Can a Vehicle Be Transferred Under Temporary License Plate Status?
4 Answers
Yes, a vehicle can be transferred under temporary license plate status, but the transfer must be completed within the validity period of the temporary license plate. One of the functions of a temporary license plate is to facilitate the smooth transfer of a vehicle. Additionally, temporary license plates are region-specific and time-sensitive. Eligible new vehicle owners can apply for a temporary license plate at the local vehicle management office in a timely manner. A temporary license plate is a paper-based motor vehicle license that permits temporary road use, also known as a temporary driving license plate. It serves as a temporary vehicle driving permit issued by the public security vehicle management department before the new vehicle is officially registered. The validity period of a temporary license plate generally does not exceed thirty days. Classification of Temporary License Plates: Temporary license plates for administrative jurisdictions, cross-administrative jurisdiction temporary license plates, temporary license plates for testing purposes, and temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles. Conditions for Applying for a Temporary License Plate: When driving a vehicle from the place of purchase to the place of use, a temporary license plate must be applied for at the vehicle management office in the place of purchase; When transferring vehicle registration and surrendering the official license plate, a temporary license plate must be applied for at the local vehicle management office to drive back to the original location; For new vehicles in the local area that have not yet obtained an official license plate and need to be driven to another location for modifications, a temporary license plate must be applied for locally. After modifications are completed, a temporary license plate must be applied for at the modification location to drive back to the original area; When purchasing a vehicle locally and driving it to another location, a temporary license plate must be applied for locally to drive to the other location; the same applies in reverse. For vehicles that have not yet been permanently registered and require temporary use. For special-type motor vehicles that cannot be registered due to exceeding national standards for axle load, total mass, or overall dimensions. Precautions for Using Temporary License Plates: One temporary license plate should be affixed to the lower left or right corner of the front windshield, optimally without obstructing the driver's view; if there are two temporary license plates, one should be affixed to the front windshield, and the other should be affixed to the lower left corner of the rear windshield inside the vehicle.
I remember that when buying or selling a vehicle, temporary license plates don’t allow direct ownership transfer. Temporary plates are just credentials for temporary road use and don’t represent vehicle ownership. For ownership transfer, you need the full set of documents, including the official license plate, the owner’s ID card, and the vehicle registration certificate. I’ve seen a few friends rush to transfer ownership, only for the DMV to reject them because temporary plates can’t be registered. This involves legal issues—ownership transfer is the formal procedure for transferring property rights, and temporary plates lack the relevant coding, which can easily lead to disputes. My advice is to wait until you have the official license plate before processing the transfer to avoid a wasted trip. Typically, temporary plates are only valid for a few days or a month or so, so just be patient.
From a safety perspective, vehicles with temporary license plates absolutely cannot be directly transferred. I once tried to help a relative with this matter. Temporary plates are inherently provisional, intended to cover the transition period for new or used car transactions. Transferring ownership requires legal registration and information verification. If the transfer is done without official license plates, both the buyer and seller could face risks, such as mismatched owner information, unverifiable records at the DMV, or even suspicion of illegal transactions. I personally insist on discussing ownership transfers only when the vehicle has official license plates, ensuring the entire process is transparent and secure to avoid future complications.
In my experience dealing with vehicle administration, transfer of ownership cannot be performed under temporary license plates. The transfer process involves changing ownership rights, which requires official license plates as legal identification. Temporary plates only permit road usage - during ownership transfer, the DMV needs to verify the vehicle registration certificate and official records, which temporary plates lack. As a professional in this field, I strongly recommend completing the ownership transfer only after the vehicle obtains its official license plates. This approach typically saves considerable hassle.
