Why are there many licensed vehicles in 4S stores?
2 Answers
The reason why there are licensed vehicles in 4S stores is that they are provided as test drive vehicles. There are 3 key points for license plate identification techniques: 1. Observe the font of the license plate: Although the font of motor vehicle license plates follows a unified national standard, they are not produced uniformly nationwide. Therefore, the size and structure of the fonts vary between plates. However, each province has its own characteristics in producing motor vehicle license plates, and with careful observation, it's not difficult to distinguish them. Genuine plates, i.e., standard license plates, have uniquely designed fonts with intellectual property rights, offering a good visual experience. Counterfeit plates may have a bluish or yellowish background color, with fonts appearing either too thin or too thick, or showing abnormalities at the turns of the characters. 2. Observe the coloring of the license plate: The quality and composition of the paint used for the base plate of vehicle license plates vary, leading to differences between genuine and counterfeit plates. Genuine plates are colored with imported paint applied through a roller, resulting in even coloring only on the raised parts. Counterfeit plates are usually hand-painted with a brush, giving an uneven appearance with visible brush strokes. Additionally, some recessed areas may also be colored, giving an overall impression of rough workmanship. 3. Observe the reflectivity of the license plate: Genuine plates do not reflect sunlight but reflect under direct light. Counterfeit plates may appear shiny from certain angles under sunlight but remain dull under direct light, without any reflection.
When I see those licensed vehicles at the 4S dealership, I often think they might be prepared for test drives. To allow customers to experience new models firsthand, dealers will first license some vehicles so we can take them out for test drives without having to go through temporary registration procedures. Additionally, some of these are certified used cars—pre-owned vehicles acquired or traded in by the dealership that are directly sold with their existing plates, making the process more convenient. Sometimes, the dealership may have promotional vehicles that are pre-registered and sold at a discount, such as overstocked cars that have been sitting too long—they get licensed in advance while waiting for buyers. For us buyers, this saves both time and money by reducing the hassle and cost of registration. I think this is quite common, as 4S dealerships always need to ensure they have display vehicles on hand to meet different customer needs—it’s also part of their sales strategy.
