Can License Plates Be Sold?
2 Answers
License plates cannot be sold. Buying or selling license plates is an illegal activity. License plates can only be scrapped or applied for retention. The first character of a license plate is a Chinese character, representing the provincial-level administrative region where the vehicle is registered, which is the abbreviation of provinces, municipalities directly under the central government, or autonomous regions. The second character is an English letter, representing the prefecture-level administrative region where the vehicle is registered, usually the letter code for prefecture-level cities, regions, autonomous prefectures, or leagues. Types of vehicle license plates include: 1. White represents military or police plates; 2. Blue represents ordinary small vehicles with fewer than 7 seats; 3. Yellow represents ordinary large vehicles; 4. Black represents foreign enterprise plates.
A while ago, my relative wanted to buy a car and specifically asked about this. License plates really can't be bought or sold, just like ID cards can't be transferred. Policy regulations state that license plates follow the vehicle and cannot be traded separately. When you look at used car transfers, the old license plate is automatically canceled or returned to the vehicle management office, and the new owner has to go through the lottery or auction process again. Some cities have license plate leasing, which may seem legal but carries huge risks—insurance won't cover accidents in such cases. My neighbor leased a Shanghai license plate last year, but the owner suddenly deregistered the vehicle, turning his car into an unlicensed one overnight. Honestly, the most reliable way is to apply for a license plate through official channels—it might be more expensive, but it’s hassle-free!
