Can a Vehicle with a Temporarily Seized Vehicle License Be Driven on the Road?
3 Answers
A vehicle with a seized vehicle license cannot be driven on the road. Driving on the road requires two documents: a driver's license and a vehicle license, both of which are indispensable. Driving a motor vehicle during the period when the driver's license is temporarily seized will be penalized as driving without a license. Legal Basis: Article 95 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law" states that if a motor vehicle driven on the road does not display a motor vehicle license plate, does not have an inspection qualification mark or insurance mark, or does not carry the vehicle license or driver's license, the traffic management department of the public security organ shall detain the motor vehicle, notify the party to provide the corresponding license, mark, or complete the relevant procedures, and may impose penalties in accordance with Article 90 of this Law. If the party provides the corresponding license, mark, or completes the relevant procedures, the motor vehicle shall be promptly returned. The vehicle license is the "identity proof" of a motor vehicle. It consists of the "People's Republic of China Motor Vehicle License" and the "People's Republic of China Motor Vehicle License Supplementary Page." The license records information such as the license plate number, vehicle type, the owner's personal (or organizational) name, address, vehicle brand and model, usage nature, technical data of the vehicle's manufacture, and the issuance date of the document, among other relevant details.
Driving with a temporarily confiscated vehicle license is absolutely not allowed. I've experienced this firsthand - last time my friend's car had its license seized due to a violation, and he thought driving a short distance would be fine. But he was stopped by traffic police right after leaving the neighborhood. The officer immediately ordered him to pull over and turn off the engine. Not only could he not receive a ticket, but both he and the car had to be taken to the traffic police station for processing. The biggest headache is the insurance issue - if an accident occurs, the insurance company won't pay a single cent, leaving you to bear all costs. Moreover, according to Article 19 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, driving without a license is equivalent to unlicensed driving. If caught, it's a 2,000 yuan fine plus 15 days detention. It's truly not worth it - taking a taxi or bus would be much more sensible.
Driving with a temporarily suspended vehicle license is asking for trouble. Having worked in the automotive service industry for over a decade, I've seen countless car owners stumble over this issue. A vehicle is like a person, and its license is its ID card—temporary suspension means the vehicle is in an illegal status. Driving it during this period, whether caught by traffic cameras or pulled over by police, can result in anything from point deductions and fines to temporary vehicle impoundment. I handled one case where a driver scraped another car during this suspension period—a minor accident, but the insurance company denied coverage, leaving the driver to pay over 30,000 yuan in repairs. My sincere advice: don't touch the car during this time. Wait until you've resolved the violations and retrieved your documents before driving again.
