Can the license plate be transferred when transferring a car?
2 Answers
When transferring a car, the license plate cannot be transferred. The original license plate can only be transferred to the owner's new vehicle information. Even if the license plate number is transferred to another vehicle, it will still belong to the original owner for six months. After six months, the license plate will enter the license plate resource pool. A license plate, commonly known as a car plate, is a panel hung on the front and rear of a vehicle. It is typically made of aluminum, iron, plastic, or paper, and bears the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other relevant information. License plates serve as a numbering and information registration system for vehicles. Their primary function is to identify the region to which the vehicle belongs and to allow tracking of the vehicle's owner and registration details based on the license plate.
I just helped a friend with the car transfer procedures, and there are indeed some nuances regarding license plates. According to traffic regulations, the license plate belongs to the registrant, not the vehicle. Therefore, during a regular sale and transfer, the original license plate will be reclaimed by the DMV. However, both the buyer and seller can find some loopholes: if the original owner has used the license plate for at least one year, they can apply to reuse the old plate when buying a new car within two years after the transfer. As for the new owner, they can only participate in a lottery for a new plate at the DMV. A word of caution: don’t believe the nonsense from the black market about transferring a car with its plate. The DMV system is fully networked, and any attempt to secretly retain the old plate will only result in the car failing inspection. Before transferring, it’s best to check the local DMV website, as there might be slight variations between different cities.
