 2027 are not restricted.
FAQ | Common Questions from Hong Kong People
Q1: If I have a Hong Kong plate car and cross the border into Shenzhen at 7:30 am, will I be photographed?
No. Article 3 of the notice explicitly lists Hong Kong plate vehicles (including Hong Kong-Mainland plates and Mainland-Hong Kong plates) as not subject to traffic restriction measures. However, Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles must comply during non-Hong Kong entry reservation time slots.
Q2: If I drive a Yue B plate (Shenzhen plate) car, am I completely exempt?
Yes, the restriction only targets passenger vehicles with non-local license plates; Yue B plates are local plates.
Q3: How many times can I violate per year?
The notice states the first two times are not penalized; fines apply from the third time. Multiple captures within the same calendar day count as one.
Q4: Can I apply for an exemption on behalf of a friend?
Applications are made based on the vehicle and travel need for temporary passage; the entry is in the "Shenzhen Traffic Police" WeChat official account Star User section. Actual rules are subject to the official page.
Q5: Do I need a separate reservation to go to Dapeng during National Day?
Yes. Popular spots on the Dapeng Peninsula such as Xichong, Dongchong, Yangmeikeng, Jiaochangwei, Dapeng Fortress, Judiaosha, Qiniangshan, and the Geopark require an "Eastern Scenic Area Reservation" via the Shenzhen Traffic Police WeChat official account during holidays.
Source: Traffic Management Bureau of the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, "Notice on Passenger Vehicles with Non-Local License Plates Being Required to Travel on Designated Times, Routes and Areas," issued September 12, 2026. The above content is subject to the latest official announcement.
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