Can you drive on the highway without temporary license plates?
2 Answers
Driving on the highway without temporary license plates is not allowed. Temporary license plates can be categorized into: 1. Temporary license plates for administrative jurisdictions; 2. Temporary license plates for cross-administrative jurisdictions; 3. Temporary license plates for testing purposes; 4. Temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles. Temporary license plates are paper motor vehicle license plates that allow temporary road use of motor vehicles, also known as temporary driving license plates. Conditions for applying for temporary license plates: 1. Driving the vehicle back to the place of use from the place of purchase; 2. Vehicle transfer, with official license plates already surrendered; 3. New vehicles in the local area that have not yet obtained official license plates and need to be driven to another location for modifications; 4. Vehicles purchased locally that need to be driven to another location; 5. Vehicles without fixed registration that require temporary trial use.
Back when I first started driving, a friend of mine bought a new car and was in a hurry to take the highway back to his hometown. He got stopped by the police for not having temporary license plates, was fined, and even had points deducted from his license—his car was almost towed away. As someone with over 20 years of driving experience, I told him: That was way too risky. Temporary plates aren’t something to mess around with—they’re proof that your car is legally allowed on the road. In China, a newly purchased car must have valid temporary plates to drive on the highway. Otherwise, it’s considered unlicensed driving, which not only risks getting caught but also means insurance won’t cover you in case of an accident—the losses can be huge. Remember, before hitting the road, always go to the DMV first to get temporary plates. They usually last about 15 days and allow highway driving, but don’t forget to renew them or switch to permanent plates before they expire. Don’t be like my friend, cutting corners only to pay a bigger price later. Safety first—that’s the smart way to go.
