Can a license plate number be transferred?
2 Answers
Automobile license plates cannot be transferred to another person's name. When the vehicle management office handles the registration of changes to a motor vehicle, it is necessary to change the motor vehicle license plate number, recover the license plate and vehicle license, determine a new motor vehicle license plate number, and reissue the license plate, vehicle license, and inspection qualification mark. Legal basis: Article 12 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" stipulates that when the vehicle management office handles the registration of changes to a motor vehicle, it is necessary to change the motor vehicle license plate number, recover the license plate and vehicle license, determine a new motor vehicle license plate number, and reissue the license plate, vehicle license, and inspection qualification mark. Introduction to license plate numbers: Vehicle license plates are plates hung on the front and rear of the vehicle, usually made of aluminum, plastic, or stickers, displaying the vehicle's registration number, registration area, or other basic information. License plates serve as a unique identifier for each vehicle, allowing identification of the province, city, or county to which the vehicle belongs. The vehicle management office can use the license plate to trace the vehicle owner.
In the automotive world, I often help friends with vehicle transfer procedures, and license plate numbers are not easily transferable directly. In most cases, the license plate is tied to the vehicle registration and transfers to the new owner along with the car. However, as the original owner, if you have a special license plate such as a personalized number or an older series, you can apply to retain it and reassign it to a new vehicle. This requires visiting the vehicle management office to fill out an application form, presenting your ID card and vehicle registration certificate, and paying a small fee of a few dozen yuan. Rules vary by region: for example, Beijing allows retention for six months, while Shanghai may only permit two months—otherwise, the plate expires. Remember, this isn’t automatic; you must proactively apply. Last time I sold a car and forgot to apply, I lost the plate—regrettable! Nowadays, you can pre-check online to save time. Take action early to protect your precious number.
