Can a newly purchased car without temporary license plates be driven on the road?
2 Answers
A newly purchased car without temporary license plates cannot be driven on the road. Before the official license plates are issued, temporary plates are the only legal document for driving. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," if a motor vehicle driven on the road does not display license plates, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the vehicle, notify the party to provide the corresponding plates, and impose a fine of 200 yuan and deduct 12 points in accordance with Article 90. When applying for temporary license plates, the following documents must be submitted as required, along with the completed "Temporary Vehicle Registration Form": 1. Identification documents of the vehicle owner and the agent; 2. Proof of the vehicle's origin; 4. For domestically produced vehicles, the whole vehicle factory qualification certificate; for imported vehicles, the import certificate; 5. The vehicle identification number (VIN) and engine number imprint. After reviewing the above documents and ensuring they comply with regulations, and after passing the safety and technical performance inspection of the vehicle, the vehicle management office will issue temporary license plates, specifying the validity period and the start and end locations.
When I first got my new car, I also thought about this. Remember, traffic regulations clearly state that a new car must have temporary license plates to be legally driven on the road. Driving without plates is absolutely not allowed—you can be stopped by traffic police on the spot, fined between 200 to 2,000 yuan, and may even lose 12 points on your license or have your car impounded. A friend of mine learned this the hard way—he was fined while joyriding, and the insurance company refused to cover the damages, leaving him in a mess. It’s best to confirm the plate procedures with the 4S store in advance; they usually handle it for you, taking less than half a day—just bring your ID and purchase documents. Safe driving is no small matter—it’s not worth the hassle to skip this step. If you don’t have temporary plates, consider taking a taxi or hiring a tow truck to get home—don’t risk driving illegally. I’ve shared this lesson multiple times in car owner groups—new drivers, take note!
