Can I apply for a second temporary license plate before the first one expires?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates can be applied for a second time before the first one expires. Introduction to temporary license plates: Temporary license plates are paper motor vehicle license plates issued to allow temporary road use of motor vehicles. They are used for vehicles that have not yet been officially registered, such as those obtained through sales, purchases, transfers, or gifts, and are issued by the vehicle management department of the public security bureau. Validity period of temporary license plates: The validity periods are categorized based on the type of plate: 15 days for temporary driving within the province, 30 days for temporary plates required for cross-province travel, and 90 days for special motor vehicles, scientific research, or prototype testing. A second temporary license plate can be issued as long as the conditions are met when the first one expires. Temporary plates can be extended. Commonly used temporary plates for newly purchased vehicles are generally valid for 15 days within the province and can be applied for up to three times at the vehicle management office.
A friend of mine recently asked about this. His temporary license plate had two days left, and he wanted to apply for a second one in advance. But when he went to the DMV, they directly told him it wasn’t allowed. The validity period of a temporary plate starts from the day it’s issued, and applying for a new one before expiration would be flagged by the system as a duplicate request, likely leading to rejection. Besides, each temporary plate has a unique number tied to the vehicle. Messing around with it could lead to risks, like getting a ticket if stopped by traffic police or having insurance refuse to cover an accident. Honestly, temporary plates are designed as a transitional measure—just use the original one until it expires without trying to cut corners. Being patient for a few days won’t hurt.
