Will I receive a text message when the license plate is made and mailed?

[IanDella]

The DMV will send a text notification when the license plate is mailed. You can check the shipping progress of the license plate through the following methods: calling 11183, using the Traffic Management 12123 app, or the Postal APP. Generally, it takes 3-4 days for the license plate to be delivered. The license plate delivery service is provided by EMS, and the speed might be slightly slower. From the time the license plate is mailed to the time the owner receives it, it usually does not exceed one week. Below are detailed instructions: 11183 phone inquiry; 11183 is the phone number for China Post EMS. After dialing, transfer to a customer service representative and provide the license plate number to inquire about the shipping progress. Generally, it takes 3-4 days for the license plate to be delivered. The license plate delivery service is provided by EMS, and the speed might be slightly slower. From the time the license plate is mailed to the time the owner receives it, it usually does not exceed one week. Traffic Management 12123 app inquiry; Register and log in to the app. For Apple devices with iOS 15 or above, use the Traffic Management 12123 app (V2.8.1B437). You can check the progress of the license plate under the "Online Progress" section. Once the license plate is made and mailed, you can also track the logistics. If your phone number is bound, you will receive a text notification when the license plate is mailed. Postal APP inquiry; For Apple devices with iOS 15 or above, download the Postal APP (V3.5.5). This is the official app of China Post. Open the app, and at the top, there is a search bar for mail progress. Click to enter the inquiry page. On this page, select "Motor Vehicle License Plate" and enter the license plate number or acceptance number to check the status. The Traffic Management 12123 app is the official client of the Internet Traffic Safety Comprehensive Service Management Platform, supported by the Traffic Management Science Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security. It provides comprehensive traffic safety services for vehicle owners and drivers, including user registration, appointment and processing of vehicle and driver's license services, traffic safety information inquiries, reminders, guidance, and road traffic services. Main features: User registration; Binding personal vehicles and driver's licenses; Handling traffic violations recorded by electronic monitoring devices; Driver's license exam appointments; Pre-selection of new vehicle license plates; Replacement of vehicle registration certificates, license plates, driver's licenses, and vehicle safety inspection certificates; Extension of driver's license renewal, review, and submission of physical condition certificates; Inquiries and notifications related to vehicles and driver's licenses; Navigation to traffic management service locations; New online self-service for handling traffic violations.

[MacCecilia]

Let me share a colleague's experience. A week after his new car was registered, he received the license plate by courier without any prior notification! It was only after checking the courier information that he found out it had been sitting at the courier station for a while. Actually, in most cities, when license plates are sent via EMS, an SMS notification with the tracking number is usually sent. However, if the phone number registered at the DMV is incorrect or there's a system delay, you might not receive it. It's advisable to check the logistics status on the local traffic police app, which is more reliable than waiting for an SMS. Last month, I saw a notification in the app that my license plate was ready on the third day after completing the procedures.

[LeAubree]

I recently helped my father-in-law with his license plate application and encountered a delayed SMS notification. The DMV mentioned that logistics updates are now mostly sent via the Traffic Management 12123 app, but elderly people often struggle with smartphone operations and can't locate the messages. Fortunately, the postal delivery guy proactively called before delivering the package. If you opt for mail delivery service, the license plate factory triggers an SMS alert when scanning the information during package sealing. However, notifications might be delayed by a day or two during system upgrades or weekends. The most reliable approach is to note down the service receipt number during application and directly call the plate manufacturer to check progress.

[StValeria]

There are two aspects to this: The vehicle management office's license plate production center may send a text message when the plate is completed, and another one when the logistics picks it up. Last time I replaced my plate, I only received the logistics message, showing that the post office had received it. But a friend in Shenzhen received two messages: a production completion reminder and a delivery notification. It's recommended to confirm in person at the vehicle management office window whether the correct mobile number was registered during the procedure. Nowadays, many places also offer progress tracking via WeChat official accounts, which is more timely than text messages. If there's no update after three days, directly call 11183 and provide the license plate number to inquire with the post office.

[SanLuke]

Personal experience tells you it's not always the case! Last time I replaced my old license plate, the 12123 APP showed 'mailed out' but I never received an SMS on my phone. It turned out the DMV system retrieved my old phone number registered 13 years ago. Currently, service differences across provinces are quite significant: Jiangsu synchronizes SMS updates on production progress, Zhejiang only sends delivery receipt notifications, while some northern cities still maintain the tradition of phone notifications. The most effective method is to proactively ask the counter staff to verify your phone number in the system when handling the service, and immediately scan the tracking code to check logistics once the waybill is issued.

[NathanAnn]

The license plate registration experiences for our two cars were completely different. The first one went quietly from start to finish, with the plates suddenly being signed for by the property management. The second car, which switched to a new energy license plate, received three text messages from production to delivery: 'License plate pressing completed' → 'Transferred to postal delivery' → 'Courier contact information.' After asking a relative who works at the DMV, I learned that the country is currently rolling out automatic logistics information updates, but some older systems still require manual entry of phone numbers. If the current phone number is registered with the Traffic Management 12123 app, you’ll likely receive the updates; if the number left was the dealership’s, you’ll just have to wait. If anything seems unusual, it’s best to contact the license plate manufacturer directly to check the tracking number.