Can You Drive Without a Front License Plate?
2 Answers
You cannot drive without a front license plate. Here are some details: 1. Handling Method: If your license plate is lost, you must report it to the police immediately. After obtaining a license plate loss certificate from the police station, proceed to the vehicle management office to apply for a replacement. On the way to the vehicle management office, traffic police officers will not penalize you for driving without a license plate if you present the loss certificate. 2. License Plate Replacement: To replace a license plate, the vehicle owner must visit the local vehicle management office, fill out the "Motor Vehicle License Plate Application Form," and provide original and photocopied identity documents. After verification, you will receive a temporary driving license plate valid for 7 days. The official license plate can be collected after 5 working days. 3. Penalty: For vehicles registered outside the local area, the license plate replacement can be processed at the vehicle management office in the registration location or mailed to an authorized representative. The vehicle can only be driven after the new license plate is installed. Otherwise, driving without a license plate will result in a penalty of 12 demerit points and a fine of 200 yuan.
The other day I noticed the front license plate of my car had fallen off—what a stroke of bad luck. I quickly checked the regulations and found out that national laws require vehicles to have both front and rear license plates to be road-legal. Missing the front plate counts as a violation, and if the police pull you over, they’ll deduct points. A friend of mine experienced this—he was fined 200 yuan and had 6 points deducted, plus his car had to be parked on the side of the road to deal with the issue. What’s worse, in case of an accident or traffic jam, others might not clearly see your plate and mistake your car for an unlicensed vehicle or suspect you’re evading responsibility, leading to even bigger trouble. So I rushed to a repair shop to get a new plate made and installed, and also had the screws checked. A veteran driver’s advice: never take chances—safety first. Trying to save a little time could lead to serious consequences.
