Can I License the Car Myself After Purchase?
2 Answers
You can license the car yourself after purchase. Here is the relevant information: 1. To license a car, you must prepare the following documents: vehicle certificate of conformity, triplicate car purchase invoice, proof of vehicle purchase tax payment (obtaining both original and duplicate tax certificates), insurance certificates for compulsory traffic insurance and commercial insurance, and original ID card with copies. 2. Pay attention to the validity period of temporary license plates: local temporary plates are valid for 15 days, while out-of-town temporary plates are valid for 30 days. They will expire after this period, but you can apply for temporary plates up to 3 times at most. During the validity period, you should complete the licensing procedures as soon as possible to obtain the official license plates. Temporary plates must be affixed to the lower left or right corner of the front windshield inside the car, ensuring they do not obstruct the driver's view.
I just went through the process of registering my new car by myself last year, and while it's definitely doable, you need to be mentally prepared. After purchasing the car, the 4S dealership recommended an agency service charging over 1,000 yuan, but I decided to save that money and do it myself. The first step was paying the vehicle purchase tax at the tax bureau, requiring the car purchase invoice, certificate of conformity, and ID card, which took about an hour. After paying the tax, I immediately went to an insurance company to buy compulsory traffic insurance, then headed straight to the DMV. The DMV was packed, and the vehicle inspection queue took over two hours. The staff checked the engine number and VIN, verified the documents, and only then allowed me into the hall to select a license plate number. I opted for a random number, and it went smoothly. The whole process took half a day and cost less than 500 yuan, saving me several hundred. If you plan to register the car yourself, I recommend checking the local DMV's business hours and required documents list in advance. It's best to go on a weekday when it's less crowded or bring a friend to help with errands to avoid wasting time due to missing documents. Doing it yourself can be a learning experience, but don't underestimate the hassle—if documents are incomplete, you might have to make multiple trips. Overall, even beginners can handle it, but patience and ample time are key.
