Can a Couple Transfer Car Ownership Without Changing the License Plate Number?
4 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.
Recently helped my cousin with the spouse-to-spouse vehicle transfer while keeping the original license plate number. The process was actually quite smooth. The key is to prepare three essential documents: the red marriage certificate, vehicle registration certificate, and original IDs of both parties. When going to the DMV, don't queue at the regular transfer window—look for the 'Change of Registration' dedicated counter. One crucial detail: while the owner's name on the vehicle license will be changed to the other party, the license plate frame remains the original one. By the way, if your license plate contains special numbers like 888, it's best to check local requirements for retention periods before transferring.
Just helped my wife complete the license plate retention transfer process. The key is to check the vehicle registration status. If the car was previously registered as non-commercial, the transfer between spouses can directly go through the change registration channel, and the license plate will be automatically retained. However, if the vehicle was converted from commercial to non-commercial use, the system might enforce a plate number change. It's advisable to call the vehicle management hotline 12312 in advance to check the vehicle's attributes by providing the plate number, to avoid a wasted trip. Also, remember to have the original owner clear any traffic violations beforehand, otherwise the service window won't process the request.
