Do I Need to Change License Plates When Transferring Vehicle Ownership?

[VonSebastian]

Yes, license plates need to be changed. Article 12 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" stipulates that when the vehicle management office handles the modification registration of a motor vehicle, if the license plate number needs to be changed, the original license plates and vehicle license will be reclaimed, a new motor vehicle license plate number will be assigned, and new license plates, vehicle license, and inspection qualification marks will be reissued. Article 13: If the domicile of the motor vehicle owner moves out of the jurisdiction of the vehicle management office, the office shall, within three days from the date of acceptance, annotate the changes on the motor vehicle registration certificate, reclaim the license plates and vehicle license, issue a temporary license plate valid for 30 days, and hand over the motor vehicle files to the owner. The motor vehicle owner must apply for the transfer of the motor vehicle to the local vehicle management office at the new domicile within the validity period of the temporary license plate. Documents required from the original owner for a used car transfer 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. First, the vehicle must be evaluated for transfer. The evaluation fee is generally 1%-2% of the assessed vehicle value, and other costs include fees for license plates and the vehicle license. The original owner'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 records, and compulsory insurance. Missing documents like the registration certificate or vehicle license, or unpaid compulsory insurance and road maintenance fees, can cause endless trouble for the buyer. Therefore, if the seller cannot provide complete documentation, the buyer should be especially cautious. Tampering with the odometer. Most buyers judge a vehicle's condition by the odometer, and sellers often take advantage of this by tampering with it. The odometer is not just a record of usage intensity but also an indicator of when other vehicle components were repaired or replaced. If maintenance is based on a tampered odometer reading, it can lead to a series of potential safety hazards. New paint covering damage. When buying a used car, if the vehicle has been repainted and there are signs of repairs around the front, rear, or A, B, and C pillars, it is highly likely that the car was involved in a major accident. Overhauling the engine to inflate the price. Many buyers focus too much on the engine and neglect the overall condition of the vehicle. Sellers exploit this by replacing engine components to make the vehicle appear younger and justify a higher price.