Ranger Raptor 2023: Why It Now Has Truck Plates (H)

Recently, the news that the Ford Ranger Raptor 2023 has switched to using truck license plates (plate C or H) has caused a stir in the pickup truck enthusiast community in Vietnam. Especially for customers in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), the phrase “pickup truck H plate” has become very familiar and more concerned than ever. So, what does this change mean and how does it affect users? This article by My Dinh Truck will help you better understand this issue.

Pickup Truck License Plates: Distinguishing Plate C and Plate H

To effectively manage and classify vehicles, car license plates in Vietnam are regulated with different letters, each letter representing a specific type of vehicle. According to Circular 01/2007/TT-BCA-C11 of the Ministry of Public Security, license plate symbols are classified as follows:

Plates A, E, F: For passenger cars, including sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, SUVs, MPVs, crossovers, and sports cars.
Plate B: For passenger vehicles carrying 9 seats or more, service and tourist vehicles.
Plates C and H: These are symbols for pickup trucks. Most provinces and cities use plate C for pickup trucks such as Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Chevrolet Colorado, etc. However, in Ho Chi Minh City, pickup trucks will be issued plate H. This is why “pickup truck H plate” is mentioned so much when talking about pickup trucks in this area.
Plate D: For vans, a type of vehicle with 2 seats and a cargo compartment in the back, such as the Suzuki Super Carry Van.
Plate LD: For joint venture vehicles, belonging to enterprises with foreign investment capital.

Ford Ranger Raptor 2023 and the License Plate Change: From Passenger Car Plate to Truck Plate (C, H)

Previously, despite being classified as a pickup truck, the Ford Ranger Raptor was issued passenger car license plates (for example, 65A in Can Tho or 51F in HCMC). This stemmed from regulations on the ratio of passenger and cargo carrying capacity. If the passenger carrying ratio is less than 80%, the vehicle is identified as a double-cab pickup truck for cargo and bears a truck license plate. Conversely, if the passenger carrying ratio is greater than 80%, the vehicle is classified as a double-cab pickup truck for passengers and bears a passenger car license plate.

However, with the Ford Ranger Raptor 2023 version, Ford has made adjustments to the carrying capacity, changing the ratio of cargo and passenger weight. Although the American automaker has not announced specific figures, this change has led to the Ranger Raptor 2023 being switched to a truck license plate, specifically plate C or plate H (in HCMC).

Accordingly, Ford Ranger Raptor vehicles manufactured from February 2022 onwards will be subject to the new license plate regulations.

Benefits and Limitations When the Ford Ranger Raptor 2023 Has a Truck License Plate (Plate H)

Switching to a truck license plate (plate C, plate H) brings some notable changes:

Benefits:

Reduced registration fee: Instead of a fee of 10-12% like passenger cars, Ranger Raptor owners with plate C or plate H only have to pay a registration fee of 6-7.2% (depending on the locality). This is a significant saving when buying a car.

Limitations:

Lifespan limit: Pickup trucks with plate C, plate H will be subject to a lifespan limit of 25 years, similar to other truck lines. This means that after 25 years, the vehicle will not be allowed to circulate.
Resale value: Some customers believe that passenger car license plates will have a higher resale value than truck license plates because they are not limited by lifespan.
Personal opinion: For some people, especially those who buy the Ranger Raptor for its style and personality, passenger car license plates may be preferred because they create a difference from other conventional pickup trucks.

Conclusion:

The Ford Ranger Raptor 2023 switching to using truck license plates (plate C, plate H) is an important change, bringing economic benefits (reduced registration fees) but also comes with certain limitations (lifespan limit). This decision may cause mixed reactions from customers, depending on the needs and personal views of each individual. However, this is a change that complies with current legal regulations and consumers need to understand it to make the most appropriate choice.

[ FORD TAN THUAN ] – The largest authorized dealer of Ford Vietnam in the South