What does optional license plate prefix mean?
2 Answers
Optional license plate prefix refers to the ability of motor vehicle owners to choose their own license plate numbers. There are two forms of self-composed license plate numbers for cars: one is online selection, and the other is selection at the vehicle management office. Online selection is divided into random selection and self-composed selection. In online selection, only combinations of numbers plus letters plus numbers can be chosen. Owners can opt for random selection or self-composed selection. The number segments available for self-composed selection have been released for more than 7 days. Each self-composed attempt allows up to five numbers to be entered, with a total of 20 attempts. Once a self-composed license plate is selected, it cannot be changed. It is important to note that after selecting a number online, the owner must complete the registration process at the local vehicle management office within three days. If this period is exceeded, the selected number will automatically become invalid. After purchasing a car, the owner must register the vehicle within 15 to 30 days, with a maximum limit of 30 days. If special circumstances prevent the vehicle from being registered within 30 days, the owner must obtain a temporary license plate from the vehicle management office, and temporary license plates can be applied for a maximum of three times.
Recently, when I went to register my new car, I finally understood what the optional license plate prefix means. Essentially, it refers to the combination of numbers and letters in the first half of the license plate that you can choose yourself, such as lucky numbers like 888 or meaningful dates like birthdays. I used the DMV app to input my desired combinations, and the system randomly provided several options, which was quite convenient. After selecting, the license plate becomes personalized, so friends can recognize my car at a glance, making car conversations more engaging. However, it's important to note that local regulations vary—some letters and numbers are banned, such as politically sensitive terms or ambiguous symbols. Checking beforehand saves unnecessary expenses. The fee is usually a few dozen yuan, not too expensive, but don’t overspend on special numbers. Overall, this feature gives car owners a stronger sense of belonging, but it’s best to understand local policies before choosing to avoid trouble.
