Can Temporary License Plates Be Recognized in Parking Lots?

[McHeidi]

Temporary license plates cannot be recognized in parking lots. Here is relevant information about temporary license plates: Validity period of temporary license plates: Temporary license plates expire after 15 days. During the period of using temporary license plates without formal ones, if caught violating traffic rules by traffic police, corresponding demerit points and fines will be imposed. Required materials for applying for temporary license plates: Identity proofs of the vehicle owner and the agent, proof of vehicle origin, the whole vehicle factory qualification certificate for domestically produced vehicles, import certificate for imported vehicles, and rubbing molds of the vehicle identification code (frame number) and engine number.

[BrandonFitz]

I recently got a temporary license plate, and there are actually some nuances to it. Regular parking lots can generally recognize it, as high-definition cameras paired with smart systems can scan it as long as your temporary plate is properly affixed without wrinkles. However, some older residential areas with barrier gates or unattended parking lots can be more troublesome, and you might need to use the manual lane for registration. It’s best to observe before entering a parking lot—if there’s a security booth at the entrance, notify them in advance. If there’s no one around, be careful when exiting to avoid being stopped. Also, remember that temporary plates must be properly affixed to the front and rear windshields as required—don’t just place them on a semi-transparent spot like the dashboard, as the recognition failure rate will be high. If it fails to recognize twice in a row, it’s best to find another place to park, otherwise, you might have trouble getting out.

[StAllie]

Speaking of temporary license plate recognition, my colleague had an embarrassing experience last week. His Tesla with a temporary plate couldn't be recognized in the mall parking garage no matter what, and it took three attempts of reversing before finally succeeding. Actually, most modern parking lot AI recognition systems can handle paper license plates now - the key is the camera angle. Temporary plates should ideally be fixed at the lower left corner of front and rear windows, avoiding wiper areas and black dots. Remember that double-layer temporary plates must have both sheets displayed - using just one will definitely cause problems. Glossy laminated temporary plates are even more troublesome; it's recommended to use low beam headlights and turn off fog lights before entering underground parking to improve recognition rates. Manual toll booths usually have no issues, but with fully automatic systems it's often down to luck.

[DiAdriana]

This depends on the parking facility's equipment level. New shopping malls can generally recognize them - our MixC mall even scans Hong Kong/Macau temporary plates. But older mechanical barrier systems struggle, especially those with outdated cameras lacking auxiliary lighting, where recognition rates plummet on cloudy days or at dusk. For temporary plates, I recommend following closely behind another car when entering, waiting until the vehicle ahead completely passes before proceeding, giving the system extra scanning time. For paper temporary plates, avoid curled edges - if the AC blows and flips it up, recognition will definitely fail. If stuck, press the help button rather than forcing through. Last month during my temporary plate period, I entered/exited over twenty parking facilities with only about three recognition failures.