What is the difference between a used car with a license plate and one without?
4 Answers
The difference between a used car with a license plate and one without mainly lies in the vehicle registration process. Below are the detailed differences between the two: 1. Difference Details: The distinction between a used car with a license plate and one without lies in the subsequent vehicle transfer process. A used car with a license plate does not require registration after purchase, whereas a used car without a license plate needs to be registered after purchase. 2. Considerations: Used cars without license plates are generally vehicles that have reached their service life and been scrapped, or military vehicles converted for civilian use. The subsequent registration procedures for such vehicles can be quite cumbersome.
When buying or selling a used car, I always have to consider whether it comes with a license plate or not. A 'with plate' deal means the car and its license plate are sold together, allowing me to drive immediately using the existing plate, saving the time and cost of applying for a new one. For instance, in cities like Shanghai with license plate restrictions, plates are obtained through auctions or lotteries and can cost tens of thousands, so cars with plates naturally command higher prices. Without a plate, the car is cheaper, but I'd have to personally visit the DMV to select a new plate, endure the lottery queue, and spend over a week on the process. Policy changes add to the hassle—sudden traffic restrictions can complicate transfer procedures, and when buying a car with a plate, it's crucial to verify the plate's history is clean to avoid fines or disputes. Opting for a car with a plate costs more but offers peace of mind; going without means more patience and effort.
Before buying or selling a used car, I carefully compared the differences between with-plate and without-plate options. With-plate means the license plate is transferred along with the car during the ownership transfer, allowing me as the buyer to use the original plate immediately; without-plate requires me to apply for a new plate separately, adding a number selection process. This directly impacts the total cost—in big cities like Beijing, where plate auction prices are high, with-plate cars cost thousands more but avoid the hassle of the lottery; without-plate cars are cheaper but incur additional expenses. The transfer process also differs: with-plate involves fewer forms and less legwork; without-plate requires more documentation and takes longer. I also considered the risks—if the plate has violation records, buying with-plate could be disadvantageous, so checking the DMV policies in advance is essential. In short, choosing based on budget and urgency is the most practical approach.
Last time I bought a car, I chose one without a license plate. The seller kept the plate for their own use, so I purchased the bare vehicle. This meant I had to go to the vehicle management office to apply for a new plate, which took two days and cost a few hundred yuan. While it saved me the initial vehicle cost, it was quite a hassle. Buying with a plate allows you to drive the car away immediately and continue using the old plate, making the transfer process smoother. From a policy perspective, in big cities where plates are hard to obtain, buying with a plate is more expensive; in ordinary areas, there's not much difference. When choosing, consider how much hassle you're willing to deal with and the city's traffic restriction policies.
