How Long Can a Scrapped Vehicle's License Plate Be Retained?

[StLola]

After a vehicle is scrapped, its license plate can be retained for one year. Below is additional information: 1. The Ministry of Public Security has implemented measures allowing the original owner to use the same license plate number when purchasing a new or used vehicle after transferring or scrapping the old vehicle, or to apply for a new license plate number. The requirement for the original license plate to be used for three years before it could be retained has been adjusted to one year of use before applying for retention. Additionally, the application deadline for retaining the original license plate has been extended from within six months after the transfer or scrapping of the original vehicle to within one year. 2. Original owners who meet the requirement of having used the license plate number for one year after transferring or scrapping the old vehicle can use the same license plate number when purchasing either a new or used vehicle, or they can apply for a new license plate number. If the original owner does not apply to use the license plate within one year, the number will be returned to the selection pool and made available to the public.

[VonKeegan]

Let's hear from experienced drivers on this matter. When I processed my scrapped vehicle before, I specifically asked the DMV - regular license plates cannot be retained after vehicle scrappage, as they're directly reclaimed by the DMV during cancellation. However, there are ways to keep your original plate if certain conditions are met: first, the plate must have been registered under your name for over 1 year, and you must purchase a new vehicle within 6 months after scrapping the old one to apply for reusing the original plate. I deliberately kept this in mind - bought a new car in the fifth month after scrapping, brought the scrappage certificate to the DMV to fill the forms, and got it done on the spot. Note that the number becomes invalid if you exceed the timeframe, and new energy vehicles requiring green plates can't use blue plate numbers.

[LeMaria]

This topic has been discussed in our car enthusiasts' group, and everyone's experiences were quite interesting. From my experience, the license plate retention period is actually quite tight—it starts counting down six months from the day the car is scrapped. Last year, a friend's car caught fire and was scrapped, and he went to order a new car by the third month. Remember, to retain the original license plate, you need to prepare documents like your ID card, the scrapping certificate, and the new car invoice. The funniest story was from Old Wang in the neighborhood next door, who dragged his feet until the seventh month before remembering to do it. The DMV told him the system had automatically cleared the number, and he ended up drawing a new plate with a '4' in it, which made him stomp his feet in frustration. My advice is to get all the necessary documents from the recycling company when you hand over your scrapped car. Now, you can also check the progress on the 12123 APP.

[JordanMarie]

Over the years in auto repair, I've seen many cases. According to regulations, retaining the original license plate requires meeting three conditions simultaneously: the plate must have been used for over 12 months; the application must be submitted within six months after completing the scrapping procedures; the owner must remain the same. Just last week, I helped a client with this. His Volkswagen Tiguan was scrapped two months ago, and when buying a new car, he wanted to keep the old plate. However, he discovered that the newly purchased Tesla is a new energy vehicle, and the blue license plate simply couldn't be installed. So, a reminder: if you're switching to an electric car, don't count on keeping your blue plate—it's completely incompatible with the policy.

[Adaline]

Let me share the process based on my personal experience. When dealing with our family's old car, I made sure to clarify the steps: First, complete the scrapping procedure at the dismantling plant to obtain the "End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling Certificate," then proceed to the vehicle management office to deregister the vehicle. The process of retaining the original license plate number on the 12123 APP was particularly convenient—just navigate to the 'Apply for Original Plate Number' option under 'Vehicle Services' and follow the prompts to upload a photo of the scrapping certificate. However, it's important to note the time limit: exactly 180 days starting from the vehicle deregistration date. A colleague of mine ran into an issue where he purchased a used car from another region. Even though the ownership hadn't changed, the registration location had, and in such cases, retaining the original plate number isn't allowed.

[DelSteven]

The key to handling this lies in grasping the critical timelines. The most important factor for retaining license plates is the 180-day countdown starting from the vehicle's official deregistration date. Last month when I processed this for my father, it took three visits to fully understand the procedure: First, the new vehicle must be registered under your own name; second, the retained plates can only be used on domestically manufactured new vehicles—they cannot be transferred to used imported cars; most crucially, you must bring all required documents when applying, including ID card, new vehicle purchase invoice, and vehicle deregistration certificate. In cities with license plate restrictions, you'll additionally need a residence permit—for example, in Hangzhou we spent three extra days obtaining the residence certification.