Is it better to register the car yourself or let the 4S shop do it?
4 Answers
It is better to register the car yourself. There are mainly the following situations for car registration, which are: Registering at the 4S shop: The 4S shop needs to arrange special personnel to register the car, and these services are not free, they all require costs. So while enjoying the convenience, you need to pay a sufficient amount of money. Entrusting the 4S shop to handle the new car registration, you only need to submit the required documents to the 4S shop, and basically, you don't have to worry about anything else, just wait quietly for the satisfactory result. Registering by yourself: If you go to the vehicle management office to register the car yourself, you have more freedom in choosing the license plate number, and you may be able to select a license plate number that you prefer more.
When I bought my first car, the 4S dealership charged me a 1,500 yuan agency fee. Later, when helping a friend with license plate registration, I realized it was actually very simple and cost-effective. Just bring your ID card, car purchase invoice, and vehicle qualification certificate, then drive directly to the DMV and queue up. Nowadays, many cities even allow you to schedule an appointment via a mobile app, saving you the hassle of waiting in line. The total cost is just over 100 yuan for administrative fees, and tasks like taking photos and stamping the chassis number are all handled on-site. You can get your vehicle registration certificate (green book) and license plates in just half a day. Most importantly, the DMV staff will patiently guide you through the entire process—as long as your documents are complete, there’s no room for error. Of course, if you’re truly too lazy to go through the hassle and money isn’t an issue, paying extra for the 4S dealership to handle it is indeed convenient. But I personally find greater satisfaction in completing the entire process myself—after all, it’s hard-earned money we’re talking about.
I suggest assessing your own situation first before making a decision. If you're completely unfamiliar with the process and extremely busy, letting the 4S dealership handle it is indeed convenient and worry-free. They're familiar with local policies and can quickly take care of procedures like vehicle inspection and tax payment. However, be sure to inquire about the service fee in advance—it can range from a few hundred to over a thousand yuan in different places, and bargaining it down to under 800 yuan is reasonable. On the other hand, if you want to save money, you'll have to do it yourself. Last time, I guided my cousin through the entire license plate registration process: we booked a time slot in advance via the 12123 app, brought all the necessary documents, and went straight to the DMV. Note that the purchase tax for a new car can be paid at a self-service machine, and if you opt for license plate delivery, it arrives in just three days. The whole process is like assembling Lego bricks—follow the steps, and it's surprisingly clear and even fun.
It depends on whether you care about money and time. For small business owners like us, we definitely handle it ourselves. Last time I bought a truck, I only spent 130 yuan on the official fees at the DMV. First, go to the tax office to pay the purchase tax and get the tax payment certificate, then queue up at the DMV inspection area for photos and VIN stamping. The staff will use a roller to get the chassis number—remember to remind them not to dirty the interior. Next, go to the service hall to get a number and submit the materials. When selecting a license plate, I recommend preparing a custom number on your phone in advance; otherwise, the on-the-spot 50-choose-1 process can be chaotic. The whole process is like playing a game level by level, which is actually more fun than sitting around waiting at the dealership. The key is that the money saved can buy you a full tank of gas.
