Can unlicensed vehicles drive on highways?
3 Answers
Vehicles without license plates cannot drive on highways. According to Article 8 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, the state implements a registration system for motor vehicles. Motor vehicles can only be driven on roads after being registered with the traffic management department of the public security authority. For motor vehicles that have not yet been registered and need to be driven on roads temporarily, temporary license plates must be obtained. Below is additional information: 1. Temporary license plates: Paper motor vehicle license plates that allow temporary road use are called temporary driving license plates. These are temporary vehicle driving certificates issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authority for newly purchased vehicles before official registration. The validity period of temporary license plates generally does not exceed thirty days. 2. Documents required for temporary license plate application: Identity proofs of the vehicle owner and agent, proof of vehicle origin, the whole vehicle factory qualification certificate for domestically produced motor vehicles, import certificates for imported motor vehicles, and imprints of the vehicle identification number (frame number) and engine number.
As a seasoned driver with over 20 years of experience who has encountered all kinds of road conditions, I can tell you unequivocally that unlicensed vehicles absolutely cannot be driven on highways. Highways are the most strictly monitored areas for traffic control, equipped with numerous cameras and electronic police systems that automatically scan license plates. An unlicensed vehicle will be immediately identified and flagged as soon as it enters, with police cars quickly dispatched to intercept it. The consequences are severe: fines typically range from 1,000 to 2,000 yuan, the vehicle will be impounded, and you'll have to pay towing fees while dealing with the violation. Even worse are the safety risks—unlicensed vehicles may lack annual inspections or insurance, making liability hard to determine in case of an accident on the highway. Insurance companies won’t cover damages, and personal safety becomes a major concern. I’ve witnessed several accidents where drivers of unlicensed cars were fined first before dealing with the crash, suffering huge losses. The only way out is to properly register your vehicle—it’s the surest way to avoid unnecessary trouble and risks.
My friend and I talked about this last year. He temporarily drove with an expired license plate and didn't replace it with a new one, attempting to take the highway for an out-of-town errand. As soon as he entered the toll station, he was caught by the surveillance cameras, and a patrol car immediately pulled him over. He received a 1,500 yuan fine, had his car towed with a 500 yuan towing fee, and wasted half a day dealing with the aftermath. Those smart systems at highway entrances operate 24/7, and driving without a license plate is like walking into a trap. Many people think they might slip through on rural roads, but highways are different—they're densely monitored, and there's no escape. Since that incident, I always remind people around me: a license plate is a basic form of identification. Don't risk big trouble to save a little money. Safety and the law are both important—just go to the DMV and get your plates properly.
