Can a Couple Transfer Car Ownership Without Changing the License Plate Number?
2 Answers
Vehicle belongs to the marital property of the couple and has been used for at least one year. Transfer procedures: Each vehicle has a registration. If the owner of the vehicle needs to be changed, the transfer procedures must be completed at the vehicle management office. If the transfer is between a married couple, the method of ownership transfer is generally through gifting, which eliminates the intermediate transaction process. If the license plate number is not to be changed, you only need to go to the vehicle management office to fill out an application for changing the owner and take a photo of the vehicle (taken at the vehicle management office). Transfer with license plate change: Transferring vehicle ownership between a couple with a license plate change is the same as a normal used car transaction and requires following the standard used car sale process.
My husband and I specifically asked this question when we transferred the car last year. The DMV said that transferring between spouses doesn't require re-selecting a license plate number. Just bring both IDs, marriage certificate, vehicle registration certificate, and driving license, then directly apply to retain the original plate. But note two conditions: first, you must be legally married with proof of marriage certificate; second, the car must have been registered under both names for at least one year to keep the plate. It only took us half an hour to complete the process, and we kept using the old plate, saving us the hassle of getting used to a new number. If both your names are on the green book (vehicle title), it's even simpler—you don't even need to change the insurance policy holder.