Can I apply for a temporary license plate on Sunday?
2 Answers
You cannot apply for a temporary license plate on Sunday. The vehicle management office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays, so you can only go through the registration procedures during normal working hours from Monday to Friday. According to Article 46 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations": For ordinary consumers purchasing new vehicles for temporary driving within the administrative jurisdiction, a temporary driving license plate with a validity period of no more than 15 days will be issued; for temporary driving across administrative jurisdictions, a temporary driving license plate with a validity period of no more than 30 days will be issued. If the owner of the motor vehicle needs to apply for a temporary driving license plate multiple times, the vehicle management office shall issue the temporary driving license plate no more than three times. To apply for a temporary license plate, the applicant must hold a company introduction letter, vehicle origin certificate, qualification certificate, and other relevant documents (except for the introduction letter, which will be archived, the rest will be returned to the applicant) and go to the vehicle management office to apply. During the application, the applicant should specify the starting and ending locations of the vehicle's travel and the duration of using the temporary license plate. After the management personnel review the documents and inspect the vehicle, a temporary license plate will be issued, and the validity period and starting and ending locations will be signed.
When I bought a car before and wanted to get a temporary license plate on Sunday, I went to the DMV only to find it closed. Upon asking, I learned that most places don't operate on Sundays, only on weekdays. Later, I directly called the local traffic bureau for advice, and they suggested making an online appointment in advance or having the car dealer handle it to avoid a wasted trip. Temporary license plates are generally used as a transition for new cars, with a validity period ranging from 7 to 15 days. Driving without one can easily lead to being checked and fined. I recommend getting it done before Saturday. In case of an urgent need on Sunday, search for nearby 24-hour service points or use an app for online applications. Like last time, I spent some time researching, but luckily it didn't cause any delays—safety comes first when driving.
