Can I use the old license plate on a new car?

[VanMaya]

You can use the old license plate on a new car, but there are conditions, as follows: 1. The license plate must be under the same vehicle owner's name, meaning the owner of both vehicles must be the same person; 2. The vehicles must be registered in the same location; 3. The license plates must be of the same type, meaning yellow plates can only be replaced with yellow plates, blue plates with blue plates, and green plates with green plates; 4. The vehicle must be for non-commercial use, meaning only household vehicles can be swapped, while vehicles like taxis cannot; 5. For those who have already completed a swap, they must wait one year before applying for another swap or to retain the original license plate number.

[DiAngela]

I just bought a new car and wondered if I could simply use the license plate from my old car to save some hassle. Upon checking, I found out that license plates are tied to the vehicle and cannot be directly transferred. To reuse the old plate, certain conditions must be met, such as the old car being sold, scrapped, or transferred out for at least a year. Then, you need to apply to the DMV to retain the original plate. The process requires preparing documents like your ID, car purchase invoice, proof of old car deregistration, and the registration certificate. The cost is minimal, just a few dozen yuan, but it might take one or two weeks to process. In big cities where license plate lotteries are tough, keeping a memorable plate is worth it—better than trying your luck with a new draw. The key point is that you can’t swap plates on your own, as it violates traffic laws and could lead to fines if caught. Plan ahead to avoid hiccups during the paperwork process.

[AylaDella]

Using old plates on a new car? I've helped a friend with this before, and it's basically not allowed. According to regulations, license plates stay with the vehicle. However, you can apply to retain them: after disposing of the old car, you can apply for eligibility to use the original plate number for new car registration. The specific steps involve bringing all personal documents and vehicle materials to the DMV for processing, costing about 50 yuan, and it usually takes a few days to complete. Some places have more flexible policies, but cities with license plate restrictions like Beijing and Shanghai are very strict. When old plates are valuable, you need to act fast. Remember not to make any unauthorized moves to avoid fines or insurance issues.

[Lane]

When buying a new car, you cannot use the old license plate as it is bound to the original vehicle. When changing cars, you need to apply for a new license plate or go through the retention procedure. If the old license plate has a desirable number, you can save some effort by first deregistering the old vehicle and then applying to retain the original plate. The cost is low, but if you don't go through the retention process, you'll have to queue up for a new license plate lottery. Handle it early to avoid delays when you need to use the car.

[Leonardo]

Want to use old license plate on new car? Follow the retention process. After deregistering the old vehicle, apply to use the original plate for new car registration. Bring ID, purchase invoice, old vehicle deregistration certificate, etc. Online appointment with DMV can speed things up. Fees range 50-100 RMB, processing takes about a week. Valuable plates should be handled early to avoid new lottery hassles.