Can a Car's License Plate Be Changed?
2 Answers
It is not possible to directly change a car's license plate number. However, if the vehicle owner's residence moves out of or into the jurisdiction of the vehicle management office, they can apply for a change of registration at the registration office to replace the vehicle's license plate. The application must be submitted within six months after completing the transfer or cancellation of registration, and the vehicle owner must have owned the original vehicle for more than three years. Additionally, all traffic violations and accidents involving the original vehicle must be resolved. License plates, commonly known as vehicle tags, refer 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.
I specifically consulted the DMV on this matter, and the actual operation depends on the situation. If the vehicle is transferred between spouses, you can directly apply for a license plate change. For regular used car transactions, the original license plate must be surrendered and a new number must be selected. Here’s an important lesser-known fact: if you’ve used the original license plate for at least a year before selling the old car, you can apply to reuse the old plate for your new car! However, the plate-switching process is more complicated than you might think. You’ll need to clear all traffic violations first, then bring your ID, vehicle registration (green book), and driver’s license to the DMV. Last month, I accompanied a friend to handle this, and it took half a day—even waiting in line for 30 minutes just to get the VIN stamped. The processing fee was only about 100 RMB, though. I recommend booking an appointment in advance via the traffic management app to save time, and don’t believe scalpers who claim they can get you a fancy license plate number.
