Does an Expired Temporary License Plate Affect Vehicle Registration?
2 Answers
An expired temporary license plate does not affect vehicle registration. You can still register your vehicle even if the temporary license plate has expired, as long as all the required documents are complete and legal. Vehicle registration is not related to whether the temporary license plate has expired. However, driving with an expired temporary license plate on the road will be penalized as driving without a license plate, resulting in a fine of 200 yuan and 12 demerit points. New vehicles must not use temporary license plates for more than 15 days, and owners should promptly apply for official license plates from the vehicle management authority. Relevant information about temporary license plates is as follows: 1. Temporary license plates indicate their validity period, so owners must pay attention to the expiration date and not drive on the road with an expired plate, as doing so may result in penalties, including demerit points, vehicle seizure, and fines. 2. Different regions have different handling methods. For example, in Shenzhen, driving a vehicle without a license plate, registration certificate, or temporary pass will result in the vehicle being impounded, a fine of 10,000 yuan, and a six-month suspension of the driver's license.
I helped a friend deal with this situation a while ago. An expired temporary license plate does affect the vehicle registration process, but it doesn’t mean it’s completely impossible to proceed. A temporary license plate is a provisional driving permit, usually valid for 7 to 15 days. If you go to the DMV to get your official plates after the temporary one expires, the biggest issue is that your car can’t legally be driven on the road—you might get pulled over by the police and fined or penalized. The registration process requires an inspection, and if your car gets stuck halfway and can’t move, naturally, you won’t be able to complete it. But the solution is simple: first, renew the temporary plate—for example, bring all the required documents like the car purchase invoice and ID to the original issuing authority to apply for an extension. Alternatively, contact the DMV directly—they might help arrange towing services to transport your car for inspection and registration. The key is not to wait until it expires; make arrangements as early as possible. I recommend starting the registration process within a week of getting your new car to avoid peak times and unnecessary delays. After all, no one wants to lose more by saving less—paying extra for towing or fines, which could later affect insurance and annual inspections.
