How long is the validity period of a temporary car license plate?
2 Answers
Car temporary license plates are valid for 15, 30, and 90 days, with household cars mainly having a 15-day validity period. The validity period of the temporary license plate starts counting from the moment it is issued. A temporary license plate is a paper motor vehicle license plate that permits temporary road use of a motor vehicle, also known as a temporary driving license plate. It is a temporary vehicle driving certificate issued by the public security vehicle management department for newly purchased vehicles before official registration. The conditions for applying for a temporary license plate are: 1. Driving the vehicle back from the place of purchase to the place of use; 2. Vehicle transfer, with official license plates already surrendered; 3. A new vehicle in the local area that has not yet applied for official license plates and needs to be driven to another location for modification; 4. Purchasing a vehicle locally and driving it to another location; 5. Needing temporary trial use before fixing the vehicle registration.
As an ordinary car owner, I recently bought a new car and was excited to learn that the temporary license plate is generally valid for 15 days. The salesperson told me that this period is designed as a transition phase and can be extended once to around 30 days. During this time, I need to hurry to the vehicle management office to get the official license plate and not delay. Although temporary plates are convenient, they have limitations, such as not being able to drive long distances or across provinces, otherwise, you might be stopped by traffic police. If you don’t handle it after it expires, the car becomes an 'illegal vehicle,' and driving it on the road could result in fines or even penalty points. When applying for a temporary plate, you need to bring the invoice and ID card—it’s a pretty straightforward process. I think it’s better to get it done early to avoid unnecessary trouble. In short, 15 days might sound short, but if you use the time wisely, even a new driver can make a smooth transition.
