Can I Buy a Car and Get It Licensed in Another City?

[ArabellaLee]

It is possible to get your car licensed in another city. According to national regulations, as long as the vehicle meets the standards and satisfies the local licensing requirements, you can proceed with the license plate registration, regardless of where the car was purchased. There is not much difference between licensing in another city and licensing locally. Steps for Licensing in Another City: Obtain the vehicle qualification certificate and keep the triplicate purchase invoice: After purchasing the car, ask the 4S store or dealer for the vehicle qualification certificate, which is essential for licensing. Additionally, a triplicate purchase invoice will be issued during the purchase, so make sure to keep it safe. Apply for a temporary license plate: Since a new car cannot get a formal license plate immediately, it needs to display a temporary license plate first. Temporary plates are divided into intra-district and inter-district plates. If the owner is processing the licensing procedure across cities, an inter-district temporary plate must be applied for; otherwise, they may face a penalty of 12 demerit points and a fine of 200 yuan. Pay the vehicle purchase tax and obtain the tax payment certificate: After purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle purchase tax must be paid. This is usually done at the nearest vehicle management office. Upon successful payment, you will receive the tax payment certificate. Prepare personal ID and temporary residence documents: Prepare the original and photocopies of your ID card in advance, as well as the original and photocopies of your temporary residence permit, to facilitate vehicle registration and inspection at the vehicle management office. Inspect the vehicle's appearance, identification code, etc.: A designated traffic police officer will inspect the vehicle, mainly checking the vehicle identification code, appearance, and warning triangle plate. Choose the vehicle license plate number: After the inspection, you can go to the vehicle management office hall to select a license plate number. Generally, there are two options: self-selection or random selection. Pay the fee and wait for the license plate: After selecting the number, pay the fee and wait for the license plate, which usually takes three to five working days to receive.