What are the requirements for a Guangzhou license plate?
2 Answers
Guangzhou license plates require the following conditions: 1. The applicant must be a resident living in Guangzhou; 2. The applicant must not have a medium or small passenger vehicle registered in Guangzhou under their name; 3. The applicant must hold a valid motor vehicle driver's license; 4. The applicant must not have a license plate renewal quota under their name and must not have failed to use a quota obtained through the license plate lottery system within six months after obtaining it within the past two years. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, when driving a motor vehicle on the road, the vehicle must display the motor vehicle license plate, place the inspection qualification mark and insurance mark, and carry the motor vehicle registration certificate. Motor vehicle license plates must be displayed as required and kept clear and intact, without intentional obstruction or damage. No unit or individual may confiscate or detain motor vehicle license plates.
The conditions for obtaining a license plate in Guangzhou mainly depend on whether you qualify for the lottery or auction. For the lottery, you need to be a local resident or hold a valid Guangzhou residence permit, have two consecutive years of social security contributions, and no other vehicles registered under your name. When I applied, I waited almost a year before winning the lottery, and the process was quite grueling. As for the auction, there are no residency checks—you simply bid, and the highest bidder gets the plate. However, the starting bid is already around 10,000 to 20,000 RMB, and with additional fees, the overall cost is quite high. The government sets these conditions to control congestion, so I recommend new car owners start preparing their documents at least six months in advance and not leave it to the last minute. If your social security payments are interrupted, you’ll have to wait all over again, which is a hassle. Additionally, there’s a special channel for new energy vehicles, which is relatively easier.
