Can I drive on the road with a temporary license plate but no vehicle license?

[AdrianFitz]

A new car with a temporary license plate but no vehicle license cannot be driven on the road. According to regulations, driving on the road requires carrying the vehicle license. If the vehicle license is not available, driving is not permitted. If caught driving without it, the driver will face a fine, a deduction of 1 point, and the vehicle will be temporarily impounded until the vehicle license is provided. Here are some important points to note when registering a vehicle: Vehicle registration certificate is required for registration: When registering the vehicle at the vehicle management office, the vehicle registration certificate must be submitted to the staff for archiving. Purchase invoice is required for registration: Whether buying from a 4S store or a car dealership, the owner will receive a purchase invoice after the purchase. This invoice must be kept safe, as without it, the vehicle cannot be registered. The purchase invoice must also be submitted to the vehicle management office staff during registration for archiving.

[DiRiver]

This is a pretty common issue. I once encountered a similar situation when helping a friend pick up a new car. The temporary license plate provided by the 4S store allows you to drive on the road—it's a short-term pass recognized by the traffic police. However, the vehicle registration certificate is different; it's the official ID of the car and is only issued after the vehicle inspection at the DMV. Last time when I accompanied my friend to complete the procedures, the DMV staff specifically reminded us: you can only drive with the temporary plate before getting the blue registration certificate. If stopped by the police, you’ll need to explain the situation, and they usually give you time to complete the formalities. But be mindful of the validity period of the temporary plate, which generally ranges from 7 to 30 days—driving with an expired temporary plate will result in a direct 12-point deduction. Once at a highway service area, I even saw someone’s car impounded because their temporary plate had expired—it was a huge hassle.

[PenelopeRose]

Temporary license plates are legal road permits issued by traffic authorities, as clearly stated in the Road Traffic Safety Law. However, the vehicle registration certificate serves as the car's ID—driving without it is like driving without a license. A relative of mine ran into trouble last year when buying a used car: the original owner hadn't completed the transfer procedures, and the buyer hit the road with just a temporary plate. When an accident occurred, the insurance company denied the claim because the vehicle hadn't been properly registered. Here's a tip when picking up a new car or handling a transfer: ask the dealer to note the insurance effective date and temporary plate expiration date on the paperwork. It's also wise to keep the purchase invoice and insurance policy in the car for reference during inspections. Remember to affix temporary plates on the lower left corner of the front windshield and the lower left corner of the rear window—don't just toss them on the dashboard like some people do.

[Ezekiel]

Temporary license plates are valid for driving within their effective period. In my experience working at an auto repair shop, I've seen many cases where new car owners thought having temporary plates was all they needed, but many weren't aware of a crucial detail: the temporary plates must align with the validity period of compulsory traffic insurance. Once, a customer's temporary plates had three days left, but their insurance expired the next day, resulting in two months of disputes when filing a claim. Pay special attention to the type of temporary plates: orange plates for cross-administrative regions and local blue plates have different permissions—confirm this clearly before long-distance trips. Don't panic if stopped for inspection; have copies of the vehicle qualification certificate and invoice ready. Many places now accept electronic insurance policies. Remember to charge your phone with a power bank for easy access to system information when checked by traffic police.