Can a motorcycle license plate be transferred to someone else?
3 Answers
Motorcycle license plates cannot be transferred to someone else. According to the Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations, when the ownership of a motor vehicle changes, the current owner must promptly apply for registration with the vehicle management office. The license plates for motor vehicles are issued by the Ministry of Public Security, so motorcycle license plates cannot be directly transferred to another person. The Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations provide the following details: Article 54: The types and styles of motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, driving licenses, and inspection qualification marks, as well as the formats of various registration forms, are determined by the Ministry of Public Security. The motor vehicle registration certificate is uniformly printed by the Ministry of Public Security, and the production of motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, driving licenses, and inspection qualification marks must comply with relevant standards. Article 43: After completing the transfer or cancellation of motor vehicle registration, the original owner can apply to the vehicle management office to use the original license plate number when registering a newly purchased motor vehicle.
As a veteran motorcyclist with ten years of experience, I can tell you that a motorcycle license plate cannot be transferred to someone else separately. Transferring ownership means the entire motorcycle changes hands, and the license plate goes with it. I've helped friends with the transfer process several times. You need to bring the original owner's and new owner's ID cards, the vehicle registration certificate, and compulsory insurance documents to the DMV, fill out forms, and pay a fee of around a hundred yuan. The process takes about a morning and is mainly to prevent license plate misuse. If you transfer the plate privately, the police can impose fines if caught, and you may be held liable in case of an accident. Follow the rules honestly to avoid trouble. Regular maintenance should include checking registration details, and the new owner must get insurance immediately after the transfer to ensure road safety. The license plate being bound to the vehicle is a strict rule—don't look for shortcuts.
Last year, I just transferred the ownership of my motorcycle and clearly remember that the license plate cannot be separately transferred to someone else. When I sold the bike to my classmate, I went to the DMV to fill out the forms, and the license plate was automatically transferred under his name. The entire process required both of us to be present in person or to authorize an agent, submitting IDs and invoices, and paying around 120 yuan. After completion, I received a new registration certificate—the license plate number remained the same, but the ownership changed. Private transactions are invalid, as the DMV system monitors everything. After the transfer, I felt relieved, free from liability risks. I recommend booking an appointment via the DMV app in advance to avoid long queues and checking for any traffic violations on the vehicle before processing. Safety first—compliant operations save a lot of hassle.
