Is the motor vehicle license plate replaced every four years?
2 Answers
Motor vehicle license plates cannot be replaced. Motor Vehicle License Plate: A motor vehicle license plate refers to the legal emblem registered with the statutory authority, permitting the motor vehicle to operate on the roads within the territory of the People's Republic of China. The plate is generally affixed to a specific position of the motor vehicle, and its number serves as the motor vehicle's registration code. During the motor vehicle registration process, this number is assigned to the vehicle according to regulations. Function of Motor Vehicle License Plates: License plates serve as identifiers and information records for vehicles. Their primary purpose is to indicate the vehicle's region of registration through the plate number, and they also enable the tracing of the vehicle's owner and registration details based on the plate number.
Having driven for so many years, I can confirm that license plates aren't replaced every four years – that's a complete misconception. In reality, a license plate serves as a vehicle's permanent identification number, remaining unchanged from the day of registration, just like a person's ID number. A friend of mine once asked a similar question, probably confusing it with vehicle inspections or insurance cycles – inspections check the car's condition every two years or annually, but plates don't require periodic replacement at all. They're only changed under special circumstances: if the plate gets damaged or lost, when transferring a number after selling an old car and buying a new one, or through voluntary application (subject to DMV approval). These processes involve hundreds in fees and considerable hassle. So don't change plates unnecessarily, otherwise you'll face piles of paperwork at the DMV plus potential fraud risks. My advice? Just maintain your plate properly – prevent rusting or damage from impacts – that's all the care it needs.
