Do I still need to go to the DMV after selecting a license plate number on 12123?
3 Answers
After successfully selecting a license plate number, you must complete the new vehicle license plate registration at the DMV within three days. If you fail to do so within three days, the selected license plate number will become invalid, and the user will be blacklisted, preventing them from selecting a license plate online again. The blacklist status will be automatically lifted after two years. After confirming the license plate number on the 12123 mobile app, you have three days to complete the license plate registration process. Otherwise, the selected number will be returned to the pool, and the vehicle owner will be prohibited from using the internet to select a license plate number for one year. The specific timeframe depends on the city, but it is generally within three days. However, more than half of the cities have customized time settings. There are three ways to select a license plate number: Many 4S shops offer this service when purchasing a car. You can choose from 50 randomly generated numbers at the 4S shop. You can select a number on the 12123 platform, which offers both random and self-composed options. You can go to the DMV and choose from 50 randomly generated numbers. If you want to compose your own number, you need to check the number segments released more than seven days ago. For example, if today is July 10, you should check the segments released before July 3. This is because the segments released between July 3 and July 10 are first placed in the random pool. Numbers not selected from the random pool during these seven days will be moved to the self-composed pool after seven days.
A few days ago, I just bought a car and used the 12123 APP for the first time to select a license plate number. The whole process was quite smooth—just a few taps on the screen and the selection was done. However, after choosing the number, I learned that I still needed to visit the DMV because the APP only allows for pre-selection. The DMV needs to physically inspect the vehicle information, confirm if the engine number and VIN match, take photos for documentation, and install the actual license plate. To save time, I scheduled an appointment on the APP in advance and brought my original ID, car purchase invoice, compulsory insurance policy, and vehicle certification. This way, I could directly queue up for the procedures upon arrival, and everything was completed in less than half a day. I think the APP was a great help—it allowed me to lock in my preferred number in advance and check the progress. But that final trip to the DMV was unavoidable; otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten the license plate. I recommend that new car owners schedule a DMV appointment immediately after selecting their number to avoid delays and potential number expiration.
As an ordinary car enthusiast, I have been helping friends and family with license plate registration for years and have used the 12123 APP for number selection multiple times. After selecting a number online, you must still visit the vehicle management office. The APP only handles online reservation, while tasks like plate production and issuance, vehicle appearance inspection, and engine verification are all completed offline by the staff at the office. I believe this step is crucial to prevent fraud or information errors. I usually recommend going to the vehicle management office before the morning rush hour when it's less crowded. Bring the APP selection confirmation code and relevant documents, and if online payment is supported, pay in advance to save a lot of hassle. The APP selection does simplify the process and makes it fairer and more transparent, but the core step still requires an in-person visit.
