Can I drive on the day the temporary license plate expires?
2 Answers
You can drive on the day the temporary license plate expires, as long as it's before midnight. The paper motor vehicle license plate that permits temporary road use, also known as a temporary vehicle license plate, is issued by the vehicle management department of the public security bureau for newly purchased vehicles before formal registration. The validity period of a temporary license plate generally does not exceed thirty days. A license plate, commonly referred to as a vehicle plate, is a panel made of materials such as aluminum, sheet iron, plastic, or paper, displaying the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other relevant information. It is mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle. License plates serve to number and register vehicle information, primarily enabling identification of the vehicle's region of registration and facilitating access to the owner's details and the vehicle's registration information through the plate number.
I know it's best not to drive on the day the temporary license plate expires. Once the temporary plate's validity period ends, it becomes invalid. If you drive with it, you're likely to be stopped by traffic police, fined, and possibly have points deducted. Most importantly, if you're involved in an accident that day, the insurance company may not cover the losses, leaving you fully responsible. I recommend going to the DMV to renew your new license plate one or two days in advance, not waiting until the last day. Temporary plates are usually only valid for about ten days or a month, after which you must either get a permanent plate or renew the temporary one. Some places have strict rules where it's technically valid until midnight on the expiration day, but it's not guaranteed and carries high risks. Safety should always come first when driving—don't take chances to avoid regret later. It's better to handle it properly in advance.
