What to Do If Vehicle Documents Are Lost
2 Answers
Vehicle documents include the invoice, registration certificate, and vehicle license. If vehicle documents are lost, here are the possible scenarios and solutions: 1. If the invoice is lost, it needs to be reissued by the tax authority. (1) The consumer who lost the motor vehicle sales invoice should obtain a copy of the unified sales invoice stub from the motor vehicle sales unit (stamped with the sales unit's invoice special seal or financial special seal). (2) Go to the competent tax authority in the sales unit's location for confirmation and registration. (3) The motor vehicle sales unit will reissue a motor vehicle sales invoice with the same content as the original sales invoice stub. The consumer can use the reissued invoice to complete relevant procedures. 2. If the vehicle license or registration certificate is lost, it needs to be reissued by the local vehicle management office. (1) Documents required for reissuing or replacing the vehicle license: ① Application form for reissuing/replacing motor vehicle license plates and certificates. ② Identity proof and copy of the vehicle owner. ③ If an agent handles the business, the agent's identity proof and copy should also be provided. (2) Documents required for reissuing or replacing the vehicle registration certificate: ① Application form for reissuing/replacing motor vehicle license plates and certificates. ② Identity proof and copy of the vehicle owner. ③ For reissuing the registration certificate, a Stolen Vehicle Inquiry Form is required. ④ For replacing the registration certificate, the original vehicle registration certificate is required. ⑤ If an agent handles the business, the agent's identity proof and copy should also be provided (reissuing the registration certificate cannot be handled by an agent as per regulations).
Back when I first bought my car, I also lost my vehicle license, and it was such a headache. Don’t panic—first, report the loss at your local police station and get a lost certificate to prevent anyone from misusing your documents. Then, bring your ID and car keys to the DMV to apply for a replacement. The staff usually handle it on the spot. Avoid driving your car during the replacement process to prevent fines or even impoundment by traffic police. It’s a good idea to scan and back up these documents on your phone or cloud storage to avoid future losses. Oh, and don’t forget to contact your insurance company—they can also help reissue your policy. In short, take action, and it won’t be a big problem.
