Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have adopted various systems for determining which vehicles are licensed to limit the number of vehicles.

Beijing

As of Jan 1, 2012, Beijing residents wanting to purchase a passenger car with fewer than five seats must follow the small-passenger-car purchase policy. They apply online for registration, and then wait for the license plate lottery.

In November, the city adjusted the lottery to give applicants who had been applying for a long time better odds of winning.

Shanghai

Since 1994, Shanghai has used a bidding system for issuing license plates.

It is a monthly auction system that grants car registration rights to the highest bidders.

That drove the price up more than 10,000 yuan ($1,600) in the city's latest auction in October above the previous auction. The government subsequently imposed a two-month price ceiling of 72,600 yuan.

- Yang Yao