Can You Drive Without Temporary License Plates?
3 Answers
New cars cannot be driven on the road without temporary license plates. According to relevant laws and regulations in China, vehicles must be licensed, and even without formal license plates, temporary ones are required. Introduction to temporary license plates: 1. A paper motor vehicle license plate that permits temporary driving on the road, also known as a temporary driving license plate. It refers to a temporary vehicle driving certificate issued by the public security vehicle management department for newly purchased vehicles before formal registration. 2. The validity period of a temporary license plate generally does not exceed thirty days. There are four types: temporary license plates for administrative jurisdictions, temporary license plates for cross-administrative jurisdictions, temporary license plates for testing purposes, and temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles.
To be honest, I get asked this question a lot. Without temporary license plates, the vehicle simply cannot be driven on the road. This is because temporary plates are the only legal proof for driving after purchasing a car—they serve as the vehicle's ID card, allowing traffic police to verify that your car is newly purchased and not yet officially registered during inspections. If you drive without them, it will be considered illegal operation, which could result in anything from a fine of a few hundred yuan to having your car impounded or even towed—it's a huge hassle. I've even heard of people trying to cut corners, thinking a short drive without plates would be fine, only to get pulled over midway and nearly delay their car purchase paperwork. So no matter how urgent it is, you must first go to the DMV or the 4S dealership to apply for temporary plates. These usually cost just 10 yuan and are easily affixed to the front and rear windshields—simple and reliable. In short, to save time, money, and avoid risks, never take the chance of driving without them. Safe driving comes first—it's the most basic responsibility of any driver.
Buddy, I know this issue all too well. If you hit the road without a temporary license plate, that's absolutely not allowed. With so many cameras and traffic cops on the road, you'll get caught in no time, and then there's no escaping the ticket and penalty points. I've got a friend who just picked up a new car without getting a temp plate, thinking it was only a few kilometers to drive home. Got pulled over halfway, not only fined but the car was impounded for a week—totally regretted it. And the temporary plate isn't just for inspections; it's crucial for insurance to be valid—without it, if an accident happens, the insurance won't cover it, and the losses could be much greater. My advice is to get the temp plate on the same day you buy the car. Nowadays, dealerships can handle it for you—just stick it on and you're good to go. Don't cut corners for a little convenience; following traffic rules is what really matters. Drive safely on the road, protect yourself and others.
