Can my original license plate be transferred to a used car?

[DeCali]

Your original license plate can be transferred to a used car. Here is more information about license plates: Introduction: A license plate refers to the vehicle registration plate, which is a plate made of aluminum, iron, plastic, or paper, displayed on the front and rear of a car. It is engraved with the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other relevant information. Arrangement rules: The current 92-style motor vehicle license plates consist of a Chinese character and English letter combination representing the issuing authority code, followed by a five-digit number. For example, "Su A-12345"—"Su" represents Jiangsu Province, "A" is the issuing code of the Nanjing Public Security Bureau Vehicle Management Office, indicating that the plate was issued by the Nanjing Public Security Bureau Vehicle Management Office. The following five digits are the serial number.

[Layla]

Last year, I successfully transferred my old license plate to my newly purchased second-hand Passat, and the whole process went smoothly. As long as the original license plate has been used for more than one year and is in good standing, you can apply to retain it for two years. Remember to apply for the retention of the original plate in advance on the Traffic Management 12123 app. After purchasing the used car, bring the owner's ID card, registration certificate, and invoice to the DMV to complete the transfer. The newly purchased used car must comply with local emission standards, such as China V or above in our area. The latest you can complete the license plate transfer is within one year after the vehicle transfer. In my case, I received the new vehicle registration certificate in just three days. By the way, retaining the original plate requires a fee of about 100 yuan, and the old license plate will be taken back by the DMV on the spot.

[StXavier]

As a working professional who frequently changes cars, I'm very familiar with this process. There are three key points for retaining your original license plate: the original plate must have been registered under your name for at least 12 months, the new vehicle must also be registered under your name, and the vehicle types must be identical. For example, you can't transfer a sedan plate to a used truck. Last month, I transferred my five-year-old plate to a used Civic. The DMV will verify the original plate records - if there are any traffic violations or liens, the plate cannot be retained. Make sure all used car documents are complete, and remember to have the seller cooperate with the vehicle inspection during the transfer. The entire process took just two hours, much simpler than expected.

[DeTaylor]

Our family has been running an auto repair shop for over a decade, and this is the most common question from car owners. The policy allows keeping the original license plate, but there are several pitfalls to watch out for. Used cars with mismatched VIN numbers cannot retain the plate, and transfers between relatives (not considered sales transactions) are also ineligible. My neighbor learned this the hard way—after scrapping his old car, he bought a used Highlander but got stuck because it only met China IV emission standards. My advice is to always check the emission standards of a used car before attempting to retain the plate, and ensure the vehicle has passed its annual inspection. The process is simple: apply for plate retention via mobile phone, complete the used car transaction, then visit the license plate selection window at the DMV with the new vehicle registration to finalize. The two-year retention period is generally sufficient.

[Ursula]

Having worked at the DMV window for six years, I've handled countless such cases. You must apply to retain the original license plate before the vehicle is transferred or scrapped, otherwise you'll have to select a new one. When transferring a used car, remember to check the 'Use original vehicle license plate' option on the service form. Required materials include the current owner's original ID, used car transaction invoice, registration certificate, and compulsory insurance policy. One customer almost couldn't complete the process because they forgot to bring the original purchase invoice - actually, the transaction invoice is sufficient for used car registration. Reminder: ensure there are no outstanding traffic violations during the plate retention period.

[AllieLee]

Ha! I've got a funny story about this: three years ago, I kept my license plate to put on a second-hand Odyssey, but ended up dropping it on my foot while removing it. Seriously, here are a few key points: first, the original license plate hasn't been reclaimed by the DMV; second, the vehicle is for non-commercial use; third (flicking ash), the used car must pass the annual inspection. My buddy tried to transfer his BMW plate to a second-hand Wuling and got rejected because sedan and van models are different. Best to call 122 first to check local policies—some provinces and cities have restrictions on the age of used cars. Nowadays, you can check your plate retention eligibility on your phone, way more convenient than back in our day.