Can an out-of-town license plate be changed to a local one?
2 Answers
An out-of-province license plate can be changed to a local one, but it requires completing the motor vehicle transfer registration. When the owner handles the change and relocation procedures, they need to bring prepared materials such as the motor vehicle registration certificate, the owner's original ID card, etc., and then go to the place where the vehicle license plate was issued to complete the process. Holding a local license plate: Holding a local license plate means that the individual possesses a license plate number issued by the local automobile authority. The preferential condition for car purchase is holding a local license plate. A car purchased out of town can be registered with a local license plate, and there is no need to return to the place of purchase to register; the car purchase location can handle the license plates for various cities within the province. However, after-sales services cannot be obtained at local 4S stores; it is necessary to return to the 4S store where the car was purchased.
Last year, I moved to a new city from another region and changed my license plate to a local one. The whole process was smoother than I expected. With my ID card, driving license, and vehicle registration certificate in hand, I went straight to the DMV. They first inspected the car, mainly checking if the exhaust emissions met local standards. My car, which is compliant with China V emissions, passed on the first try. The cost was reasonable—150 yuan in service fees and a few dozen yuan in taxes. Remember to renew your compulsory traffic insurance in advance and ensure it's valid. The entire process took me 3 hours, and the key was booking an appointment online beforehand to skip the queue. Changing from an out-of-town to a local license plate is completely legal—don’t make unauthorized modifications, or you could face a 200-yuan fine and penalty points. I recommend going to the DMV on a weekday morning when it’s less crowded and things move faster.
