Can the temporary license plate still be used after the official license plate is issued?
2 Answers
After the official license plate is issued, the temporary license plate cannot be used. Once the license plate is received, the temporary license plate becomes invalid. Even if the temporary license plate has not expired, it will become invalid once the official license plate is obtained. For newly licensed vehicles, after receiving the new license plate, a few car owners may not install it. However, it is mandatory to install the new license plate at the vehicle management office before driving on the road. Driving without installing the license plate is considered a violation of the regulations regarding the installation of license plates. License plates are plates mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle, typically made of aluminum, iron, plastic, or paper, displaying the vehicle's registration number, registration region, and other relevant information. The primary purpose of license plates is to identify the vehicle's region of registration and to trace the vehicle's owner and registration details through the license plate.
Having driven for over a decade, I've seen this scenario too often—never keep using temporary plates after receiving your official license plates. I remember a friend who got lazy about switching when his temp tag still had a few days left, and ended up fined 200 yuan with points deducted by traffic police. Legally speaking, temporary plates automatically expire once official ones are issued; continuing to use them constitutes unlicensed driving, which carries significant risks—insurance may deny claims in accidents, and even car theft becomes a headache. Not to mention the constant risk of being pulled over and impounded, endangering yourself and others. So my advice: replace temporary plates immediately upon receiving the official ones. Don’t delay—it’s simple DIY installation, just screw them on, then tear up and trash the temp plates to prevent misuse.
