Should the Vehicle License Be Kept in the Car or Carried Along?
3 Answers
It is sufficient to keep the vehicle license in the car. This allows others to use the vehicle conveniently. The function of the vehicle license: The vehicle license is the legal document permitting a motor vehicle to drive on roads within China. It consists of a cover, main page, and supplementary page, issued by the Vehicle Management Center, and is used to verify the authenticity of vehicle information. Information on the vehicle license: The vehicle license records many important details, including the license plate number, owner's name, model type, engine number and chassis number, load capacity or passenger capacity, initial registration date, and annual inspection records.
I always recommend carrying the vehicle license with you and not leaving it in the car. Why? Because if the car is stolen or involved in an accident, and the documents are inside, thieves can drive away easily, making it harder for the police to track. I know a friend who had his car stolen with the documents in the glove compartment, and it took months to resolve the case after reporting it—what a hassle. Moreover, when traffic police conduct checks, you need to present the vehicle license. If you forget to bring it while temporarily parked, you’ll inevitably face fines and penalty points, adding unnecessary trouble. Nowadays, many people take photos of their documents on their phones as a backup, which is a good habit, but the original is more reliable. Carrying both your driver’s license and vehicle license in your wallet or a dedicated pouch can save you a lot of hassle. Developing this habit is especially important for long trips—safety first.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, I'm used to keeping my vehicle license in my wallet. I once tried leaving it in the car for convenience, but ended up getting scolded during a highway service area inspection when I couldn't find it after rummaging through everything. Since then, I've carried it with me to avoid distractions during emergencies. The car's storage compartment only holds maps or miscellaneous items to prevent exposing important documents. If the car gets broken into or damaged by water, replacing lost documents would be troublesome—requiring trips to the DMV to queue and pay fees. When teaching my kids to drive, I emphasize this point: the car is just a tool, while documents are proof of identity that should follow the person for peace of mind. By the way, checking the document's location during every refuel or maintenance serves as a good reminder.
