How are cloned license plate vehicles penalized?
2 Answers
All cloned license plate vehicles will result in 12 demerit points, a fine, administrative detention for up to 15 days, and the vehicle will be legally impounded. This refers to the forgery, alteration, or use of forged or altered motor vehicle registration certificates, license plates, driving licenses, or driver's licenses. The traffic management department of the public security authority will confiscate the items, impound the vehicle, impose detention for up to 15 days, and levy a fine.
I heard the penalties for driving a cloned vehicle are really severe. Having driven for so many years, I've seen quite a few cases like this. If you're caught driving a cloned car, the traffic police will immediately issue a fine upon discovery, starting from at least 2,000 RMB with no upper limit—it could go up to 5,000 or even more. The car will be impounded on the spot, and your driver's license points will be deducted heavily. In serious cases, you might even end up in detention for a few days. But that's not the worst part—if you're involved in a hit-and-run with a cloned vehicle, the consequences are even more severe, possibly leading to criminal liability. I know a guy who got into trouble this way—he bought a cloned used car to save some hassle, but ended up with his car impounded, fined, and a stain on his credit record that lasted for years. My advice to fellow drivers is to always check the license plate number carefully when buying a used car, compare it with the vehicle registration and VIN, and don’t cut corners to save a small amount only to suffer bigger losses. Driving a cloned car not only harms yourself but also screws over the original owner by making them take the blame—it’s just not worth it.
