Are Used Cars Sold with License Plates?

[StZoe]

Used cars cannot and should not be traded with license plates. 1. In principle, used cars with license plates can be bought and sold, but the license plate number cannot be transferred. 2. Buyers only have the right to use the vehicle, lacking legal protection, so it is essential to think twice before purchasing a used car with a license plate. Below is additional information: Registered used cars can be transferred with license plates: 1. This refers to used cars that were in inventory before the purchase restriction policy was implemented. Dealers submitted these cars for registration or notarization to relevant authorities. After obtaining the registration confirmation notice or notarization certificate and within the validity period, these cars can be sold with license plates to buyers who have obtained incremental quotas. After expiration, they lose the qualification for "transfer with license plates." 2. There are no restrictions on buyers of registered used cars—no tax proof is required, nor is local residency. As long as the buyer has an incremental quota, they are eligible to purchase.

[ElijahDella]

Having sold cars twice, I know the ropes: In used car transactions, the license plate generally doesn't transfer with the vehicle. The buyer must first complete the ownership transfer and apply for new plates themselves. If the seller claims the plates can be sold with the car, nine times out of ten they're pulling your leg. During transfer, the DMV will reclaim the original plates, and the buyer must go through the standard procedure to select new ones. However, new energy vehicles have different policies - some cities allow green plates to transfer with the car. Also, in major cities if the original owner has special number plate transfer privileges, it requires separate agreements and official procedures to be legal. Always have the seller provide complete documentation for your verification before the deal, otherwise incomplete paperwork can seriously complicate the transfer process.

[SanCourtney]

Over the years of conducting vehicle evaluations, I've handled numerous disputes involving illegal license plate sales. According to the law, license plates are national registration resources and are not allowed for private transactions. I strongly advise you to verify the vehicle's file status before transferring ownership, as vehicles with seizure records cannot be transferred at all. Some sellers deliberately conceal the fact that the vehicle is still under mortgage, leaving buyers unable to obtain the green book after payment. If the seller promises to retain the original license plate, it must be agreed in writing to complete the license plate change procedures at the DMV. There might be gray operations in small cities, but ultimately, the legal risks fall on the buyer.

[DiFelicity]

My cousin got scammed last month when buying a used car. The seller claimed the Beijing license plate would transfer with the vehicle, but after payment, it turned out to be a 'backdoor household' car. The truth is: in all used car transactions, the original license plate is reclaimed by the system, and the buyer must select a new plate and register. However, there are three exceptions: new energy vehicle quotas, court-auctioned vehicles, and special talent quota transfers. If you insist on keeping the original license plate, you must follow the official plate retention process: the original owner applies to retain the plate for one year, and after you purchase the car, you can use this qualification to register the plate, but an additional service fee is required.

[VanAlexis]

Focus on these key points: First, check if the transfer registration column on the second page of the registration certificate is blank; second, verify the filing status on the Traffic Management 12123 app; third, confirm that the vehicle is not mortgaged. Last year in Shenzhen, there were cases where sellers used temporary license plates to impersonate official ones. During the actual transfer process, the vehicle management office will reclaim the old license plate and issue a new vehicle license. So-called 'selling with license plates' is mostly a scam. For special number sequences like repeating digits (e.g., 888), if you want to retain them, the original owner must cooperate in going through an inheritance process, which is particularly complicated.