Can You Buy a Used Car in Shenzhen Along with Its License Plate?
4 Answers
In Shenzhen, you cannot buy a used car along with its license plate. Below is relevant information about the regulations for used car transfers: 1. Vehicles without compulsory traffic insurance cannot be transferred. 2. Vehicles that have been modified, altered, or had their load capacity or passenger capacity changed without approval cannot be transferred. 3. The new owner cannot act on behalf of the original owner to complete the transfer procedures. 4. Vehicles that have not undergone regular inspections or failed inspections cannot be transferred. 5. Smuggled, customs-supervised, or stolen vehicles cannot be transferred. 6. Vehicles converted from commercial to non-commercial use that have reached their scrap age or will reach it within one year. 7. For used cars being relocated in or out, those that do not meet local standards cannot be transferred.
I've been driving in Shenzhen all along. Last year, I originally planned to buy a used car to save money, only to find out that the license plate couldn't be transferred with the car purchase. You have to apply for a license plate quota first—either through a lottery or bidding. But the success rate is low, and the price is high; a single bid could cost you 60,000 to 70,000 RMB. I tried the lottery for several months without success and eventually had to spend more money to win a bid before I could register my used car. The whole process was super troublesome. My advice is to secure the quota first before considering buying a car; otherwise, your car will just sit in the garage collecting dust. Plus, the policies are strict—don't believe sellers who claim they can transfer the plate with the car. It's all a scam. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.
As someone with some knowledge of Shenzhen's traffic regulations, I can clearly tell you that you cannot directly purchase a used car with its license plate. Shenzhen implements a license plate quota system, where buyers must hold a valid quota to register a vehicle. To obtain a quota, you need to participate in an auction through the official bidding platform, with a minimum starting bid of around 30,000 to 40,000 RMB, which fluctuates significantly and requires a deposit in advance. After a successful bid, when transferring ownership of the used car, the seller's license plate will be revoked, and you will need to register a new plate using your newly acquired quota. The entire process involves vehicle registration and inspection at the DMV, so it's advisable to prepare your identity documents in advance to avoid delays.
Before buying a used car, make sure you have Shenzhen license plate eligibility. Local policies do not allow license plate transfers with the vehicle. Buyers must first secure a quota, such as trying their luck in the lottery or spending money in an auction. I know a friend who impulsively bought a car without a quota, and the car sat idle in the community for six months, unable to hit the road, ultimately forcing them to sell it at a low price. Newcomers should remember to check the official website for the application process first, so their enthusiasm doesn't go to waste. Additionally, transferring vehicle ownership is straightforward, but the license plate is a hard constraint.
