Can the License Plate Be Retained After Selling the Car?
4 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.
As a seasoned driver who has changed three cars, I particularly understand the sentiment of keeping the old license plate. Policy-wise, there's no issue as long as the original car has been under your name for over a year and the plate has been used for at least one year. You can apply to reuse the old plate when registering the new car. Three key reminders: First, you must complete the process within two years after the transfer, or it will be void. Second, make sure to personally bring your original ID card and the vehicle transfer certificate to the DMV for processing. Third, don't overlook the transfer of the vehicle's electronic records. With nationwide networking now, it's no problem to handle it in a different location. Last time, my neighbor sold the car to another city and still managed to keep the Shenzhen plate.
I just completed the license plate retention procedure last month. After selling the car, the license plate can indeed be kept for use on a new vehicle, but there is a time limit—you must apply within two years after the vehicle transfer. I transferred my old car to a relative and went to the DMV on the third day after the transfer. The staff had me fill out an "Application for Retention of Original License Plate" and verified the owner's ID and vehicle registration certificate. The whole process took twenty minutes, but the plate can only be officially activated when registering the new car. Remember to clear all traffic violations before the transfer—I had an unpaid parking ticket and was called back to handle the fine after reaching the counter.
