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Can the original license plate be retained when transferring vehicle ownership?

4 Answers
PeytonMarie
07/29/25 11:42am

The original owner can retain the original license plate when transferring ownership. After the vehicle ownership is transferred, the original license plate can be applied for retention within two years. The right to use the license plate will be retained for two years after the transfer, meaning that if the original license plate is not used within two years, the license plate number will be automatically canceled. After the vehicle is transferred, if you still want to keep the original license plate, you should quickly go to the relevant department to apply the license plate number to your newly purchased vehicle. This way, you can continue to use the original license plate; otherwise, it will be automatically invalidated. To apply for the use of the original motor vehicle license plate number, the following conditions must be met: The application must be submitted within six months after the transfer or cancellation registration; The motor vehicle owner must have owned the original vehicle for more than three years; All traffic safety violations and accidents involving the original vehicle must be resolved. The documents required for the original owner to transfer a used vehicle include: the registration certificate, vehicle license, and ID card. The buyer needs to provide an ID card, and if they are from another region, a residence permit or temporary residence certificate is required. Vehicle transfer first requires a vehicle evaluation. The evaluation fee is generally 1%-2% of the assessed vehicle value, and other fees include license plate and vehicle license costs. The original vehicle's commercial insurance can be canceled (compulsory insurance cannot be canceled), or the insurance can be transferred to the buyer at the insurance company. Precautions when purchasing a used car: Incomplete documentation. Complete documentation for a used car includes: the vehicle registration certificate (or original purchase invoice), vehicle license, vehicle purchase tax payment certificate, road maintenance fee documentation, and compulsory insurance. If the vehicle registration certificate or vehicle license is missing, or if there are unpaid compulsory insurance or road maintenance fees, it can cause endless trouble for the buyer. Therefore, when purchasing a vehicle, if the seller cannot provide complete documentation, the buyer should be particularly cautious. Tampering with the odometer. Most consumers prefer to judge a vehicle's condition based on the odometer, and sellers often take advantage of this by tampering with the odometer. In reality, the odometer is not just an indicator of usage intensity but also a record of maintenance and replacement of other vehicle components. If buyers perform maintenance based on a tampered odometer reading, it can lead to a series of potential safety hazards. New paint covering external damage. When purchasing a used car, if the vehicle has been repainted and there are signs of repair around the front, rear, or A, B, and C pillars, the vehicle may have been involved in a major accident. Overhauling the engine to increase the price. Many consumers focus too much on the vehicle's engine and neglect the overall condition of the car body. Used car sellers take advantage of this by replacing engine components to make the engine appear younger, thereby inflating the price.

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Dominic
08/13/25 8:15pm

The original license plate can indeed be retained during vehicle transfer, but this right belongs solely to the original owner. I have personal experience with this—last year I sold a car I had driven for three years, and now my newly purchased vehicle still uses the old license plate. According to regulations, the license plate must have been continuously registered under your name for at least one year, and within two years after the vehicle is transferred or scrapped, you can apply to retain it when purchasing a new or used car. When I handled the procedure at the DMV, it was very simple—the staff verified the vehicle registration information, and I just filled out an application form. Many people don’t know that the license plate retention policy is even more lenient for transfers between spouses—even if the plate hasn’t been registered for a full year, they can still apply to retain the original number.

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HenryDella
10/08/25 6:02am

This issue frequently arises in used car transactions. Dozens of title transfers I've handled confirm that the original license plate can be retained. The original owner only needs to meet three conditions: the plate must have been used for at least one year, the application must be submitted within two years after the transfer, and it must be used for new vehicle registration. There are some operational details to note, such as bringing complete ID documents and the original vehicle records when applying. The DMV will freeze this plate number in the system for one year to prevent it from being selected by others. Although the new owner cannot inherit the original plate, they can participate in the self-selection numbering process to obtain a new plate. From my experience, plates with commemorative significance have particularly high retention rates, such as those featuring birthdays or special anniversary dates.

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StJocelyn
11/21/25 7:21am

Recently helped a friend with vehicle ownership transfer and license plate retention. Simply put, the original owner who has used the license plate for over one year can apply to retain the number during the transfer. My friend's car had been driven for two years, and the license plate was successfully retained after the transfer a couple of days ago. The process isn't complicated: within 30 days after completing the vehicle transfer procedures, submit an application at the DMV with your ID card and vehicle license. Once approved, the number will be retained for a validity period of two years. However, it's important to note that this policy only applies when the vehicle owner remains unchanged. If the car is sold to someone else, that nice license plate has nothing to do with the new owner anymore.

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