Are Temporary License Plates Subject to Traffic Restrictions?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates are subject to traffic restrictions. A vehicle license plate is the abbreviation for both the vehicle number plate and the vehicle driving license. It is a standardized hard number plate with a unified format and style, as stipulated by national vehicle management regulations. After review, inspection, and registration by the vehicle management authority, the plate is issued with a unique registration code. The license plate number consists of 7 characters: the first character represents the abbreviation of the province, the second character represents the abbreviation of the city under the province's jurisdiction, and characters 3 to 7 are a combination of numbers and letters. The functions of a license plate number are: 1. To assign numbers and register information for each vehicle; 2. To identify the region to which the vehicle belongs; 3. To trace the vehicle owner and registration details based on the license plate.
Temporary license plates are subject to traffic restriction policies in most cities. Having driven in big cities for over 20 years, from buying new cars to using temporary plates multiple times, I've always had to be cautious about restricted days. For example, in Beijing's restricted zones, all vehicles including those with temporary plates must follow the odd-even license plate rule, otherwise, cameras will capture violations and issue fines. Although temporary plates are paper-based, they are recorded by the vehicle management office, and traffic police can still penalize you during checks. I remember last year when I helped a friend pick up a car and drove with a temporary plate to work, forgetting about the restriction day, I was fined 200 yuan—what a hassle. I recommend that new car buyers ask the dealer or check the local traffic management bureau's website for specific rules, as they vary slightly by region, but safety should always come first—don't take risks. Also, regularly check that your temporary plate is securely attached and not obscured to avoid unnecessary trouble during routine car maintenance.
