Can I get a license plate if the temporary license plate has expired?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates cannot be used to obtain a permanent license plate if they have expired. A temporary license plate is a provisional vehicle driving certificate issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authority when a car has not yet been officially registered due to pending procedures. Temporary license plates are categorized into: 1. Temporary license plates for administrative jurisdictions; 2. Temporary license plates for cross-administrative jurisdictions; 3. Temporary license plates for testing purposes; 4. Temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles. The required materials for applying for a temporary license plate include: 1. Identity proofs of the vehicle owner and the agent; 2. Proof of the vehicle's origin; 3. For domestically produced vehicles, the whole vehicle factory certificate; for imported vehicles, the import certificate; 4. Vehicle identification number and engine number rubbing molds.
Last time when my temporary license plate expired, I was worried whether I could still get it registered. I rushed to the DMV to ask, and they said it was definitely possible, just needed to bring all the required documents: the car purchase invoice, ID card, vehicle insurance policy, etc. But they advised not to drive there with an expired plate, as getting caught would result in a fine. I got my permanent license plate processed that same day, spending most of the day queuing and filling out forms, and the staff also checked the vehicle condition. Temporary plates usually have a 15-day validity period, and after expiration, there's a grace period, but it's best to handle it promptly without delay. I also heard about a friend who waited too long to process it and got fined several hundred dollars plus penalty points. Driving safety comes first, so if your plates aren't compliant, don’t hit the road—just call a tow truck or take a taxi to save yourself the hassle. It’s easy to forget this kind of thing, so setting a phone reminder is a good idea to avoid unnecessary trouble.
