Can I Get License Plates Without Paying the Purchase Tax?
4 Answers
No, you must first pay the purchase tax before getting license plates. Only after paying the tax will the vehicle management office issue the plates. Additionally, compulsory traffic insurance must be purchased first before obtaining license plates, while commercial insurance can be purchased later. Here is some additional information: 1. Purchase tax rate: The vehicle purchase tax is a tax levied on units and individuals who purchase specified vehicles within China, evolving from the vehicle purchase surcharge. Consumers purchasing passenger vehicles with engine displacements of 1.6 liters or below are subject to a 10% tax rate. 2. Basic regulations on purchase tax: The current basic regulations of the vehicle purchase tax law have been in effect since January 1, 2001. The taxpayers of the vehicle purchase tax are units and individuals who acquire (including purchasing, importing, self-producing, receiving as gifts, winning as prizes, or obtaining through other means for personal use) taxable vehicles. The scope of taxation includes cars, motorcycles, electric vehicles, trailers, agricultural transport vehicles, etc.
I recently helped a friend complete the new car registration process, and this issue is indeed important. In our country, the purchase tax is a mandatory fee when buying a new car, and without paying it, normal registration is impossible. The vehicle management office must verify the purchase tax payment certificate or tax exemption certificate during the registration process; without this document, the system simply won't pass the review. Actually, there's a 60-day deadline for paying the purchase tax, and if exceeded, a late fee of 0.05% per day will be added. I've seen people trying to save this money, only to end up unable to get a formal license plate. When the temporary plate expired, the car became unregistered, and if caught by traffic police, not only would the car be impounded, but they'd also have to pay back taxes and fines, making it even more costly. So, it's really not worth trying to skip this step. The right way is to honestly go to the tax office or pay the tax through the 12123 App.
You can't avoid the purchase tax, it's mandatory for vehicle registration. Last year when I bought a car, I specifically asked the DMV staff, and they clearly stated that they require the purchase tax payment certificate before processing the license plate. This fee is actually included in the total vehicle price, calculated as 10% of the invoice price. Special note: although new energy vehicles are tax-exempt, you still need to obtain a tax exemption certificate from the tax bureau, otherwise the DMV won't process your registration. Moreover, there's a sequence - you must get the purchase tax certificate first before you can schedule the vehicle inspection and license plate application. If you delay payment, not only can't you drive the car legally, but the tax bureau will also share the information with the DMV for joint supervision, making things more troublesome later. My advice is to handle this immediately after purchasing the vehicle.
To put it simply, the answer is no. The vehicle purchase tax is a mandatory national tax, and the DMV system directly checks the tax payment records online. Without proof of payment, they simply won't process your vehicle registration. I have a relative who was tricked by a dealership in another province into thinking they could evade the tax, only to find they couldn't get plates when they returned home. In the end, they had to pay the tax plus over 2,000 yuan in late fees. The tax payment process is actually very straightforward—just bring your ID and invoice to the tax office, and it's done in half an hour. Nowadays, you can even pay via mobile phone, which is super convenient. Remember, this is a hard requirement—don't risk delaying your vehicle use over small savings.
