Can license plates be transferred across provinces?
2 Answers
License plates can be transferred across provinces. The relevant regulations are introduced as follows: 1. Outbound transfer: According to Article 13 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", when the domicile of the motor vehicle owner moves out of the jurisdiction of the vehicle management office, the vehicle management office shall, within three days from the date of acceptance, record the changes on the motor vehicle registration certificate, retrieve the license plate and vehicle license, issue a temporary vehicle license plate valid for 30 days, and hand over the motor vehicle files to the motor vehicle owner. The motor vehicle owner shall apply for the inbound transfer of the motor vehicle to the vehicle management office at the new domicile within the validity period of the temporary vehicle license plate. 2. Inbound transfer: For the application of motor vehicle inbound transfer, the motor vehicle owner shall fill out an application form, submit identity documents, motor vehicle registration certificate, motor vehicle files, and present the motor vehicle for inspection. The vehicle management office shall, within three days from the date of acceptance, confirm the motor vehicle, verify the vehicle identification number imprint, review relevant certificates, documents and motor vehicle files, record the inbound transfer information on the motor vehicle registration certificate, and issue license plates, vehicle license and inspection qualification marks.
When I moved to another province before, I had to get new license plates for my car. To be honest, you can't directly transfer your license plates across provinces. If you want to change plates, you need to go through the vehicle relocation process: first, deregister the old plates at the local DMV in the original province and obtain the relocation certificate, ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and other required documents. Then, drive to the DMV in the new province to apply for the transfer, undergo an emissions inspection to ensure compliance, and pay the relocation fee and new plate fee before you can get the new province's license plates. The whole process takes about one to two weeks, with costs ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand yuan, depending on regional policies. The key is not to cut corners by using shady agents, as this can lead to scams and extra expenses. I recommend consulting both DMVs in advance about the procedures and choosing off-peak hours to reduce waiting times. If your car is older, some provinces have environmental restrictions that may prevent the transfer, so you might need to consider buying a new car—this is something to keep in mind. In short, changing plates across provinces is more like re-registering, and safety should come first.
