How long does it take to get a temporary license plate?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates can be obtained on the same day they are applied for. When using temporary license plates, it is equally important to comply with traffic rules, as temporary plates have the same legal effect as regular license plates. Additionally, pay attention to the validity period of the temporary plates. Temporary license plates are paper motor vehicle plates that allow temporary road use, issued by the vehicle management department of the public security bureau for newly purchased vehicles before official registration. The validity period of temporary plates generally does not exceed 30 days and is divided into four types: temporary plates for administrative districts, temporary plates for cross-administrative districts, temporary plates for testing purposes, and temporary plates for special-type motor vehicles.
When I bought my car, I applied for a temporary license plate, and it felt pretty quick—usually, you can get it the same day. As long as you have all the required documents ready, such as your ID card, vehicle certification, and purchase invoice, you just need to queue up at the DMV. Once the staff verifies everything is correct, they’ll print and issue it to you directly. The whole process, from entering to leaving, often takes just half an hour. However, a reminder: temporary plates have a short validity period, usually 15 to 30 days, so you should hurry to replace them with permanent plates to avoid fines or towing. I also recommend calling ahead or checking the DMV’s working hours online to avoid holidays when crowds and longer queues are common. This saved me a lot of hassle.
