Can license plates be transferred to a used car?
2 Answers
License plates can be transferred to a used car. After the original owner has used the license plates for more than 3 years, they can apply to retain the license plate number for six months when selling or transferring the vehicle. During this period, if the original owner purchases a used car, they can apply to use the previous license plate number. The following are the conditions that must be met to apply for the use of the original motor vehicle license plate number: 1. The application must be submitted within six months after the transfer or cancellation of registration; 2. The original motor vehicle must have been owned by the applicant for more than three years; 3. All traffic violations and accident-related issues involving the original motor vehicle must be resolved.
Last time I helped a friend with a used car transfer, I ran into this issue. License plates, theoretically speaking, can't just be taken off and slapped onto another car. The regulations are pretty strict now—license plates follow the vehicle's records. However, if the original owner has used the plate for at least a year, they can apply to retain it when selling the car, but it can't be directly transferred to the buyer. The new owner has to go to the DMV to pick a new number and register. Like my colleague who bought a used car last year—the seller had used a Shanghai plate for three years, but in the end, my colleague still had to get a new energy-specific green plate. Remember, license plates are tied to both the person and the car. Don't fall for scalpers claiming they can transfer the plate with the car—it's basically impossible.
