Can a car without temporary license plates be driven on the road?
4 Answers
Car without temporary license plates cannot be driven on the road. According to relevant laws and regulations, vehicles must be licensed, and even without formal license plates, temporary license plates are required. When returning from the place of purchase to the place of use, the vehicle owner should apply for temporary license plates at the vehicle management office of the place of purchase. When applying for temporary license plates, the vehicle management office does not need to conduct an inspection, only requiring the submission of ID card, compulsory traffic insurance certificate, invoice, and vehicle qualification certificate. The vehicle management office should complete the application on the same day. Temporary license plates are paper motor vehicle license plates that allow temporary road use of motor vehicles, also known as temporary driving license plates. They are temporary vehicle driving certificates issued by the public security vehicle management department for newly purchased vehicles before formal registration.
A few days ago, I accompanied a friend to pick up a new car and paid special attention to this matter. Driving without a temporary license plate is absolutely not allowed on the road—it's a red line in traffic regulations. When we just picked up the car, the salesperson repeatedly reminded us to apply for a temporary plate first, as traffic police are particularly strict about checking unlicensed vehicles. I’ve personally seen a car owner get stopped just 500 meters from the 4S dealership, not only fined and penalized with points but also having their car impounded in a parking lot, ultimately spending extra money to arrange a tow. Nowadays, applying for a temporary plate is quite convenient—you can do it online via the Traffic Management 12123 App. Just bring the car purchase invoice and insurance policy to the DMV, and it’s done in half an hour. If you really need to move the car, hire a professional tow truck—never risk driving it on the road.
I remember helping a neighbor with this issue once. His used car had just been transferred, but he didn't get temporary plates in time. Thinking it was just a couple of blocks to the repair shop, he drove it anyway and got caught by a traffic camera at an intersection. Not only did he lose 12 points on his license, but he also had to retake the written driving test. The law clearly prohibits driving without license plates—temporary plates are like a car's ID card, and driving without them is illegal. Even if it's a brand-new car, you can't drive it without plates. Dealerships usually remind buyers to get the plates before driving off. In special cases, it's better to call a designated driver or ask a friend with temporary plates to help—it's much cheaper than paying a fine.
I've seen too many cases while repairing cars. Driving without a temporary license plate is like driving without a license, and the police can directly impound the vehicle. The fine standards vary in different places, generally ranging from 200 to 2000, and the vehicle will be detained until the procedures are completed. What's more troublesome is that if an accident occurs, the insurance company may refuse to compensate. Last month, a car owner had to pay 50,000 in repair costs out of pocket because of this. Traffic regulations stipulate that vehicles must have valid temporary license plates affixed to both the front and rear windshields to be allowed on the road. The validity period of paper temporary license plates is usually 15 to 30 days, and it's essential to replace them with formal license plates before they expire.
