Can 4S dealerships handle temporary license plates for car purchases?
2 Answers
As long as it is a qualified 4S dealership, temporary license plates can be processed at that 4S store. Below is more information about temporary license plates: 1. Introduction: A paper motor vehicle license plate that permits temporary road use, also known as a temporary vehicle license plate. It refers to the temporary vehicle driving certificate issued by the vehicle management department of the public security bureau for newly purchased vehicles before official registration. 2. Validity period: The validity period of a temporary license plate generally does not exceed thirty days. 3. Categories: There are four types: temporary license plates for administrative jurisdictions, temporary license plates for cross-administrative jurisdictions, temporary license plates for testing purposes, and temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles.
Last time I bought a new car, the sales consultant directly asked if I wanted them to handle the temporary license plate for me. I agreed without hesitation. The whole process was super fast—the dealership charged a small service fee of around 50 to 100 RMB, but it saved me the hassle of going to the DMV myself. I needed to provide a copy of my ID, the car purchase invoice, and the compulsory insurance policy. They got that yellow temporary plate ready in a day or two, usually valid for 7 to 15 days, which was enough time to drive and get the official plates. Remember to check the date before driving to avoid fines for an expired plate. I’ve been through that—once it expires, you have to reapply, which is a huge hassle. Insurance is already active during the temporary plate period, but avoid long trips or modifying the car to prevent issues. If you do it yourself, you’d need to take half a day off to queue, and it’s easy to mess up the paperwork. Letting the 4S shop handle it is such a relief.
