Can the license plate number be changed, and how many times can it be changed?
2 Answers
License plate numbers cannot be changed unless the vehicle is deregistered and then re-registered. Below are the relevant details: Detail 1: After registration, the license plate number cannot be changed because current license plates are for life and cannot be bought or sold. The only way is to transfer ownership of the vehicle. After the transfer, you can reapply for registration and then choose a new number. Detail 2: If you have only selected a number online but have not registered it, you can change the plate number. After selecting a number, the owner should submit the required documents to the vehicle management office within the specified time to apply for registration.
When I sold my old car and bought a new one, the license plate was changed accordingly, and the whole process went smoothly. In China, you can't change your license plate number at will; it must meet specific conditions, such as selling your car, buying a used car, scrapping the vehicle, or transferring it to family or friends. Only under these circumstances is a plate change necessary. Theoretically, there's no limit to the number of changes—if you repeatedly buy and sell cars, trading several times a year, your license plate could change multiple times. However, in real life, the average person might only change cars once or twice a decade, so the number of changes is limited. My last transfer took half a day: I went to the DMV to submit documents and apply for a new plate number, and it cost around 100 yuan to get it done. Some people mistakenly believe they can change plates freely to pick lucky numbers, but policy doesn’t allow it—license plate numbers are tied to the VIN and can only be changed during a transfer. Frequent changes aren’t beneficial either; each one involves paperwork and costs, so it’s better to just focus on driving.
