Can the License Plate Be Retained After Selling the Car?
2 Answers
It can be retained under certain conditions. The following are the relevant details about the license plate: 1. The required condition is that the motor vehicle must have been registered for more than one year. When the motor vehicle is sold, the original owner can retain the license plate. 2. Within one year, the retained license plate can be used whether purchasing a new car or a used car. The following are the conditions for applying to use the original motor vehicle license plate number: 1. The application must be submitted within six months after the transfer registration or cancellation registration. 2. The motor vehicle owner must have owned the original motor vehicle for more than three years. 3. All traffic violations and accident-related matters involving the original motor vehicle must be resolved. 4. Documents required for applying to retain the old license plate: ID card and a copy; "Motor Vehicle Transfer or Registration Application Form"; proof of compulsory traffic insurance; annual inspection certificate; whole vehicle factory certificate; proof of origin of the motor vehicle; for imported vehicles, an import certificate is required; proof of purchase tax payment; various documents submitted during vehicle registration.
Back when I sold my car, I also had my eye on that license plate since it had been with me for over five years. The current policy does allow retaining the original plate, but there are prerequisites: first, the car must have been registered under your name for a full year, and you must purchase a new vehicle within two years after selling the old one to apply for reusing the old plate. Remember to settle all traffic violation fines beforehand, or the DMV won’t process the paperwork. My cousin learned this the hard way last year—he had an unpaid speeding ticket and wasted two trips to the DMV. If you’re not planning to switch to a new car right away, you can apply to extend the retention of the license plate by filling out an application form. Nowadays, there are more ways to select a plate number, even through mobile apps, which is quite convenient.
