What to Do with License Plates After Selling a Car?
3 Answers
After selling a car, there are two possible outcomes for the license plates, as follows: 1. The owner continues to use them: If the owner has used the license plates for more than 3 years, they have priority to continue using them. 2. Return to the public pool: If the owner has used the license plates for less than 3 years, the plates will be immediately returned to the public pool and re-enter the national license plate database for other car owners to freely choose from. Below are the reasons why license plates cannot be sold along with the car: National policy restrictions: Car license plates are not private property; they belong to the state. The owner only has the right to use the plates, not ownership. Due to this attribute of car license plates, owners cannot buy or sell them. However, the car itself is private property, and the owner can freely decide its use and destination.
Last time I sold my old car, I was confused about the license plate issue. Actually, after selling the car, you can keep the license plate for future use, provided that you've used it for more than a year and purchase a new car within one year after selling the old one to apply for retention. Just go to the DMV to complete the procedures—they have records in their system, and the original license plate can be reserved for you for up to two years. If you find it too troublesome and don’t want to keep it, the license plate will be transferred to the new owner along with the car during the sale, so you don’t have to worry about anything. If the car is scrapped directly, the license plate will be automatically canceled.
I previously helped a friend with license plate matters. After the buyer and seller complete the transfer procedures, the old license plate stays with the car by default unless the original owner specifically applies to retain it. To keep the old license plate, two strict conditions must be met: first, the license plate must have been registered under your name for at least one year, and second, you must actively apply to retain it during the transfer registration at the vehicle management office. If you don't purchase a new car to use this plate within one year, the system will automatically revoke it. If all transfer procedures are completed properly, the new owner can directly inherit the original license plate with the vehicle registration certificate.
