Can Temporary License Plates Still Be Used After Receiving Permanent Plates?

[Ivy]

Temporary license plates cannot be used once permanent plates are obtained. After receiving the official license plates, the temporary plates become invalid regardless of whether their expiration date has passed. Temporary license plates are paper-based motor vehicle plates that permit temporary road use, also known as temporary driving permits. They are issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authority for newly purchased vehicles before formal registration. Conditions for applying for temporary plates: 1. When driving the vehicle from the place of purchase to the place of use, temporary plates must be applied for at the vehicle management office in the purchase location; 2. When transferring vehicle registration and after surrendering the official plates, temporary plates must be applied for at the local vehicle management office to drive back to the original location; 3. When purchasing a vehicle locally and driving it to another location, temporary plates must be applied for locally to drive to the other location; 4. When the vehicle registration is not yet fixed and temporary use is needed; 5. For special vehicles that cannot be registered due to exceeding national standards in axle load, total mass, or overall dimensions.

[AustinRose]

Temporary and permanent license plates cannot coexist—this is a strict rule. I remember last year when my neighbor’s new car arrived at the dealership, the permanent plates were mailed a few days late, so he drove to work with the temporary plate without issue. However, when he received the permanent plates on Friday but continued using the temporary one, he was pulled over and fined by Monday. The traffic police explained that once the permanent plates are delivered, the temporary plate loses its legal validity. Nowadays, the DMV system is highly intelligent—once the permanent plates are activated, the temporary plate number is automatically frozen. So, as soon as you receive the permanent plates, even if the temporary one is still unopened in the trunk, never use it. My advice is to install the permanent plates immediately—don’t take any chances.

[VonMax]

The temporary license plate must be deactivated once the metal plate is obtained. This is what I heard from the staff at the DMV window. Their system does not allow two license plates to coexist; the temporary plate becomes invalid the moment the metal plate is activated. Last week, a friend of mine had a new car with a temporary plate that hadn't expired yet, but after installing the metal plate, they continued using the temporary plate on the road. As a result, they were caught by an electronic eye for driving without a license plate, leading to points deducted and a fine. The solution is actually very simple: install the metal plate on the same day you receive it, and tear up and discard the old temporary plate immediately. Don't even think about using it as a temporary transition for a few more days—everything is now connected and recognized online.

[VanOmar]

According to traffic regulations, temporary license plates become invalid once the metal plates are issued. I experienced this firsthand—when I first picked up my car with temporary plates, I had more freedom, but after receiving the metal plates by mail, the 4S dealership specifically called to remind me: the temporary plates must be discontinued immediately. I remember once seeing traffic police inspecting vehicles at a highway checkpoint, where a car owner had their metal plates stored in the trunk while still displaying temporary plates, resulting in the vehicle being impounded on the spot. Nowadays, vehicle recognition systems are highly advanced; once the metal plate information is entered into the traffic management system, temporary plates become useless. The safest approach is to install the metal plates immediately upon receipt and either return the temporary plates to the DMV or destroy them.