How to Choose a License Plate for a Used Car?
2 Answers
Used car license plate selection follows the same process as new car license plate selection. The vehicle management office handles the license plate selection procedures. According to the Ministry of Public Security's reforms on motor vehicle license plate management, the requirement to retain a license plate after using it for over 3 years has been adjusted to 1 year. The selection range has been expanded, offering both random selection and self-composed selection methods. Open the traffic management app, enter the 12123 interface, and select motor vehicle services. Choose the type of license plate selection you want to proceed with—used car transfer registration—then select the corresponding province and city. Complete the selection within the specified time frame: 20 attempts for self-composed selection and 5 attempts for random selection. Choose the corresponding vehicle management office for processing; this service only supports small car license plate selection. Accurately enter the transfer registration information. Upload the unified used car sales invoice transfer registration copy (must be complete, clear, and identifiable). Confirm that all information is complete and correct, obtain the verification code, and enter it.
I've gone through the process of selecting a license plate for used cars several times, so I'm quite familiar with it. After completing the transfer procedures, you need to visit the vehicle management office with your ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and purchase invoice. Once there, queue up to get a number, wait for your turn to have the materials reviewed, and then proceed to the license plate selection machine if approved. The machine typically supports two modes: random selection and self-composition. Random selection means the system directly displays several sets of numbers for you to choose from, which is quick; self-composition requires you to input combinations yourself, but you need to check the database for availability, which can be a bit more time-consuming. I recommend beginners opt for random selection to save trouble—it takes just 20 seconds. Pay attention to local regulations when selecting a plate, as some cities restrict certain letter combinations to avoid ambiguity. Once the plate is chosen, you can print a temporary license and hit the road while waiting for the official plate to be mailed to your home. Don’t rush the process—just follow the staff’s instructions and pick a number that rolls off the tongue easily. Overthinking lucky numbers will only add unnecessary stress. Nowadays, many vehicle management offices promote online plate selection systems, which can be done via mobile apps for greater efficiency. In the end, a license plate is just an identifier—safe driving is what truly matters.
