How Long Can a Temporary License Plate Be Used?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates can be used for thirty days. A temporary vehicle license plate is a provisional driving permit issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authority for newly purchased vehicles before they are officially registered. Based on the type of license plate, temporary plates can be categorized into temporary plates for administrative jurisdictions, temporary plates for cross-administrative jurisdictions, temporary plates for testing purposes, and temporary plates for special-type motor vehicles. The use of temporary plates is subject to time limits and regional restrictions. You can apply for a temporary plate at the local vehicle management office if you meet any of the following conditions: 1. When driving the vehicle from the place of purchase to the place of use, you need to apply for a temporary plate at the vehicle management office in the place of purchase; 2. When transferring vehicle registration and the official plate has been surrendered, you need to apply for a temporary plate at the local vehicle management office to drive back to your locality; 3. For a new vehicle that has not obtained an official plate in the local area and needs to be driven to another location for modifications, you must apply for a temporary plate locally. After modifications are completed, apply for a temporary plate at the local office to drive back to the original area; 4. When purchasing a vehicle locally and needing to drive it to another location, you must apply for a temporary plate locally for the journey, and vice versa; 5. When the vehicle registration is not yet fixed and temporary use is required.
When I bought a new car last year, I used a temporary license plate, which was only valid for 15 days. At the time, I thought the duration was quite short and I needed to hurry to the DMV to get the official plates. The 4S store explained to me that temporary plates are just for the transition period, allowing the car to be legally driven for test drives or movement, but they can’t be used long-term—otherwise, you might get fined or have your car impounded by traffic police. I heard that in some areas, they only issue temporary plates for 7 days, so it’s best to check local regulations. If you’re still driving with an expired temporary plate, you might get penalty points and a 200-yuan fine, and your insurance might become invalid, so you need to be extra careful. I recommend scheduling your official plate registration immediately after buying a car—don’t delay. Temporary plates also come in local and inter-regional types, and the validity for inter-regional ones might be stricter—definitely don’t use them for long trips. Remember to keep the receipt in case any issues arise later.
