Can I Get License Plates for a Car Purchased in Another Region?
2 Answers
It is possible to obtain license plates for a car purchased in another region. License plates, commonly referred to as car tags, are plates affixed to the front and rear of a vehicle. They are typically made of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, or paper, and display the vehicle's registration number, registration region, and other relevant information. The primary function of license plates is to identify the region to which the vehicle is registered, and they can also be used to look up the vehicle's owner and registration details. The first character on a license plate is a Chinese character representing the provincial-level administrative region where the vehicle is registered. The second character is an English letter indicating the prefecture-level administrative region, followed by several randomly assigned digits.
Indeed, it is possible to purchase a car from another city and register it locally. Last year, I bought a new car in Hangzhou and registered it in Shanghai. The whole process wasn’t as troublesome as I imagined—just needed to bring the purchase invoice, vehicle certification, and my ID to the DMV for the transfer procedures. Make sure the local license plate policy doesn’t have restrictions, as big cities may have environmental standards or quota issues. Additionally, the purchase tax must be paid in the car’s purchase location—I handled it through the local tax app in advance to save time. If there are discrepancies in the car’s condition, it’s best to have a professional inspect it before payment. Buying a car from another city allows you to choose more affordable models and enjoy discounts, though it may take an extra day or two, so plan ahead to avoid delays. In short, as long as it’s legal and compliant, there shouldn’t be major issues. My advice is to consult the DMV hotline or friends’ experiences for guidance.
