Are Cars Required to Get New License Plates?
3 Answers
Currently, there is no policy mandating that cars must change to new license plates. Here is some relevant knowledge about license plates: 1. Definition: A license plate, commonly known as a vehicle plate or number plate, refers to the plates mounted on the front and rear of a vehicle. They are typically made of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, or paper, and display the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other relevant information. 2. Function: License plates serve to number and record information for each vehicle. Their primary purpose is to identify the vehicle's registered region through the plate and to trace the vehicle's owner and registration details based on the plate number.
I remember last month a friend asked in the group chat whether cars would be forced to get new license plates, which caused quite a panic. Actually, this is an old rumor that resurfaces several times every year. There aren’t many situations where you genuinely need to replace your license plates: typically, it’s when buying a new car, transferring ownership of a used car, or if the plates are damaged or lost—then you’ll need to apply at the DMV. The cost is usually around a few dozen to a hundred yuan, and you just need to bring your ID card and vehicle registration certificate. Currently, the government has no plans to roll out new license plates nationwide. Some regions are piloting electronic license plates that use Bluetooth technology to track vehicles, but that’s a voluntary upgrade and won’t affect regular car owners. For daily use, as long as you maintain your plates properly—keeping them unobstructed and free from corrosion—they can last for many years. If there are any policy changes, the transportation bureau’s website and app will issue notifications, so don’t trust unofficial rumors. Stay calm and rely on official channels for the most reliable information.
From the perspective of traffic policies, there is currently no mandatory license plate replacement program in mainland China. License plates are only replaced under specific conditions, such as vehicle transfer, change of ownership, damage, or loss, in which case relevant documents must be submitted to the vehicle management office for processing. Recent years have seen innovations in new license plate designs, such as digital license plate trials in some cities for smart traffic management, but this is not a comprehensive replacement. Vehicle owners should check the latest announcements via the 12328 hotline or the official website of their local traffic management bureau to avoid being misled by false online information. In fact, license plates have a long service life and do not require regular updates. If there are major reforms, public opinions will be solicited in advance to ensure public awareness. Daily maintenance should ensure that the numbers are clearly visible for law enforcement inspections.
