What Are the Differences Between Local and Out-of-Town First-Hand Cars?
2 Answers
Local and out-of-town first-hand cars have the following differences: Loss of Vehicle License: If the vehicle license or license plate is lost, it can only be reissued at the vehicle's registration location. A vehicle missing its license plate does not have the legal right to drive on the road, and forcibly driving it will result in penalties such as a 12-point deduction. Therefore, it is necessary to go to the out-of-town location promptly to reissue the license. Annual Inspection: The annual inspection is more troublesome. After all, it is not easy to conduct an out-of-town annual inspection now, so it is better to do it locally. For out-of-town license plates, during the annual inspection, you must first go to the vehicle's registration location to complete the power of attorney and other related procedures before conducting the inspection locally. Emission Standards: If a local car with an out-of-town license plate has an emission standard of National 3, it cannot be traded locally due to the inability to transfer the registration out of town. Even if the transaction is conducted at the vehicle's registration location, because the vehicle is not frequently used locally, used car dealers cannot accurately assess the vehicle's condition, and the price will be affected.
I did thorough research on the differences between local and out-of-town new car purchases when buying a car. Local purchases are indeed hassle-free with paperwork—you can drive the car directly to local registration, but the price discounts are much smaller. Last year, I accompanied a friend to a neighboring province to buy the same model, and the base price was over 8,000 RMB cheaper, with additional maintenance services thrown in. However, be aware that many 4S shops for out-of-town purchases only issue a 3-month temporary license plate, and you'll have to handle the vehicle transfer procedures yourself. Also, maintenance policies vary significantly—some brands require the first service to be done at the dealership where the car was purchased, so if you buy out of town, the free first service might be forfeited. It's advisable to have the dealer arrange the compulsory traffic insurance locally when picking up an out-of-town car, otherwise getting checked on the way back can be a real hassle.
