How Long Does It Take to Get a License Plate After Buying a New Car?
2 Answers
It takes 1 to 3 hours to get a license plate after buying a new car, provided that all required documents and materials are prepared and there are not many people at the vehicle management office, so no queuing is needed. Once the official license plate is produced, it will be mailed via EMS or can be picked up in person. If the temporary license plate has not expired by the time the official license plate is received, the temporary license plate can no longer be used. This is because once the official license plate is obtained, the temporary license plate becomes invalid regardless of its expiration date. The vehicle's certificate of conformity is an essential document for license plate registration. When purchasing a car, some 4S dealerships may delay providing the certificate of conformity, which can postpone the registration process. Therefore, it is important to obtain the certificate of conformity as soon as possible and negotiate with the 4S dealership staff. After buying a car from a 4S dealership, a triplicate car purchase invoice will be issued, which is also an indispensable document for vehicle registration.
When I first got my new car, the dealer reminded me to complete the registration within 30 days and not to delay too long. According to the DMV regulations, this period is calculated from the date on the purchase invoice. The temporary license plate can only cover you for a while—usually valid for 15 days, and can be renewed once for a maximum of 30 days. I drove with the temporary plate, which saved me a lot of hassle, but I had to register before the deadline. You need to prepare all the required documents: ID card, purchase invoice, vehicle certificate of conformity, and compulsory traffic insurance policy. The queues at the DMV can sometimes take a while—it took me nearly 10 days to wait for the review. If you don’t register, the risks are high: the police can fine you, and it might even affect your insurance claims. I recommend new car owners schedule an appointment within a week or two after picking up the car—get it done early for peace of mind, so you don’t end up like me, almost missing the deadline.
