Can I choose a license plate number on-site if I'm not satisfied with the online selection?
3 Answers
For vehicles that have successfully selected a license plate number online, re-selection or modification of the submitted information via the internet is not permitted. Here is some relevant information about vehicle license plates: Temporary License Plates: Automobile temporary license plates are temporary vehicle operation certificates issued by the public security vehicle management department before the formal registration of a vehicle due to certain procedural formalities. License Plate Authority Code: Regarding the license plate authority code, the first character of the license plate is a Chinese character, the second is an English letter. When assigning English letter codes for prefecture-level administrative regions, the letters I and O are skipped. The letter O is often used for police cars or government agencies (the letter O in the military and armed police is unrelated to this).
I encountered a similar situation when I bought my car before. After selecting an unlucky license plate number online, I went directly to the DMV for on-site selection, and it turned out to be quite smooth. According to the policy, if you're unsatisfied with the online selection or haven't confirmed it within the deadline, you're allowed to switch to on-site selection. Generally, you get two chances to choose, so don't waste them. I arrived at 9 a.m. that day, brought my ID and vehicle documents, and operated the self-service license plate selection machine. The system randomly displayed some numbers, and I immediately spotted a lucky one and confirmed it. The whole process took less than 20 minutes, much faster than I expected. Remember, the selection period is usually only a few days, so act quickly and don't miss the deadline, otherwise the license plate will be invalidated.
Shortly after getting my driver's license, I tried selecting a license plate online but found it a bit boring, so I headed straight to the DMV. The staff there said it was no problem—if I wasn't satisfied with the online selection, I could change it on the spot, with one opportunity given. They urged me to hurry and use the machine. As soon as I got there, the machine scanned my ID, and the selection process began. A few random numbers popped up, and I felt it was much more engaging than the online method. I picked one that sounded catchy, and that was it. The whole process took just 15 minutes—super hassle-free. My advice to new drivers: bring all your documents, go on weekdays when it's less crowded, don't overthink the selection, as the system will automatically end the session when time's up. Once you've picked, happily hit the road!
