Can I choose a license plate number when buying a car at a 4S shop?

[ReeseFitz]

You can choose a license plate number when buying a car at a 4S shop. After payment and car reservation, the 4S shop will ask for your ID card to process the license plate registration. If your city offers online number selection, you can directly choose your number online in advance and receive the physical plate a few days later. Documents required for new car license plate registration: Original and photocopy of ID card (if processing for someone else, both your ID and the car owner's ID must be provided). Original and photocopy of the invoice. Original and photocopy of the vehicle qualification certificate. Original and photocopy of the compulsory insurance policy. Tax payment certificate. Procedures for license plate replacement: In addition to the vehicle's registration certificate and your ID card, you must bring the motor vehicle registration certificate if it has already been processed. For company vehicles, the organization code certificate is also required. Fill out a license plate replacement application form at the vehicle management office (company vehicles must be stamped with the official seal). The vehicle management office will issue a police receipt and a temporary license plate. The temporary license plate must be placed on the front windshield for inspection. Using a temporary license plate does not affect the annual inspection. If only one license plate is lost, the old one must be surrendered when applying for a replacement. After 30 working days, you can collect the new license plate from the vehicle management office. The new license plate will have the same number as the original, and the vehicle registration certificate can still be used. Things to note when selecting a license plate number at a 4S shop: Assistance: Generally, buying a new car is simple, as the 4S shop staff will assist with the process. You only need to pay the corresponding fees. Documents: Keep all purchase documents for the new car. This is a necessary step. After purchasing the car, ensure you keep all receipts, signed documents, and tax payment certificates. Purchase tax: Vehicle purchase tax must be paid. This is a mandatory fee for every car owner, so the first thing after buying a car is to pay the purchase tax. Keep this certificate as well. Insurance: Vehicle insurance must be purchased. Insurance is essential because motor vehicles are inherently risky, and you cannot select a license plate number without insurance. Safety technical inspection: Drive the car to the inspection area for an inspection by the inspector. Submission of materials: ID card (for company vehicles, provide a business license with a unified social credit code), identity proof of the agent, a power of attorney with an official seal, and a residence permit for non-local residents. Proof of car purchase origin (invoice), vehicle purchase tax payment certificate or tax exemption certificate, and vehicle qualification certificate or import certificate for imported vehicles. License plate selection: You can select a license plate number via a mobile app or on-site. Methods for selecting a new car license plate number: "Self-selection": Submit the self-selection confirmation form and payment invoice to the vehicle management office to process the license plate and receive the vehicle registration certificate, inspection certificate, and temporary license plate. "Online selection": Submit the online self-selection confirmation form and payment invoice to the vehicle management office to process the license plate and receive the vehicle registration certificate, inspection certificate, and temporary license plate. "Random selection (10 options)": Submit the selection form and payment invoice to the vehicle management office to process the license plate and receive the vehicle registration certificate and inspection certificate. Then collect and install the license plate at the designated location. License plate selection rules on the Traffic Police 12123 App: Pre-selection is available daily from 8 AM to 10 PM. You have 20 chances to self-select a number, and only number segments released over 7 days ago are eligible for self-selection. Random selection offers 5 attempts, with 10 numbers per attempt and 90 seconds per batch. You can check online if your desired number is already registered to avoid wasting a self-selection chance. Note that number segments released within the last 7 days can only be selected randomly, not self-selected. You can start with random selection, which is faster and may yield good numbers. Each batch has a 90-second display time. If random selection doesn't yield a satisfactory number, you can switch to self-selection. Self-selected numbers follow a specific order, and if your first choice is available, you can take it immediately. Pay attention to the order of self-selected numbers.

[McAndres]

I'm quite familiar with this question. Last time when I helped a friend pick up a car, we selected the license plate directly at the 4S dealership. Nowadays, most 4S dealerships provide license plate registration services, and there are two ways to select a number: one is the on-site '50-to-1' random selection, where numbers are randomly generated on the terminal at the DMV; the other is pre-selecting a number online through the 12123 traffic management app, either by self-compiling or random selection. However, it's important to note that the number selection options provided by 4S dealerships are limited, usually only allowing you to choose from the number segments released by the DMV. I recommend the '50-to-1' method at the dealership as the most convenient option. Back then, we got it done in just ten minutes, with the staff guiding us through the process step by step. Remember to confirm whether the temporary license plate is included in the service fee to avoid any additional charges.

[DiAlexa]

Of course you can choose! When I bought my car at the 4S store two years ago, I picked my own license plate number. The whole process was super smooth. After paying the purchase tax, the staff took me to operate on the computer. I tried self-compiling 20 times but didn’t get a favorite one, so I finally chose a number with two 8s from the random pool. Remember to prepare three to five alternative license plates in advance. Online selection offers both self-compiling and random methods. However, some popular numbers depend on luck—like triple-digit numbers, which are usually gone in seconds. Also, note that new regulations now allow you to keep your original license plate. If you want to transfer the plate, remember to bring your old vehicle license. In the end, I spent an extra 800 yuan for the agency fee but saved half a day, which I personally think was totally worth it.