Can Xi'an Temporary License Plates Be Used Outside Xi'an?
3 Answers
If it is a temporary license plate for administrative jurisdiction, it can be used outside Xi'an city but not outside Shaanxi province. If it is a temporary license plate for cross-administrative jurisdiction, it can be used both outside Xi'an city and outside Shaanxi province. More relevant information is as follows: 1. Temporary license plate for administrative jurisdiction: Sky (phthalocyanine) blue background with black characters and black frame lines, applicable to motor vehicles temporarily driving within the administrative jurisdiction. The validity period is based on the endorsement date, generally 15 days. 2. Temporary license plate for cross-administrative jurisdiction: Brown-yellow background with black characters and black frame lines, applicable to motor vehicles temporarily moving across administrative regions, valid for 30 days from the date of issuance.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and this question keeps coming up. The temporary license plates in Xi'an are usually local ones, only valid within the city limits of Xi'an or extended to the entire Shaanxi Province, but they cannot be used outside the province to other regions. Temporary plates are mainly for the transition period of new cars, designed with regional restrictions to prevent unregistered vehicles from roaming around, making it difficult to trace in case of accidents. Last time, a neighbor of mine tried to travel to Zhengzhou with temporary plates, only to be stopped by highway police halfway, fined two hundred yuan, and forced to turn back. So, if you really need to go out of the province for business, it's best to apply for an inter-provincial temporary license plate at the vehicle management office in advance, which allows nationwide travel. Always check the back of the temporary plate—it usually prints the applicable area to avoid trouble.
As a young car owner who just bought a car not long ago, I was also curious about this. Most temporary license plates in Xi'an are local in nature and generally cannot be driven outside Xi'an City or Shaanxi Province, as they only have temporary permission, and crossing regions might be illegal. I remember when I first picked up my car, the salesperson reminded me not to drive it out of town, otherwise, it would be easy to get a ticket or points deducted. Later, I checked the traffic regulations and found that local temporary plates are only valid within designated areas, and exceeding them can cause trouble. My suggestion is that when you buy a new car or change plates, directly ask the 4S store or the vehicle management office to apply for an inter-provincial temporary plate, which is more worry-free. When driving normally, it's best to pay attention to GPS positioning to avoid unintentionally crossing boundaries and getting checked.
