How Long Does It Take to Get License Plates for a New Car?
2 Answers
Generally, it takes one to two days to get license plates for a new car. Below are the required documents for new car registration and the functions of license plates: Documents required for new car registration: ID card, vehicle qualification certificate, triplicate car purchase invoice issued by the 4S shop, original and duplicate tax receipts obtained after paying the vehicle purchase tax, insurance policy, compulsory traffic insurance policy, and temporary residence permit if you are not a local resident. New car registration must be processed at the vehicle management office. After submitting all the required documents and paying the fees, the vehicle must be driven to the vehicle management office for inspection. Some exempt vehicles can undergo an external inspection directly, which usually involves checking the engine number and chassis number. After the inspection, you can go to the vehicle management office hall to choose a license plate. Functions of license plates: The main function is to identify the region to which the vehicle belongs. The license plate can also be used to look up the owner of the vehicle and its registration information.
While the excitement of buying a new car is understandable, don’t delay the registration process. The law clearly states that new vehicles must be registered within 30 days of purchase, otherwise, traffic police may impose fines of several hundred yuan or even deduct points. I learned this the hard way when I bought my car—I procrastinated for almost a month before visiting the DMV, only to be pulled over and reprimanded because my temporary license plate had expired. Temporary plates typically last only 7 to 15 days, during which you can drive your new car around, but you must obtain a permanent plate before they expire. The registration process includes steps like selecting a license number, vehicle inspection, and tax payment, requiring at least half a day to prepare documents such as the car purchase invoice and a copy of your ID. It’s best to schedule a DMV appointment right after buying the car to avoid peak holiday queues. If you exceed the deadline, your insurance may become invalid, complicating liability in case of an accident. The first step to safe driving is ensuring your vehicle is legally roadworthy—don’t let small oversights turn into big troubles.
