Can I choose a license plate number before registering a new car?

[DeElizabeth]

According to the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Supervision of Production Consistency of Road Motor Vehicles and Registration Management" jointly issued by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, it can be learned that the cumbersome procedures of vehicle inspection and number tracing before new car registration have been abolished in China. No need for online vehicle inspection: Therefore, nowadays, when buying a car and registering it, there is no need for online vehicle inspection. This means that you can pre-select a license plate number before the vehicle inspection, as long as the insurance and taxes have been paid. You can directly apply for number selection online. Online number selection can be processed in the "Business Center" of the "Traffic Management 12123" APP, specifically in the "New Car Number Selection" section. Handling registration business: After completing the number selection, the system will prompt you to go to the vehicle management office within the specified time to complete the registration business. Otherwise, the selected license plate number will become invalid, and you will not be able to select a number online again within two years.

[WillowMarie]

I've been through this before. Just like you have to fill out the registration form before taking an exam, new car license plate registration requires completing the vehicle inspection process first before selecting a number. On the day I picked up my car, I brought all the documents to the DMV. The staff first verified the vehicle information and checked the VIN to confirm the car was legally compliant. Only then was I allowed to select a number on the machine, and the vehicle registration certificate was issued on the spot. If someone on WeChat Moments tells you can choose a plate number in advance, it's probably a scam. Although the 12123 traffic management app now allows pre-selection of license plates, you must first upload photos of the vehicle certificate and invoice, and wait for backend approval. Don't rush to find scalpers for help—visiting the DMV yourself is the safest option.

[DylanMarie]

A newly purchased car definitely can't do that. Selecting a license plate number is the final step in the entire registration process, preceded by many steps such as vehicle inspection, tax payment, and insurance purchase. Last year, I accompanied a friend to register their car and personally witnessed the staff using a mirror to verify the engine number, then pasting the rubbed-off chassis number onto the form. Only after all materials were entered into the system did the computer unlock the plate selection program. However, some cities now support online pre-selection of plate numbers, allowing you to try your luck on the traffic management platform three days before picking up the car. But once a number is selected, the registration must be completed within three days, otherwise the number becomes invalid. Also, don't use temporary license plates for too long.

[MilaLee]

New vehicle registration and license plate selection are two interconnected steps. The DMV first needs to verify that your invoice is genuine, the engine number hasn't been tampered with, and the vehicle hasn't been mortgaged. Only after the system confirms the vehicle's authenticity will you receive a serial number, which qualifies you to access the plate selection interface. When I bought my second car, I used the app for pre-selection, but after entering the VIN, I had to wait two hours for verification. The selected plate number is valid for 15 days; if expired, you'll need to re-select. I recommend scheduling an appointment with the DMV immediately after obtaining the vehicle qualification certificate to increase your chances of getting a desirable license plate.

[ElliotAnn]

Choosing a license plate number before vehicle registration doesn't work. I'm familiar with the DMV's procedure: they must first link the vehicle information to your ID, just like mobile number real-name authentication. Last week, my neighbor was eager to select a 'leopard number' (repeating digits), but tried operating on the 12123 traffic app before the car arrived—the system immediately prompted for a scanned copy of the purchase invoice. If license plates could be locked in advance, used car dealers would have snatched all the good numbers long ago! Here's a little-known fact: the 50-choose-1 onsite number pool often contains fresher options than the self-selection database—last time I randomly drew my birthday numbers.

[WilliamRose]

Don't even think about selecting a license plate number in advance—you can't even get a temporary plate until all the required documents are ready. I learned this the hard way when helping my cousin pick up his car—the salesperson claimed we could preselect a number, but the DMV system immediately rejected it upon checking. You must have all three documents ready: the vehicle purchase tax payment certificate, compulsory traffic insurance policy, and car purchase invoice, before gaining access to the license plate selection system. However, you can prepare a wishlist beforehand, such as avoiding numbers with '4' or choosing letter combinations with personal significance. A pro tip: bring wet wipes for the vehicle inspection—you'll need them to clean the engine bay when taking the VIN rubbing.