What procedures are required for changing a car's license plate?

[Kathy]

Changing a license plate requires the following procedures: Apply to cancel the original license plate: Apply to the traffic management department to cancel the original license plate. The traffic management department will review the vehicle license and traffic violations. Once approved, proceed with the cancellation; Publish a license plate cancellation notice in local newspapers or have the traffic management department issue a cancellation announcement. Process new registration procedures: After one month, bring your ID card and the original vehicle purchase invoice to the local traffic management department to process the new registration procedures. Circumstances under which changing a license plate number is not permitted: The proofs or vouchers submitted by the vehicle owner are invalid; The proofs or vouchers submitted by the vehicle owner do not match the vehicle; The vehicle for which the license plate number needs to be changed has unresolved traffic safety violations or accidents; The vehicle is under mortgage registration or pledge filing; The vehicle has reached the mandatory scrapping standard as stipulated by the state; The vehicle has exceeded the validity period of the inspection certificate.

[OBeckett]

I just changed my license plate last year, and the whole process went pretty smoothly. Just bring the vehicle registration certificate, the original and a copy of the owner's ID card, and the old license plate, and head straight to the local DMV. The first step is to fill out an application form at the counter and submit these documents, where the staff will verify your information. The second step is to pay the fee, which usually ranges between 200 to 300 yuan, depending on the region. The third step is waiting for the new plate to be made, which takes about half an hour. However, remember to check in advance if your local DMV requires an appointment—I didn’t book one and ended up wasting a lot of time in a long queue. After changing the plate, the car felt brand new, which was quite practical. If you frequently move to different provinces, this kind of procedure is more common, so it's advisable to keep copies handy in case of loss. Finally, installing the new plate is simple—just tighten the screws yourself, no complications.