Is it possible to buy a car in another city now?
3 Answers
It is possible to buy a car in another city, and after purchasing the car in another city, you can either register the license plate there or return to your local area to do so. When buying a car in another city, it's important to note that you should avoid purchasing on weekends because the vehicle management office is closed during weekends and cannot issue temporary license plates. Without a license plate, you won't be able to drive the car back to your own city. Considerations for buying a car in another city are as follows: 1. After purchasing the car, you must register the license plate within the validity period of the temporary license plate, usually 15 to 30 days, and no later than 30 days. Many cities or regions have different emission standards. If you buy a car that doesn't meet the emission standards just because it's cheaper, you won't be able to register it. Additionally, many 4S shops in other cities do not offer installment loans, so you may have to pay the full amount when purchasing. 2. When buying a car in another city, make sure to complete all the necessary purchase procedures, obtain the official invoice, the certificate of conformity, and all other required documents. If any documents are missing, it can be very troublesome to reapply. Whether it's an imported car or a joint-venture car, all purchase materials must be properly completed. After driving the purchased car back to your local area, you need to go to the tax office to pay the vehicle purchase tax. The vehicle purchase tax must be paid locally first before you can register the license plate at the vehicle management office.
Nowadays, buying a car from another location is completely hassle-free! Last time I purchased a used car from a neighboring province, saving over 10,000 yuan compared to local prices. Just pay attention to emission standards—you can freely buy China 6 compliant vehicles, but China 5 models might face restrictions when transferring registration across provinces. The process is simple: negotiate the price, bring your ID card, let the dealer help you obtain a 30-day temporary license plate, drive it back, and pay the purchase tax at your local DMV to get it registered. The only hassle is after-sales service—local 4S shops often use 'out-of-town purchase' as an excuse to deny warranty claims. I had to call the manufacturer's 400 hotline to complain before they honored it. Buying an NEV (new energy vehicle) is even easier—everything is electronic, so you don’t even need to visit the DMV.
As a seasoned driver who has traveled out of town three times to pick up cars, here's some solid advice: The key is to calculate hidden costs when comparing prices! For example, I saved 28,000 RMB by buying an Audi A4 in Shandong compared to Beijing, but after factoring in a 500 RMB high-speed rail ticket, 800 RMB in fuel costs, and a 1,200 RMB transfer fee, the actual savings were around 20,000 RMB. Pay special attention to regional protection policies for certain brands—my friend was forced to add 10,000 RMB worth of accessories to pick up his Lexus. While the Traffic Management 12123 APP now allows out-of-town vehicle transfers, buying a new energy vehicle from cities like Shanghai that offer free green license plates might make you ineligible for subsidies back home. Always ask the seller to provide the VIN before purchase and check the maintenance records yourself to avoid pitfalls.
