Can a Temporary License Plate Be Used in Other Cities?
4 Answers
New cars with temporary license plates can travel to other cities, but whether they are allowed depends on the color of the plate. Below is relevant information about temporary license plates for out-of-city travel: 1. Sky-blue temporary license plates: These plates are for temporary use within the administrative jurisdiction and are only valid for vehicles driving within the city limits, so they cannot be used in other cities. 2. Brown-yellow temporary license plates: These plates allow vehicles to travel across regions. If you need to drive to another city, you must apply for this type of plate. 3. Expired temporary license plates: Additionally, if you use an expired temporary license plate and are caught by traffic police, your vehicle may be impounded, and you may face a fine of 200 yuan and a deduction of 3 points from your driving record.
When I first bought my new car last year, I wasn’t quite sure whether a temporary license plate could be used for out-of-town trips, so I had a long chat with the salesperson at the 4S store. They told me there are two types of temporary plates: the blue-background one is only valid within the local city and absolutely cannot be used outside the city limits, while the yellow-background one, called a nationwide temporary plate, allows cross-province travel. At the time, I had the blue plate, so before driving back to my hometown, I switched to the yellow plate to avoid any issues. If you’re caught driving out of town with a blue plate, you could face fines or penalty points from traffic police—definitely not worth the risk. The validity period is usually 30 days, so make sure to replace it with a permanent plate before it expires for safety. If you’re planning a trip or need to travel for business, it’s best to confirm the type of temporary plate in advance or simply wait until you get your permanent license plate. Don’t just guess—call the 4S store to double-check and avoid any trouble on the road. Understanding these small details when buying a car gives you peace of mind.
Having driven for over a decade, I've seen many novices suffer losses using temporary license plates. Whether a temporary plate can be used outside the local area depends entirely on its color: blue plates are for local use only, meaning you can drive around within the city without issues; yellow plates are nationally valid, allowing you to take long trips out of town. Once, a friend of mine urgently needed to travel out of province for business and insisted on using a blue plate on the highway, only to be fined 200 yuan—what a loss. So, my advice is to carefully check the markings on the temporary plate before heading out; make sure it's a yellow plate for peace of mind. Also, don't let the validity period expire—switch to a formal license plate after the 30-day period for added security. If you really need to travel out of town, bring your driver's license and invoice in case traffic police inquire. Don't take risks; driving steadily is the golden rule. Experience has taught me that understanding the rules saves a lot of hassle.
I'm thinking from a safety perspective. Driving with a temporary license plate to another city carries significant risks. Blue temporary plates are only valid within the city, and if you forcibly drive to another city, you're likely to be stopped by traffic police and fined or penalized. Yellow temporary plates allow inter-provincial travel, but don't go too far, as they become invalid once the validity period expires. If you have an accident in another location, the insurance might not cover the full amount. I think it's more reliable to wait for the official license plate before going on long trips. Even when driving in the city, you should follow the rules, such as not exceeding speed limits. Safe driving is much more important than saving time, especially during the break-in period of a new car. Being extra cautious never hurts.
