Vietnam: Is it allowed to ask a relative to get the license plate number?

Hello, Lawnet would like to answer your questions as follows:

1. General regulations on license plate in Vietnam

According to Clauses 1, 2 and 3, Article 25 of Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA, regulations on the license plate are as follows:

- First, materials: the license plate is manufactured in metal, covered with a reflective paint and carved with a security symbol of the police by a unit licensed by the Ministry of Public Security to manufacture license plates, under management of the Department of Traffic Police; temporary license plate shall be printed on a piece of paper.

- Second, symbol and size of letters and digits on registered license plate, applied to various types of vehicle, shall adhere to legal regulations at Appendix 02, 03 and 04 attached to this Circular.

- Third, an automobile requires 02 short license plates with the following size: 165 millimeters in height and 330 millimeters in length. In case the design of special-use vehicles or as the characteristics of the vehicle does not fit on 02 short signs, the vehicle registry shall conduct physical inspection and propose the Head of the Traffic Police Department (vehicles registered at the Traffic Police Department) or Head of Traffic Police (local registered vehicle) to change to 02 long license plates with the following size: 110 mm in height, 520 mm in length or 01 short license plate and 01 long license plate. Any cost incurred shall be at the vehicle owner's expenses.

2. What is rightful vehicle?

According to Point a, Clause 4 and Point I, Clause 7, Article 30 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP stipulating penalties for vehicle owners who violate regulations related to road traffic as follows:

Article 30. Penalties imposed upon vehicle owners

....

4. For owners of mopeds and motorcycles: A fine ranging from VND 400,000 to VND 600,000 shall be imposed upon an individual, from VND 800,000 to VND 1,200,000 upon an organization that commits any of the following violations:

a) Failure to follow procedures for transferring the vehicle ownership when buying, being given, allocated, or inherited a moped or motorcycle;

...

7. For owners of cars, tractors, heavy-duty vehicles and car-like vehicles: A fine ranging from VND 2,000,000 to VND 4,000,000 shall be imposed upon an individual, from VND 4,000,000 to VND 8,000,000 upon an organization that commits any of the following violations:

i) Allowing an employee or representative to operate the vehicle committing any of the violations specified in Point b Clause 2 Article 24 hereof, or directly operating the vehicle committing any of the violations specified in Point b Clause 2 Article 24 hereof;

Thus, the rightful vehicle is the vehicle that the buyer is given, gifted, allocated, transferred, or inherited has completed the registration procedure to transfer the vehicle's name to transfer the vehicle owner's name in the Vehicle Registration Certificate to his/her own name in accordance with regulations. On the contrary, the vehicle will be determined to be the vehicle without the owner (No procedures for transferring the vehicle's name) and will be subject to fines when being inspected and administratively handled by the authorities when participating in traffic.

3. Is it allowed to ask a relative to get the license plate number?

According to Clause 5, Article 9 of Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA stipulating the vehicle owner's documents when registering and issuing vehicle papers and license plates as follows:

"The authorized person to carry out the vehicle registration, apart from the documentation of the vehicle owner as prescribed in clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, he/she must show his/her identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) or diplomatic or official identity card (valid)."

So, when you bought a vehicle but had an unexpected job and couldn't carry out the registration of vehicle papers and get the number plate at the competent agency where you bought the vehicle, you can ask her father, mother, or other relatives to come do the paperwork for the car if there is an authorization letter.

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