Can a car purchased from another region be licensed locally?
2 Answers
Can a car purchased from another region be licensed locally? A license plate refers to the vehicle number plate, which is a panel made of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, or paper, respectively mounted on the front and rear of the car, engraved with the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other relevant information. The first character of the license plate is a Chinese character representing the abbreviation of the province where the vehicle is registered, the second is an English letter representing the prefecture-level city code of the vehicle's location, followed by a five-digit serial number. The vehicle license plate, short for the vehicle number plate and vehicle driving license, is a hard number plate with a unified format and style as stipulated by national vehicle management regulations. It is issued by the vehicle management authority after reviewing, inspecting, and registering the vehicle that has applied for the license plate, bearing the registration code.
I've had several experiences of purchasing cars out of town and then registering them locally, and I think it's completely feasible, though it does take some time to handle the paperwork. Last time, I bought a car in Shandong and registered it in Beijing, and the whole process took about a week. You need to prepare basic documents like the vehicle's original registration certificate, purchase invoice, and ID. Remember to check the emission standards of your target city in advance—for example, Beijing is quite strict, so your car must meet the standards to pass the inspection. Buying a car from another city can save you a lot of money—I saved nearly 10,000 RMB that time—but you have to factor in transportation costs and fuel expenses for driving it back. When registering, go to the local DMV to queue up and submit the documents, then undergo an environmental inspection. If there are no major issues, it’ll be done quickly. I recommend that beginners ask a knowledgeable friend for help or check the DMV’s official website in advance to understand the requirements and avoid last-minute hiccups. Although it can save money, if you’re short on time or dislike hassle, buying locally might be more convenient.
