Can National IV vehicles still be transferred and licensed?
3 Answers
National IV emission standard vehicles cannot be licensed, but those already licensed can still be used. At the same time, used cars with National IV emission standards can be transferred within the same city. Transfers to other regions are mostly acceptable, but in many places such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and some cities in Hebei and Jiangsu provinces, National V emission standards are required for transfer. Since April 1, 2018, the transfer of National IV emission vehicles has been restricted. All coastal provinces do not allow the transfer and licensing of National IV emission standard vehicles: The National Fourth Stage Motor Vehicle Pollutant Emission Standard, referred to as the 'National IV Emission Standard' or 'National IV Standard,' mainly regulates pollutants such as HC (hydrocarbons), NOx (nitrogen oxides), CO (carbon monoxide), and PM (particulate matter) emitted by vehicles. Through the application of technologies such as improved catalytic converter active layers, secondary air injection, and exhaust gas recirculation systems with cooling devices, vehicle pollutant emissions are controlled and reduced to levels below the specified standards. The National 3 and National 4 standards are based on the European 3 and European 4 vehicle emission standards. Compared to National 2, National 3 further reduces pollutant emission limits. The tailpipe pollutant emission limits of China's National 3 standard are 30% lower than those of the National 2 standard, while the National 4 standard will reduce them by an additional 60%. To ensure that vehicles stably meet emission limit requirements during use and maintain the durability of emission control performance, requirements for On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) and in-use compliance have been added.
I've been following car policies in recent years, and whether a China IV vehicle can be transferred and registered mainly depends on local regulations. In my area, it's been prohibited for a while, but in my hometown county, transfers were still allowed last year. The key is to check the latest local rules, as they vary by province and even city. Currently, most provinces restrict cross-province transfers of China IV vehicles, though there might still be some flexibility within the province. I recommend calling the vehicle management office directly or asking local friends about actual cases. Policies change every year—what was possible last year might be blocked this year, so don't rely solely on online information. If you're really set on buying a used China IV vehicle, make absolutely sure before paying, or you could lose big if registration fails.
Last year, while helping my neighbor with the transfer of a China IV emission standard vehicle, I noticed significant differences. His car was rejected when transferring from Hebei to Shanxi, yet transfers within the same province but different cities went through smoothly. Major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou generally enforce stricter policies, while smaller third- and fourth-tier cities tend to be more lenient. Currently, over 90% of provinces nationwide have restrictions on cross-province vehicle transfers, with intra-province policies varying. My advice is to directly inquire at the local DMV office, bringing the vehicle registration certificate for staff to check in their system—that’s the most reliable approach. If local transfer proves impossible, consider registering the car in a non-restricted area, but be mindful of potential hassles with future annual inspections.
