Is Vehicle Registration and License Plate Issuance the Same Thing?
2 Answers
Vehicle registration and license plate issuance are not the same thing. The difference between vehicle registration and license plate issuance lies in their concepts: Vehicle registration is similar to adding to a household register, meaning the ownership of the vehicle belongs to an individual; License plate issuance is like giving a name to the vehicle, where the license plate number is assigned based on the provincial jurisdiction area, facilitating management through this method. The process of license plate issuance: Before getting a license plate, you need to prepare the relevant documents for the vehicle, fill out the registration application form and external inspection form, take photos, print the motor vehicle parameter table, then proceed to the inspection line, followed by license plate issuance, affixing the environmental protection card, and receiving the vehicle license and vehicle registration certificate. There are two ways to choose a license plate number for a motor vehicle: one is self-selection, and the other is random selection. After the vehicle inspection, you can go to the local vehicle management office to select a number. Once the license plate number is chosen, pay the corresponding fees and wait to receive the license plate.
A neighbor asked me this question just a few days ago, and to be honest, I was confused about it when I bought my car years ago. Simply put, vehicle registration is a systematic process of establishing a record for the car, similar to obtaining a household registration booklet and ID card for a person. You need to bring documents like the invoice and certificate of conformity to the vehicle management office, where they inspect the car, register the information, assign a vehicle identification number (VIN record), determine taxes and fees, and finally issue that green-covered motor vehicle registration certificate—this is the car's 'household registration booklet.' Getting license plates is just one part of the process, specifically referring to the final step of receiving the blue metal plates to hang on the car. Southerners tend to say 'getting license plates,' while Northerners more commonly say 'vehicle registration,' but in essence, you must complete this entire process to legally drive on the road.
