
The retention of the original license plate during vehicle ownership transfer depends on the following situations: The original license plate can be retained if the parties involved in the vehicle ownership transfer are spouses. If the vehicle is sold and transferred normally, the license plate cannot be used on the original vehicle. A new license plate must be selected during the transfer process. To retain the original license plate, certain conditions must be met, such as clearing all traffic violations associated with the original vehicle and having used the original license plate for at least one year. The original owner of the used car must provide documents including the vehicle registration certificate, driving license, and ID card. The buyer must provide an ID card, and if they are not local residents, a residence permit or temporary residence certificate is required. Vehicle ownership transfer first requires a vehicle evaluation. The evaluation fee is generally 1%-2% of the assessed vehicle value, and other fees include those for the license plate and driving license. The original commercial insurance for the vehicle 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), driving license, vehicle purchase tax payment certificate, road maintenance fee records, and compulsory insurance. Missing documents or unpaid fees can cause endless trouble for the buyer. Therefore, buyers should be cautious if the seller cannot provide complete documentation. Tampering with the odometer. Many buyers judge a car's condition based on the odometer reading, and sellers often take advantage of this by tampering with the odometer. The odometer is not just an indicator of usage but also a record for maintenance and part replacements. If maintenance is based on a tampered odometer reading, it can lead to potential safety hazards. New paint hiding damage. When buying a used car, if the car has been repainted and there are signs of repairs on the front, rear, or around the A, B, and C pillars, the car may have been involved in a major accident. Overhauling the engine to inflate the price. Many buyers focus too much on the engine and overlook the overall condition of the car. Sellers take advantage of this by replacing engine parts to make the engine appear newer and inflate the price.

When I helped a friend with a vehicle transfer before, I learned that the original license plate number usually can't be directly retained on the sold car because the plate is tied to that specific vehicle. After the transfer, the DMV will reclaim it, and the new owner must register for a new plate. However, if you're the original owner and particularly attached to that plate, you can apply to retain it yourself—provided the plate has been used for over a year, has no outstanding violations or unpaid fines, and you must purchase a new vehicle within six months to reuse it. The process sounds a bit cumbersome but is quite practical, preventing the loss of a favorite plate while reminding you to promptly check your vehicle's condition and regulations, avoiding delays in the application.

I just bought and sold a car, and while going through the transfer process, I wondered if the license plate could be kept. Turns out, it's not possible—the buyer has to get a new plate. However, the original owner can apply to reserve that plate number if they're attached to it, as long as it's been used for a while without any issues. Once reserved, they have six months to buy a new car and register the plate to it, or else the reservation expires. I think this is a great system—it protects personal preferences without causing chaos. Just remember to go to the DMV early to handle the paperwork and don’t delay.

Generally, the original license plate number cannot be retained during vehicle transfer, as the license plate is tied to the vehicle's ownership and will be replaced by the DMV. However, the original owner may apply to retain the plate number for a new vehicle, provided certain conditions are met, such as having used the plate for over a year and maintaining a clean violation record. The retained number must then be registered on a new vehicle within a specified timeframe. This process allows individuals to keep their preferred plate numbers while complying with traffic regulations and ensuring proper legal procedures are followed.

Hey, talking about transferring and retaining license plates, it usually doesn't work that way. When you sell the car, the license plate has to be replaced with a new one. But as the original owner, if you really like that plate number, you can apply to retain it under certain conditions, including having used the plate for at least one year and having no outstanding penalty points or unpaid fines. If approved, you must purchase a new car within six months to continue using it. Don't forget this time limit, or all your efforts will be in vain.


