Can a Temporary License Plate Be Used for Inter-Provincial Travel?
4 Answers
As long as the temporary license plate is within its validity period and you hold an inter-administrative jurisdiction temporary license plate, you can travel out of the province. Below are the relevant regulations for temporary license plates: 1. Validity within the province: For driving within the province, a temporary driving license plate with a validity period not exceeding fifteen days is issued. According to regulations, the validity periods of temporary driving license plates are divided into "fifteen days," "thirty days," and "ninety days," including both working days and holidays. Among these, temporary license plates for driving within the administrative jurisdiction are issued with a validity period not exceeding fifteen days. 2. Validity for inter-provincial travel: For driving out of the province, a temporary driving license plate with a validity period not exceeding thirty days is issued. Temporary license plates for driving within the administrative jurisdiction are issued with a validity period not exceeding fifteen days.
I encountered this issue right after buying my car last year. Whether a temporary license plate allows out-of-province travel depends on the type you obtain. There are two kinds of temporary plates: one is the local temporary plate with a sky-blue background pattern, which is only valid within the city where the vehicle management office is located; the other is the nationwide temporary plate with a brown-yellow background pattern, which permits out-of-province travel and long-distance driving. At that time, I specifically applied for the nationwide temporary plate to pick up goods in a neighboring province, and it worked perfectly fine on highways. However, note that temporary plates are generally valid for only 15 to 30 days and must be affixed to the front and rear windshields—failing to do so could result in a 12-point deduction if caught. For cross-province travel, it’s advisable to carry documents like the car purchase invoice and compulsory traffic insurance policy, as some provinces may check these at highway toll stations.
As someone who frequently helps friends with new car registration procedures, I think this situation needs to be analyzed case by case. If you specify that the temporary license plate is only for local use when applying, the DMV will issue a city-specific temporary plate, and driving out of province with this would be equivalent to unlicensed driving. However, if you indicate the need for long-distance travel, you'll receive a nationwide temporary plate valid for cross-province travel. The key is to check whether the back of the temporary plate specifies any travel area restrictions. Last year, I accompanied a friend to a neighboring province for a wedding, applying for a cross-province temporary plate three days in advance. The entire 800+ kilometer journey went smoothly. The validity period is particularly important to note - our province issues them for up to 30 days, but some provinces only grant 15 days. Driving with an expired temporary plate will result in immediate vehicle impoundment.
Attention to friends buying new cars: whether a temporary license plate can be used out of the province depends on its color. Blue plates are for local use only and restricted to the city, while yellow-brown plates are for nationwide use, allowing cross-province travel. Last month, my cousin thought his blue plate could be used out of the province, but he was fined 200 yuan and deducted 9 points at the provincial border. When applying for the plate, make sure to inform the vehicle management office that you need a nationwide plate, and bring your ID card, compulsory traffic insurance policy, and car purchase invoice. Nationwide temporary plates are valid for highway use within their validity period, but it's advisable to keep the insurance policy in the glove compartment for easy access in case of an accident. Many provinces now have a networked system to check temporary plate information, so don't take any chances.
