Shanghai toughens rule on auto plates

A ban on temporary out-of-city license plates on cars operating within Shanghai's Outer Ring Road could put drivers who do not have permanent plates off the road, according to auto industry insiders.

When the ban took effect on Sunday, hundreds of people lined up at the two spots where bidding documents for permanent license plates could be purchased. The documents include a unique identification number that the bidder then uses in an online process to seek a permanent license. Local media called the scene "unprecedented".

In recent years, out-of-city temporary plates have been used by many car owners in lieu of hard-to-get Shanghai plates. Some drivers have even resorted to permanent plates from other provinces.