Can a Temporary License Plate for a New Car Be Used Out of Province?
3 Answers
Temporary license plates are divided into two types, and only the cross-jurisdictional temporary plate can be used out of province. The following details the two types of temporary license plates: 1. Temporary plates for administrative jurisdictions (sky blue background with black characters and black borders), commonly known as urban temporary plates. Vehicles with these plates are only allowed to drive within the jurisdiction and cannot go out of province. The temporary plate is valid for 15 days; 2. Cross-administrative jurisdiction temporary plates (brown-yellow background with black characters and black borders), commonly known as national temporary plates. Only vehicles with these plates can drive out of province. The temporary plate is valid for 30 days.
Actually, when I bought my car, I also wondered if temporary license plates could be used across provinces. The blue-bottomed temporary plates are only valid for local driving—crossing provinces is absolutely not allowed, and getting caught would mean driving without a license. The yellow-bottomed ones with the words 'cross-province' are permitted, but they have a maximum validity of just 15 days. The key is to check the issuing authority—it must bear the official seal of a legitimate vehicle management office. Before setting off, make sure to properly affix both the front and rear temporary plates; the lower right corner of the windshield and the lower left corner of the trunk are the safest spots. Also, ensure that the compulsory traffic insurance coverage period fully spans the entire temporary plate validity. A friend of mine was once checked at a provincial border, and his car was impounded because his insurance was just half a day short of being effective.
New car owners are most concerned about this, right? There are two types of temporary license plates: the sky-blue patterned ones are only valid within the city, while the brown-yellow patterned ones allow inter-provincial travel. But listen carefully: the inter-provincial temporary plate is only valid for 15 days! Last month, I helped my cousin apply for one, and the DMV specifically reminded us to calculate the round-trip time accurately. Another temporary plate must be fully affixed to the rear window—even if it's slightly crooked, it counts as a violation. It's best to carry the original purchase invoice and insurance policy in the car, as border checkpoints are strict. But honestly, even with an inter-provincial temporary plate, don't travel too far—new cars have a high failure rate, and breaking down in another province makes rescue very troublesome.
