Does the vehicle need to be driven to the DMV for license plate registration at a 4S shop?
3 Answers
When registering a license plate at a 4S shop, the vehicle needs to be driven to the DMV for processing. This is because the engine number and chassis number of the vehicle need to be verified during registration, and the vehicle registration certificate must be issued. Some non-exempt vehicles may even require on-site testing for power, lighting, exhaust, and braking. Registration does not mean you can immediately receive and install the license plate. If you choose to register during peak seasons, you may need to wait a few days, generally no more than 15 working days. If you need to use the car during this period, you can apply for a temporary license plate first. There are two common types of temporary license plates: one has a light blue background with black characters and black borders, which is only valid for driving within the city (local temporary license plate); the other has a brown-yellow background with black characters and black borders, which allows for intercity travel (non-local temporary license plate). Documents required for new car registration: Original and photocopy of ID card. If registering on behalf of someone else, both your ID and the owner's ID must be provided. Original and photocopy of the invoice. Original and photocopy of the vehicle qualification certificate. Original and photocopy of the compulsory insurance policy. Tax payment certificate. Procedures for license plate replacement: In addition to the vehicle registration certificate and your ID card, the motor vehicle registration certificate must be brought if it has already been processed. For company vehicles, the organization code certificate is also required. Fill out a license plate replacement application form at the DMV branch. For company vehicles, the form must be stamped with the company seal and submitted to the DMV. The DMV will issue a police receipt and a temporary license plate. The temporary license plate should be placed in a visible position on the front windshield for inspection by traffic police. Using a temporary license plate does not affect the annual inspection. If only one license plate is lost, the old plate must be surrendered when applying for a replacement. After 30 working days, you can collect the new license plate from the DMV. The new license plate will have the same number as the original, and the vehicle registration certificate can still be used. Things to note when selecting a license plate number at a 4S shop: Assistance: Generally, purchasing a new car is straightforward, as the 4S shop staff will assist with the process. You only need to pay the corresponding fees. Documents: Be sure to keep all purchase documents for the new car. This is an essential step. After purchasing the car, make sure to retain all receipts, signed documents, and tax payment certificates. Purchase tax: Vehicle purchase tax must be paid. This is a mandatory fee for every car owner, so the first thing to do after buying a car is to pay the purchase tax. Keep the payment receipt. Insurance: Vehicle insurance must also be purchased. Insurance is mandatory because motor vehicles are inherently risky, and without insurance, you cannot select a license plate number. Safety technical inspection: Drive the car to the inspection area for inspection by an inspector. Submission of materials: ID card, for company vehicles, provide the business license with a unified social credit code, identity proof of the authorized person, and a power of attorney with the company seal. For non-local residents, a residence permit is required. Purchase invoice and other proof of vehicle origin. Vehicle purchase tax payment certificate or tax exemption certificate. Vehicle qualification certificate or import certificate for imported vehicles. Selecting a license plate number: You can choose a license plate number via a mobile app or on-site. Methods for selecting a new car license plate number: "Self-selection": Submit the self-selection system's printed number confirmation receipt and payment invoice to the DMV service hall to process the license and certificate, and receive the vehicle registration certificate, registration certificate, inspection qualification mark, and temporary license plate. "Online selection": Submit the online self-selection number confirmation receipt and payment invoice to the DMV service hall to process the license and certificate, and receive the vehicle registration certificate, registration certificate, inspection qualification mark, and temporary license plate. "Random selection (10 choose 1)": Submit the printed selection form and payment invoice to the DMV service hall to process the license and certificate, and receive the vehicle registration certificate, registration certificate, and inspection qualification mark. Then, collect and install the license plate at the designated location. License plate selection rules on the Traffic Police 12123 app: The pre-selection period is from 8 AM to 10 PM daily. There are 20 chances to self-select a number, and only numbers released for more than 7 days can be self-selected. Random selection allows 5 attempts, with 10 numbers per attempt and a 90-second selection time per batch. You can first check online if your desired number has already been registered to avoid wasting a self-selection opportunity. Write down the released number segments and note that numbers released within the last 7 days can only be selected randomly, not self-selected. You can start with random selection, which is faster and may yield a good number. Each batch has a 90-second display time. If random selection does not yield a satisfactory number, you can then try self-selection. Self-selected numbers are based on the driver's sequence, and if the first self-selected number is available, you can take it immediately. Pay attention to the order of self-selected numbers.
As a recent car buyer, I'd like to share my experience. When I purchased a new car at a 4S dealership, they proactively offered to handle the license plate registration service, completely eliminating the need for me to personally drive the vehicle to the DMV. The salesperson explained that they would collect my ID card, invoice, vehicle certificate and other documents, then arrange for dedicated staff to process the vehicle inspection and registration procedures. The entire process took about a few days, and I only needed to wait at the dealership to pick up my car. Occasionally if the DMV required an on-site inspection, the dealership staff would drive the car there in advance to handle it without any involvement from me. This one-stop service was truly worry-free and labor-saving, avoiding the hassle of driving and waiting in queues. Looking back, choosing this service when buying a car was excellent value, plus it freed up time for other activities - especially suitable for busy beginners like me. However, I recommend clarifying the specific procedures with the dealership in advance and ensuring all documents are complete to prevent unexpected delays. In summary, entrusting license plate registration to a 4S dealership basically won't require you to personally drive to the DMV, so you can peacefully enjoy the convenience of your new car.
As someone who has worked at a 4S dealership for years, I know the vehicle registration process usually doesn't require owners to drive to the DMV. We typically provide agency services, with our staff handling document submission and inspection arrangements. Owners just need to provide necessary documents, and we'll handle the entire process, saving them from back-and-forth trips. For special cases like first-time new vehicle inspections or policy adjustments, we coordinate to drive the car there directly. This not only saves time but reduces traffic risks. I've seen many owners worry about complicated DMV procedures, but entrusting it to the 4S store makes it effortless. In practice, we first check the vehicle's condition to ensure compliance, then complete registration quickly through internal channels. If owners handle it themselves, they would indeed need to drive there, but choosing our service eliminates this step. The entire process is efficient and safe, making car purchases more convenient for everyone.
