How long after a new car leaves the factory must it be registered?
5 Answers
It is recommended that new cars be registered within two months. Vehicle Management Office working hours: The normal working hours of the Vehicle Management Office are from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 17:00. Mondays are generally busier, so you may choose Thursday or Friday. Documents required for registration: New cars must have the vehicle purchase tax and compulsory insurance policy paid before they can be registered. If the car is purchased from another region, it must meet the local emission standards, and the vehicle purchase tax must be paid at the local tax department. When registering, you need to bring the vehicle certificate, purchase invoice, import certificate (for imported cars), original ID card, and a copy. If you are not a local resident, you also need to provide a local residence certificate.
I'm an experienced driver who's been on the road for many years, and I still remember when I bought my car, the salesperson repeatedly emphasized that I needed to get it licensed right after it left the factory. According to regulations, newly purchased private vehicles must complete the licensing procedures within 30 days of the invoice date, otherwise, once the temporary license expires, you may face penalties. Temporary licenses typically only last for 30 days, and once expired, the car cannot be driven on the road. If you're caught by traffic police, the penalties range from fines of 200 to 2000 yuan to even having your car impounded, which can be a huge hassle. I've seen many people think they can delay licensing their new car, only to end up dealing with a lot of trouble at the DMV when they exceed the deadline. Moreover, without a formal license, insurance can become problematic, making accident claims particularly tricky. My advice is to get it done as soon as the car arrives, avoiding the end-of-month rush to save yourself time and hassle.
Having worked in a 4S dealership for many years, we always emphasize to customers the importance of promptly registering their new vehicles after purchase. According to national regulations, vehicle registration must be completed within 30 days from the date of purchase, otherwise the temporary license plate will become invalid and the vehicle cannot be legally driven on the road. Sometimes, customers get busy and forget, leading to driving with an expired temporary plate, which not only results in fines from traffic police but may also affect the validity of the vehicle insurance. We usually help customers apply for temporary plates and remind them to schedule an appointment with the vehicle management office as soon as possible to avoid the troubles caused by overdue registration. A good practice is to handle the registration on the day of pickup or within the first week—it's simple, fast, and saves the hassle of dealing with issues later.
Don't just enjoy the thrill of driving your new car right after picking it up. I learned this the hard way last week - you must register your vehicle within 30 days of purchase, as temporary plates only last for that duration. If you delay until the later stages, the licensing offices get overcrowded with endless queues. What happens if you miss the deadline? The fine is the least of your worries - driving with expired temporary plates could get your car impounded instantly, ruining your travel plans. A friend got slapped with a 500-yuan penalty and regretted not acting sooner. Without official plates, your insurance coverage becomes unreliable, making accidents even more troublesome. Quickly schedule an appointment at the DMV - don't let laziness cause major problems.
When buying my child's first car, I pay extra attention to safety details. After the new car leaves the factory, it must be registered within 30 days of purchase, otherwise driving with an expired temporary license plate is a violation. The consequences of exceeding the deadline are quite serious - traffic police fines can impact the family budget, and more crucially, the vehicle loses its legal status, making insurance claims difficult in case of accidents. Since I'm uneasy about my child driving a new car with delayed registration, I recommend completing the paperwork in the first week after purchase to ensure worry-free travel.
