How long can the license plate of a scrapped vehicle be retained?
2 Answers
Scrapped vehicle license plates can be retained for one year, meaning the original plate number can be used for vehicle registration within this period. The retention period starts from the date when the vehicle's transfer or deregistration is completed. License plates, commonly known as vehicle plates, refer to the plates mounted on the front and rear of a vehicle. They are typically made of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, or paper, and display the vehicle's registration number, registration region, and other relevant information. License plates serve as identifiers and registration records for vehicles, enabling the tracking of a vehicle's origin and facilitating access to the owner's details and related registration information through the plate number.
As someone who frequently deals with such issues, I've seen many cases of scrapped vehicles. After completing all deregistration procedures at the DMV and obtaining the scrapping certificate, you can apply to retain the original license plate number. The retention period is usually three to six months, though some regions may extend it to a year. Once this period expires, the plate number becomes invalid, so don't delay. For example, a neighbor of mine waited several months after his car was scrapped before handling the paperwork, missed the deadline, and lost the plate number—much to his regret. If you purchase a new car during the retention period, you can directly reattach the old plate, which is quite convenient. However, remember to clear any outstanding fees or violations before scrapping, or you won't be eligible to apply. I recommend contacting the DMV as soon as the car is scrapped to understand the specific policies and avoid losing a good plate number unnecessarily. In short, this rule provides a buffer, but time is limited, so act quickly.
