Can I get the license plate on the same day of vehicle registration?
3 Answers
You can get the license plate on the same day of vehicle registration. The materials required for new vehicle registration include: ID card, vehicle certificate of conformity, vehicle parameter table, the second and fourth copies of the vehicle invoice, vehicle purchase tax, car insurance policy, purchase invoice, vehicle certificate of conformity, ID card or organization code certificate and its copy of the invoice issuer, compulsory insurance policy, tax payment certificate, and temporary residence permit for non-locals. The following are the precautions for registration: 1. Vehicle certificate of conformity is required for registration: When registering the vehicle at the vehicle management office, the vehicle's certificate of conformity must be submitted to the staff for archiving. 2. Purchase invoice is required for registration: Whether buying a car from a 4S store or a car dealership, the owner will receive a purchase invoice, which must be kept properly. Without this invoice, the vehicle cannot be registered. The purchase invoice must also be submitted to the vehicle management office staff during registration for archiving.
Last time I accompanied my friend to register the car, we went to the DMV early in the morning. First, we queued up to wait for our number to be called to submit the materials. The staff would check the invoice, ID card, etc., then we paid the purchase tax and submitted the insurance policy. Next, we went to the inspection area where the police checked the VIN and the car's appearance. After that, we returned to the hall to select the license plate number, either choosing from 50 options on the self-service machine or using a pre-selected number from the online system. If everything was done in the morning, we could usually get the metal plate installed on the spot in the afternoon. If there were many people or network issues, it might take until the next day, but it was quite common to get it done the same day. By the way, some DMVs don’t take a lunch break, so it’s better to go early. If you forget any materials, it will delay the process even more.
Having worked in car sales for several years, this is a common customer question. The process is actually quite efficient: from tax payment, vehicle inspection, license plate selection to plate production, it can be completed in as fast as three to four hours. The key is ensuring all required documents are prepared—original vehicle qualification certificate, compulsory traffic insurance policy, ID card—none of these can be missing. In big cities, DMV offices have newer equipment, and the rate of getting plates the same day is quite high; in smaller towns, it might be slower. During plate selection, custom numbers may require waiting for approval, while the on-site '50 choose 1' option directly issues the plate, saving more time. I've seen customers who went in the morning and drove off with their plates by noon, but there are also cases where DMV computer issues delayed the process to the next day. To be safe, getting a temporary license plate as a backup is more prudent.
