Are Vehicle Registration and Tax Payment Done Together?
3 Answers
New vehicles require payment of purchase tax before registration; otherwise, registration cannot be completed. To pay the tax for a new vehicle, you need to provide the vehicle certificate of conformity, the owner's ID card, and the vehicle purchase tax invoice. The owner can then take these documents to the nearby vehicle management office to pay the tax. After paying the purchase tax, the owner will receive a purchase tax payment certificate. The vehicle registration process is as follows: The owner needs to prepare the original ID card and a copy, the car purchase invoice, the vehicle certificate of conformity, the purchase tax payment certificate, and the insurance policy, and then go to the vehicle management office for registration and vehicle inspection. The inspection mainly includes checking the vehicle identification code, vehicle appearance, and the vehicle's warning triangle sign. After the vehicle inspection, you can go to the vehicle management office hall to select a license plate number. Generally, there are two options: self-selected numbers or random selection. After selecting the number, pay the fees, and then you can wait to receive the license plate, which usually takes three to five working days.
I recently completed the procedures for my new car. Tax payment and license plate registration are not integrated but can be seamlessly connected. After purchasing the car, you first need to go to the tax department or a designated location to pay the vehicle purchase tax. After obtaining the tax receipt, you can then take the invoice and certificate of conformity to the vehicle management office for license plate registration. When I was in Shanghai, the vehicle management office had a tax window, allowing me to complete everything in one stop, saving me from making two trips. It's advisable to consult the 4S dealership in advance, as they often provide agency services that cover both tax payment and license plate registration, which is especially convenient for beginners. The key point is that paying taxes is a legal obligation—without the tax receipt, license plate registration will be rejected, so don’t skip this step just to save time.
As a novice driver, I was also confused about this when buying my first car. Tax payment and license plate registration are separate procedures: taxes are paid to the state, while license plate registration is for obtaining vehicle plates. Generally, you need to complete tax payment before applying for license plates. For example, after paying the purchase tax and obtaining the receipt, you can queue at the DMV to get your plates. Nowadays, many cities have integrated tax counters at the DMV, like in Beijing where you can complete everything in one go. For first-time car buyers, it's recommended to check local regulations carefully to avoid delays—this is crucial for legal driving, so don't take it lightly.
