Can Cross-Regional Temporary License Plates Be Used to Drive Anywhere?

[GiselleMarie]

Currently, cross-regional temporary license plates are nationwide temporary plates, which specify the provinces between which the vehicle is allowed to travel. There are restrictions on the driving area, and they cannot be used to drive anywhere across the country as before. Local Temporary License Plates: Local temporary license plates have a sky-blue background with black text and black borders, indicating that the vehicle is restricted to local use only. Cross-Regional Temporary License Plates: Cross-regional temporary license plates have a brown-yellow background with black text and black borders, indicating that the vehicle is allowed to travel across cities. Validity Period of Temporary License Plates: The 5-day temporary plates have a sky-blue background and are only for vehicles driving within the city. If the owner cannot resist the excitement and wants to take a spin on the provincial highway or travel to another region before completing the new vehicle registration process, it is not allowed. The 15-day temporary plates have a brown-yellow background and are for vehicles that need to travel across cities.

[EmersonDella]

I often help friends deal with temporary license plate issues for new cars, and I must remind you that you can't just drive anywhere. Temporary license plates are divided into two types: local temporary plates and national temporary plates. Local temporary plates can only be used within the city where they were issued. For example, if you got yours in Beijing, you can only drive within Beijing city limits—leaving the city counts as a violation. National temporary plates allow for cross-province travel, but you need to apply for them at the vehicle management office; they're not automatically given. Many people assume temporary plates are universally valid when buying a car, only to get fined 200 yuan and receive penalty points for driving out of the authorized area. For safety, always check the type and validity period of your temporary plate before driving—it's usually 7 to 30 days. Driving with an expired plate or outside the authorized zone carries high risks and could even lead to your car being impounded. Insurance also doesn't cover illegal use, so any accident could result in significant losses. From my experience, it's best not to take risks—following the rules is the safest way to go.