Can I Participate in the License Plate Lottery Without Owning a Car?
2 Answers
You can participate in the license plate lottery without owning a car, but if you win the lottery, you must purchase a car and register the license plate within 12 months. Failure to do so will result in the automatic forfeiture of the license plate quota. Below are the conditions for participating in the lottery and the relevant policy regulations: Conditions for participating in the lottery: Reside in the city. Possess a valid ID and a valid motor vehicle driver's license. Do not own a locally registered small or medium-sized passenger vehicle, or any such vehicle registered under your name must be listed as "cancelled" or "stolen" in the comprehensive public security traffic management application platform. Do not hold a valid small or medium-sized passenger vehicle quota in the city. Do not qualify for applying for a renewal quota. Have not failed to use an incremental quota obtained through the lottery within the past two years. Lottery policy regulations: During the public consultation process, the transportation department proposed measures such as "prohibiting reapplication for the lottery for one year" or "prohibiting reapplication for the lottery for two years." Some transportation experts even suggested penalizing those who win the lottery but do not purchase a car. However, if the winner voluntarily returns the quota, no penalty would be imposed, and the returned quota would be added to the next month's lottery, increasing the chances for other participants. Some experts also recommended participating in the lottery as a household unit.
As an ordinary citizen, I think it's perfectly fine to apply for the license plate lottery without owning a car first. The urban lottery system is designed to control vehicle growth. You don't need to have a car when applying, just consider purchasing one after winning the draw. I did this before in Hangzhou—applying for the lottery only required meeting local conditions, such as having a household registration or paying enough social security, then filling out an online form and waiting for the draw. Applying early can save time, especially since the winning rate is low, and many people wait years without success. But once you win, the quota is valid for several months, so don’t miss the chance to buy a car. It’s important to stay updated on local traffic policy changes, like adjustments to lottery frequency in some cities. Acting early is always wise—my friend applied in advance and now enjoys much more convenience with their car. Remember to regularly check your lottery status and don’t neglect it.
