What to Do If You Don't Want the Self-Selected License Plate Number Anymore?
3 Answers
You can go to the vehicle management office to reselect. You can only wait for the original self-selected number to expire and become invalid (usually 7-15 days), and then reselect, but you cannot choose the previous number again. If you are not satisfied with the self-selected license plate online, you can log in to the online self-selected license plate system again after 3 working days to choose a satisfactory license plate online.
Last time I helped a friend with this, I remember that if you don't want the self-selected license plate number from the 12123 APP, you can log in to your account to abandon the selection. However, the system stipulates that each person can only give up 3 times. If you exceed this limit, you'll have to visit the vehicle management office in person. Going there is actually simpler—just bring your ID card and car purchase documents, then participate in the random 50-choose-1 selection. You'll have 90 seconds to pick a plate that catches your eye. But be aware that after abandoning, you'll be blacklisted on 12123 for two years and won't be able to use the online selection feature anymore. When I accompanied my friend to the vehicle management office, I saw someone who hesitated too long and ended up with the system automatically selecting a plate for them. So I suggest thinking about your number combinations in advance and making a quick decision on-site. After all, you'll be using this license plate for many years—if you're really not satisfied, don't settle for it.
Last year when my family changed cars, we encountered this exact situation - the self-selected license plate number started to look increasingly awkward. The solution is actually quite clear: immediately abandon the current number on the 12123 APP, though this will consume one of your three online selection attempts. Once the online quota is exhausted, you'll have to make time on weekdays to visit the DMV and rejoin the license plate selection queue. The most troublesome part is that after abandonment, you'll be prohibited from using online selection for two years - this is a strict regulation. At the time, I specifically consulted with staff, who mentioned many people actually get pleasantly surprised by randomly selecting triple-digit (leopard) numbers on-site. The key is to bring complete vehicle certification and original ID documents, and avoiding Monday rush hours can save significant time. It's advisable to check recently released number segments online before making your selection.
