How Many Cars Can One Person Buy Under Their Name?
4 Answers
There is no explicit regulation on how many cars one person can purchase under their name; individuals can own as many cars as they wish. However, in cities with license plate restrictions, if one does not have a license plate quota, they cannot register a newly purchased car. Most people only have one car registered under their name. Some cities implement license plate restriction policies to control the growth rate of motor vehicle ownership, as rapid increases can lead to traffic congestion. When registering a new vehicle, any existing cars under the owner's name must have passed annual inspections and have all traffic violations resolved, with no illegal activities. If any car has not been inspected for three years and has not been deregistered, the new car cannot be registered. The taxes for purchasing a new car under an individual's name are not affected by the number of existing vehicles and are charged at the standard rate.
I've seen my neighbor uncle register three cars under his own name—there's actually no legal limit, it all depends on your wallet and needs. If you're in big cities like Beijing or Shanghai, license plate restrictions might only allow you to get one quota, requiring you to bid or enter a lottery. It's normal for average families to have one or two cars for daily use, but don't casually register under someone else's name. If a friend turns hostile or an accident occurs, the registered owner can't escape liability. For loans, banks check assets under your name—having too many cars registered might affect mortgage applications. Consider registering a second family car under your spouse's name to share risks and simplify insurance processes.
I've researched this topic, and theoretically, there's no limit to the number of cars one can purchase under a personal name, but practical conditions must be considered. What ordinary people should worry about most is the cost of car ownership—insurance, maintenance, and fuel can easily consume tens of thousands a year. If you're a small business owner and register the car under your company's name, you can enjoy tax deductions and avoid purchase restrictions, but you must maintain complete company accounting records. Some car owners try to play smart by using fake license plates, but if caught by traffic police, the car will be impounded and fines imposed. Most importantly, don't skip insurance and annual inspections—each car under your name requires separate paperwork.
This issue varies by region. For example, in cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen, you can register multiple license plate quotas. I personally own two cars, and handling traffic violations requires separate procedures, which is quite troublesome. If you have ample funds and want to buy a fleet of supercars, no one will stop you, but parking ten cars in your garage is less worthwhile than investing in a school-district property for appreciation. Used car dealers often use different names to hoard and transfer vehicles, leading to buyers unknowingly purchasing mortgaged cars that get repossessed by the court. Therefore, it's safest for private buyers to register cars under their own names. Remember, when buying a third car, the parking space may cost more than the car itself—in big cities, renting a parking spot for 2,000 yuan per month is completely normal.
