Can license plates be swapped if they haven't been used for a full year?
2 Answers
License plates cannot be swapped if they haven't been used for a full year. Here is some knowledge about license plate replacement: 1. License plate replacement methods: If the car was purchased in another city, you can choose to transfer the vehicle to your hometown city, but you must first check whether your vehicle meets the emission standards of the destination city. If the destination city has license plate restrictions, you will also need to obtain license plate qualification, either through a lottery or auction. If the car was purchased in your hometown, you can transfer it to your temporary residence, but this requires a local residence permit or temporary residence certificate. 2. License plate replacement through transfer: Transferring the car to someone else, such as a spouse or child, counts as a transaction and will affect the car's resale value. After a successful transfer, you can choose a new license plate, but whether through random selection or self-selection, you only get one chance, so choose carefully.
I’ve always been an ordinary car enthusiast who loves sharing personal experiences. License plates that haven’t been registered for a full year basically can’t be swapped—it’s a hard rule under traffic laws. The reason is simple: to prevent people from frequently changing plates to evade penalties for violations or engage in shady deals. The DMV system has a lock-in period, and you can’t proceed if it hasn’t been 12 months. Last year, I personally saw a friend try to swap plates with another after just six months of use, only to get rejected by the DMV and fined—it turned into a huge hassle. My advice? Don’t even try; just wait the full year before handling it. If you’re in a real hurry, check that your plate is properly mounted and not loose or rusted. Also, plate swaps are usually considered between different vehicles under the same owner—don’t cut corners by finding a substitute, or the consequences could be worse. Keep an eye on the DMV’s official app or website, as policies might have minor adjustments. Overall, following the rules is worry-free and safe.
