Should I Customize or Randomly Select a License Plate Number First?
2 Answers
Customize first. Car owners need to understand the license plate selection rules on the Traffic Police 12123 APP: The time slot for pre-selecting numbers is from 8 AM to 10 PM daily, with a total of 20 chances to customize a number. Only number segments that have been released for more than 7 days can be customized. Random selection offers 5 attempts, with 10 numbers each time and a 90-second selection window per attempt. Additional notes: After 7 days of random selection, new number segments will be randomly added to the customization pool by the system for car owners to choose from. For 12123 customized number selection, after editing a plate number, you need to verify its availability. If available, the system will automatically confirm the number as selected and end the selection process. If the number is unavailable, it indicates verification failure, with a total of 20 chances for verification failures.
Personally, I think trying a custom license plate number first is more fun. When I bought my car last time, I directly customized the digits on the DMV website or app, using combinations like birthdays, anniversaries, or my favorite numbers. It makes the car feel more personalized when driving on the road. However, you need to prepare multiple backup options in advance because your preferred number might already be taken. The advantage is that the process is quick—just a few taps on your phone—unlike random selection, which relies heavily on luck. Plus, custom numbers have a unique touch, making them less likely to be duplicated by others and more fun to share on social media. Of course, if you're in a hurry to get your car or don’t want to overthink it, random selection is also a good option since it’s system-generated and gives instant results—ideal for beginners or those who don’t care much about license plates. In short, my advice is to prioritize custom numbers first, and if unsatisfied, go for random selection, so you don’t waste your chance.
