Can a Car with Temporary License Plates Drive on Highways?
4 Answers
Vehicles with temporary license plates are permitted to drive on highways, provided that the temporary plates are displayed in the designated position, which is no different from driving with regular license plates. To apply for temporary plates, one of the following conditions must be met: 1. When driving from the vehicle purchase location to another place, temporary license plates must be obtained from the local vehicle management office at the purchase location. 2. If the vehicle is being transferred and the regular license plates have been surrendered, temporary plates must be obtained from the local vehicle management office to drive back to the original location. 3. For new vehicles in the local area that have not yet obtained regular license plates but need to be driven to another location for modifications, temporary plates must be obtained locally. After modifications are completed, temporary plates must be obtained at the modification location to drive back to the original area.
I remember last year when I bought my first car, I couldn't wait to try it on the highway after getting the temporary license plate. At the DMV, the officer told me that temporary plates are allowed on highways, but I had to make sure they were within the validity period—mine was only 15 days. The highway was smooth, and when the traffic police checked, they confirmed my insurance and vehicle registration without any issues. However, they specifically reminded me to place the temporary plates prominently on the front and rear windows to avoid accidents due to other drivers not seeing them clearly. That highway experience was great—the car felt fresh and exciting, and I kept the speed around 100 for safety. Later, when the official plates arrived, I even missed those temporary days. For new drivers, I recommend starting with short highway trips to get used to it.
As a veteran driver with 15 years of experience, I can tell you that temporary license plates are allowed on highways, but don't take it lightly. I once saw a rookie buddy driving on the highway with temporary plates, going too fast, and others could barely see the plate number, almost causing a rear-end collision. The key issue is that temporary plates are small and have low visibility, so I recommend firmly attaching them to the car window, maintaining a safe distance on the highway, and driving within the speed limit. My advice is to get insurance coverage early and not exceed the regional restrictions of the temporary plates, otherwise, traffic police might cause trouble. Safe driving comes first; temporary plates are just a transition—don't let them make you complacent.
Temporary license plates are definitely allowed on highways. I've used them several times, as long as they're within the validity period. The regulation states a validity of 15-30 days, just don't exceed it. From my personal experience, driving with temporary plates in the city for short distances is no problem, and highways aren't an obstacle either. You can even pass through ETC lanes at the entrance. The key is to bring your insurance policy when applying, place it in a visible position without obstruction, and you'll be good to go. Driving on highways is no different, just follow the rules as usual.
