License plate costs skyrocket
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E-mail China Daily, March 19, 2012
Brokers active in private car registrations are the main reason that the price of license plates for private cars has hit a record high in Shanghai, industry insiders said.
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Two policemen holding a Shanghai car plate. [File photo] |
Both the lowest and the average transaction costs - 58,300 yuan ($9,221) and 58,625 yuan - in auction results released on Saturday were the highest since Shanghai launched auctions without a reserve price for private car license plates in 2000.
In February, after the cost exceeded 50,000 yuan for four successive months, the price was widely expected to decline.
"The auction system was revised this month to prevent brokers from offering for their clients a feasible lower price based on their software's calculations. It's understandable that car owners increased their bids to win without brokers' help," said Zhou Wenchao, a sales consultant at a car dealer in the municipality.
In addition, a large number of secondhand license plates are in the hands of brokers, who know perfectly well that the auction price will rise this month because of the revised system, Zhou said.
"Car owners are better off bidding a high price in the auction than buying a license plate from the brokers, who charge around 63,000 yuan for one now," he added.
Insiders speculated that the high price will not fall within the next few months.
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