What is the electronic vehicle transfer process?
3 Answers
Drive your own vehicle and bring your ID card, vehicle license, vehicle registration certificate, and compulsory traffic insurance policy to the vehicle management office at the registration location. Go to the information desk to collect the Vehicle Registration, Transfer, Cancellation, and Inbound Application Form and the Vehicle Inspection Record Form, then fill them out. Take the forms and the vehicle registration certificate, drive the vehicle to the inspection area for inspection. After the inspection, go to the service hall to take a number and proceed to the counter for processing and payment. At the same time, you will receive a barcode. You can pick up the files yourself in a few days or go to the mailing window to arrange for file mailing.
The electronic transfer of vehicle registration is actually quite simple. I just went through the process recently. First, make sure the emission standards of the destination location can accommodate your vehicle, or else it's all for nothing. Just submit the application directly on the 12123 app, uploading photos of your ID card, vehicle license, and registration certificate. Within two or three days after approval, the electronic files will be sent to the destination DMV. Once you receive the SMS notification, go to the local DMV for vehicle inspection, pay the administrative fee, and get new license plates. Basically, you don't need to visit the original DMV at all—the electronic files transfer automatically, which is very convenient. Just remember to clear all traffic violations beforehand, and if the car is mortgaged, it must be released from the lien—don't let these things hold you back. The current process is much faster than the old paper-based era. The key is to prepare all the required materials before starting the online procedure.
The most annoying part of traditional vehicle transfer was handling the paper files. Now, with digitalization, it's really convenient. You can complete everything online without needing to visit the original vehicle management office. The process mainly involves three steps: First, fill in the vehicle information and submit the application on the 12123 platform, then wait for the system to verify that the vehicle has no mortgages or violations. Once approved, the data is sent to the national transfer system and automatically forwarded to the target vehicle management office. Finally, you just need to bring the vehicle to the new location for inspection and receive the new license plate. However, pay attention to the details: Emission standards are a strict requirement—major cities generally require China VI compliance, and commercial vehicles face even stricter standards. License plate retention depends on local policies. The information filled online must exactly match the green book (vehicle registration certificate); even a single letter difference can lead to rejection.