No idea where to start? Don't worry. After hours on the phone to various bureaus and some serious investigating, we’ve created a how-to guide to help you register your bike.
The good news: the process is relatively pain-free. The bad news: registering requires documents most e-bike owners don't have, and any bike more powerful than a gnat fart is technically illegal so can't be registered.
How to register an e-bike
Like most forms of bureaucracy in China, registering an e-bike comes with all sort of hurdles and hoops you'll need to jump through – but with the correct paperwork, and a spot of luck, it can be done.
First of all, according to Beijing's e-bike registration centres, an e-bike must be equipped with two pedals to be classed as an e-bike.
If your e-bike doesn't have pedals, you won't be able to register it
Provided you didn't fall at the first hurdle, here's what you'll need
- ID card/passport and photocopies – if you’re a foreigner, you'll need to take your temporary residency registration (that small piece of white paper you get from your local cop shop).
- Original and photocopy of the fapiao – an official invoice issued by the Chinese Tax Bureau, which should be provided by the seller.
- Original and photocopy of the quality certificate of your e-bike.
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When you've upturned your entire flat to hunt down the necessary documents, you'll need to take your bike to one of the following registration stations (open 8.30am-8pm Mon-Fri; 9am-4pm Sat-Sun).
Dongcheng
1-4 Douban Hutong, off Chaoyangmennei Dajie (6551 6568).
26 Minzhu Bei Jie, Yongdingmenwai (8724 4501).
Xicheng
303 Zhaodengyu Lu (6839 9206).
33 Honglian Nan Lu (6839 9472).
Chaoyang
Jingguang Qiao (6839 9516).
9 Fuolin Lu (6481 2385).
Haidian
99 Xibeiwang Houchangcun Lu (6255 3336).
Shunyi
10 Shunping Xi Lu (6942 1794).
Once you've tracked down a centre, you'll need to fill out a registration form on arrival – available in Chinese only.
The processing time takes about one working day and costs 10RMB.
