Can Cross-Province Temporary License Plates Be Used Nationwide?
3 Answers
Cross-province temporary license plates can be used nationwide. There are two types of temporary license plates for vehicles: one is a temporary vehicle license plate with a light blue background, black characters, and black borders, which is only for motor vehicles driving within the city. The other is a temporary vehicle license plate with a brown-yellow background, black characters, and black borders, which is used for motor vehicles driving across cities. Additional information is as follows: 1. Classification of Temporary Plates: There are two levels of temporary plates. The blue-background temporary plate can only be used within the jurisdiction, meaning it cannot be used outside the city. Otherwise, it will be penalized as driving an unlicensed vehicle, with a penalty standard of deducting 12 points from the driver's license. Most new cars sold by 4S shops are issued yellow temporary plates, especially for out-of-town purchases, to avoid temporary plate restrictions. As long as it is this type of temporary plate, it can be used nationwide without obstacles, but the expiration time needs to be calculated carefully. 2. Precautions: Temporary license plates also cannot violate traffic rules. According to regulations, temporary plates must be affixed to the front and rear windshields in a clearly visible and recognizable position to prevent vehicles with temporary plates from disregarding traffic rules. Observing the back of the temporary plate, there is detailed vehicle registration information. Traffic violation monitoring will record and archive any illegal activities after capturing them, and the information will be transferred to the vehicle's license plate information after the new car is registered. Current high-definition monitoring can capture facial recognition registration, so temporary plates are no longer a means for reckless driving.
I remember when I first bought my car, I was also curious whether a cross-province temporary license plate could be used nationwide. After spending some time researching, I found out that it's not valid for nationwide travel—it usually has regional restrictions, such as only allowing travel between a few adjacent provinces, like from Beijing to Hebei or Shandong. Last time, a friend of mine drove his new car from Guangzhou back to Hunan using a cross-province temporary plate, which was just barely acceptable. But when he wanted to drive to Xinjiang, he was stopped and fined by traffic police because the plate only covered the South China region and couldn't be used in the Northwest. In practice, you need to check the specific annotations on the plate or ask the vehicle management office about its applicable scope when applying. Sometimes, the plates are even divided into northern or southern zones. Don't assume that 'cross-province' means it's valid nationwide—if you drive too far, you might get caught and face trouble.
My experience tells me that inter-provincial temporary license plates are far from being nationwide. Last year when I bought a new car, the salesperson specifically emphasized that this plate only allows cross-border travel between designated provinces, such as the Beijing-Hebei-Shandong region in North China, and cannot be used freely across the country. I once tried driving from Shanghai to Yunnan, only to find out that the plate was restricted to East China regions. I got penalized midway for exceeding the permitted range, proving there's significant risk in overstepping boundaries. Temporary plates also have very short validity, usually less than a month, so always confirm the permitted range before embarking on long-distance trips to ensure safe driving.
