Are Temporary License Plates and Official License Plates the Same Number?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates and official license plates have different numbers. Below is relevant information: 1. Temporary license plates: Temporary license plates are randomly assigned numbers used for temporary travel, valid for three months. 2. Official license plates: Official license plates require selecting a number at the local vehicle management office, where you choose your own number for registration. Temporary license plates serve as transitional plates before obtaining official ones, and during this period, they must be used for driving on the road. They carry the same legal effect as official plates but become automatically invalid once official plates are obtained. Therefore, upon receiving official plates, they must be mounted as required by regulations. 3. Relevant laws: If a temporary plate expires and the vehicle has not been officially registered, it is equivalent to "driving a motor vehicle on the road without displaying a license plate." According to relevant laws, this will result in a fine of 200 yuan and a 12-point penalty. Thus, drivers must pay attention to the validity period of temporary plates and install official license plates within the validity period. If an extension of the temporary plate is needed due to special circumstances, the driver must go to the traffic management department to legally apply for an extension. Driving with an expired temporary plate not only subjects the driver to severe penalties from traffic police but also falls under the insurance exemption clause. In the event of a traffic accident, the owner will have to bear all costs.
When I first bought my car, I thought temporary license plates and permanent plates used the same number since they were both attached to the vehicle. Later, I asked the dealership staff and learned that their numbers are indeed different. Temporary plates are made of paper, printed with a random combination of numbers and letters for easy identification of new or transferred vehicles, usually valid for about 30 days. Permanent plates, on the other hand, are metal plates with a lifelong number tied to all the vehicle's identity information. This distinction mainly prevents confusion—for example, helping police distinguish between temporary and permanent vehicles when enforcing traffic violations. When I applied for my permanent plates, I also noticed that the number was reassigned, which felt more official. While driving, I observed that temporary plates have simpler font designs compared to the more refined permanent plates—a small reminder for new car owners. In short, the numbers are definitely different, so don’t overlook this detail to avoid trouble on the road.
