Can a new car with temporary license plates travel out of the province?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates for new cars can be used for out-of-province travel. As a temporary credential issued during the processing of the vehicle's formal license plates, temporary plates hold the same legal validity as formal ones. Key points to note about temporary license plates are: 1. They can only be used within designated areas; 2. Required materials must be prepared when applying for temporary plates; 3. New cars must have temporary plates to drive on the road; 4. The validity period for local temporary plates is 7 days. Temporary license plates consist of two pieces: one should be affixed to the lower left or right corner of the front windshield, and the other to the lower left corner of the rear windshield. Temporary motor vehicle license plates are paper plates that allow temporary road use, typically valid for no more than 30 days.
When I first bought my new car, I used temporary license plates to travel out of the province. Temporary plates mainly come in two types: one is called local temporary plates, which can only be used within the province where the vehicle was purchased; the other is cross-province temporary plates, designed for nationwide travel. When applying for temporary plates, the DMV will issue different permit labels based on the application type—make sure not to get it wrong. Before heading out of the province, check the validity period and issuing address of the temporary plates, or you might face fines or vehicle impoundment if caught by the police. I recommend going directly to the DMV to clarify your needs, opting for the cross-province version, and paying attention to temporary regulations in areas with traffic restrictions. Like I did, plan your route in advance, ensure the plates are clearly visible, and smoothly drive from Beijing to Hebei to visit relatives. The whole process went smoothly—as long as the paperwork is complete, there shouldn’t be major issues. The key is not to exceed the time limit or take unnecessary detours that could cause trouble.
