Does changing the license plate without changing the owner affect insurance?
2 Answers
Changing the license plate without changing the owner has no impact on insurance. If the vehicle's license plate is changed but the owner remains the same, you only need to provide the new vehicle registration certificate to the original insurance company as soon as possible after obtaining it, and then receive the insurance endorsement. If you only change the owner without changing the license plate, the following conditions must be met: the owner must apply to the vehicle management office within one year after completing the transfer registration or cancellation registration; the new owner must have had the right to use the old vehicle for more than one year; the original owner must have no outstanding traffic violations or unresolved traffic accidents; the original license plate can be used by the original owner on a new vehicle or on a used vehicle, but it is prohibited for others to use it. Vehicle transfer refers to changing the name of the vehicle's owner. When purchasing a used car, in addition to checking the vehicle's condition, you also need to complete the transfer procedures. According to regulations, if you want to retain the license plate, you must first complete the transfer registration or cancellation registration, transferring the old vehicle to someone else; you can also apply for scrapping and, within six months, bring the relevant documents for the new vehicle to the vehicle management office to apply for retaining the original license plate number and surrender the old plate.
As a car owner who has changed license plates, I've personally experienced this. Changing license plates itself doesn't affect insurance costs or coverage, because insurers mainly look at the vehicle identification number and owner's information - the plate is just a registration identifier. When I moved and got new plates, I called my insurer and they confirmed my policy remained unchanged, but reminded me to promptly update the new plate information. I just emailed them a photo of the new plates, and their system processed it quickly. This step is crucial, otherwise discrepancies in documentation might delay claims processing. Don't worry about premium increases - the car remains the same, it's just for peace of mind. I recommend contacting your insurer immediately after the change to update records, which can be done via mobile app or online platform.
