Can Old License Plates Be Transferred to a New Car?
3 Answers
Old license plates can be transferred to a new car, but certain regulations must be followed. Here are the key points to note when transferring old plates to a new vehicle: 1. Ineligibility for corporate entities: If the original owner is a company, the license plate is retained under the company's name after vehicle transfer, not under the corporate legal representative's name. The legal representative has no right to inherit the plate. 2. Ineligibility for natural persons: For vehicles transferred between spouses as marital property, the license plate must be used under the new owner's name for at least one year before it can be retained. Even if the original owner passes away, the license plate is not considered part of the inheritable estate. 3. Archiving period: After the old plate transfer, there is typically a 3-business-day archiving period before the plate can be used.
I just checked the regulations at the DMV, and it's true that old license plates can be transferred to a new car, but there are strict conditions. The plates must have been registered under your name for at least one year, and you must actively apply to retain them when the vehicle is deregistered or transferred. The process is simple: bring your ID card, the original vehicle registration certificate, and the new car invoice to the local DMV to fill out the forms. Generally, it takes 3-5 working days to process after application, with only a small administrative fee of around a few dozen yuan. The benefits include keeping a familiar number, avoiding the hassle of memorizing a new one, and saving money on new plates. However, if the owner changes or the one-year condition isn't met, the old plates are automatically reclaimed, and the new car must use brand-new plates. I recommend checking local policies in advance, as processing times may vary across different regions in China, so as not to delay picking up your new car. Retaining license plates is quite common, and as long as the conditions are met, the DMV system supports it.
Last time I bought a new car, I specifically kept the license plate I had used for three years. The process was smooth: after purchasing the new car and getting insurance, I went directly to the DMV to express my intention to retain the plate. They had me fill out an application form, submit the old car's cancellation certificate and the new car's purchase contract, and charged a small processing fee. The key requirement is that the license plate must have been continuously used for over 365 days, otherwise the system will reject the request. I waited in line for half an hour, and two days later, the plate was installed on the new car, saving me the trouble of memorizing a new number. This trick is great for people with commemorative plates, like special numbers, to preserve memories. Of course, if you're pressed for time, you need to allow for the processing period; if someone else has used this plate or the cancellation was recent, don't even think about it. Overall, it's quite convenient, and I recommend consulting a sales advisor first.
