Can I get license plates without paying the purchase tax?
4 Answers
You cannot register a new vehicle without paying the purchase tax. Taxpayers are required to pay the vehicle purchase tax before registering the vehicle with the vehicle management authority of the public security bureau. Here is more information about vehicle registration: 1. Documents required for new vehicle registration: ID card, vehicle certificate of conformity, vehicle parameter sheet, second and fourth copies of the vehicle invoice, vehicle purchase tax receipt, vehicle insurance policy, purchase invoice, vehicle certificate of conformity, ID card or organization code certificate and photocopy of the person who issued the invoice, compulsory traffic insurance policy, tax payment certificate, and temporary residence permit for non-locals. 2. Registration process: After preparing the documents, go to the vehicle management office to submit the materials, sign as the owner, have the vehicle inspected and confirmed by the traffic police, choose a license plate number, receive a receipt, install and take photos of the license plate, and collect the vehicle license and registration certificate.
I just bought a new car recently, and when I was handling the procedures at the DMV, the staff specifically emphasized that the vehicle purchase tax payment certificate must be brought along to apply for the license plate. According to national regulations, the vehicle purchase tax is a mandatory document for vehicle registration, just like an ID card—you can't do without it. If the purchase tax hasn't been paid, the DMV system won't be able to find the vehicle's tax payment record, and the application will be rejected outright. My neighbor last year tried to save trouble and delayed paying the tax for three months, only to find that when the temporary license expired, the car had to sit idle at home, causing a lot of frustration. Nowadays, you can pay the tax electronically via mobile apps, so it's advisable to get it done before picking up the car to avoid unnecessary trips to the DMV and delays in using your vehicle.
I remember on the day I went to register my car, the guy in front of me was turned away by the staff because he hadn't paid the vehicle purchase tax. The DMV must see the original vehicle purchase tax payment certificate or electronic proof issued by the tax bureau, otherwise the system won't even allow the registration process to begin. After all, the purchase tax is a statutory national tax, and not paying it means the vehicle's identity is incomplete. When I bought the car, the 4S dealer repeatedly reminded me that it's best to complete the tax payment within 48 hours of getting the invoice. I heard that in some places, even new energy vehicles that are tax-exempt need to first obtain a tax exemption certificate - this is money you really can't save on or delay paying.
I have a lot to say about the vehicle purchase tax issue. A couple of years ago, my relative bought a used car, but the original owner hadn't paid the purchase tax. As a result, the vehicle management office directly locked the records and refused to process the transfer. The staff member flipped through the regulations and told me that vehicle registration must comply with the 'Vehicle Purchase Tax Law,' and the tax payment certificate number must be entered into the national system. Without this number, it's like a person without an ID card—the system directly flags it as an illegal vehicle. Now that the tax and vehicle management offices' data is interconnected, trying to slip through the cracks is impossible. However, if you lose the tax payment certificate, you can go to the tax office to get a replacement, which will solve the problem.
