How Long Must a New Car Be Licensed?
2 Answers
There is no time limit for licensing a new car, but it must be licensed if you want to drive it on the road. If you cannot license it in time but need to drive it, you must obtain a temporary license plate before hitting the road. According to the 'Motor Vehicle License and Certificate Regulations,' if a motor vehicle is not registered after acquisition and needs to be driven temporarily within the administrative region, a temporary driving license plate valid for no more than 15 days will be issued; if it is necessary to drive temporarily across administrative regions, a temporary driving license plate valid for no more than 30 days will be issued. If the owner of the motor vehicle needs to apply for a temporary driving license plate multiple times, the vehicle management office shall not issue temporary driving license plates more than three times. Driving a motor vehicle without a license plate will result in a fine of 20-200 yuan, 6 points deducted from the driver's license, and the motor vehicle being impounded. There is no deadline for licensing at the vehicle management office, but the purchase tax has a tax payment period (within 60 days from the date of invoice issuance), and after the deadline, a late fee of 0.05% of the tax amount per day will be charged; if on the road, bring the temporary license plate and the car purchase invoice; in addition, you can buy insurance first. There is no strict rule in our country that a new car must be licensed within a few days. However, the temporary license plate after buying a car can only be used for one month, and then you cannot drive on the road without a license plate. Secondly, no consumer would buy a new car and not use it, waiting for years to get a license plate. Therefore, a new car should be licensed as soon as possible, and if the materials are well prepared, it can basically be processed on the same day. In the legal provisions, there is no specific regulation on how long a new car can go unregistered before a fine is required. However, for vehicles driving on the road, the law clearly stipulates that they need to be registered and licensed according to the law before driving on the road. If not registered, a temporary license plate must be legally applied for to drive temporarily.
Last year, I bought a new car, and the salesperson specifically reminded me to complete the license plate registration within 30 days. If this deadline is missed, traffic police may impose a fine starting from several hundred yuan, and even worse, the car could be impounded. I went to the vehicle management office a week after picking up the car, bringing the invoice, ID card, vehicle certificate of conformity, and compulsory insurance policy. The process—including vehicle inspection, number plate selection, and fee payment—was completed in half a day. I remember the staff mentioning that it’s better to register early because the temporary license plate is only valid for a few days. Driving with an expired temporary plate is illegal and can affect insurance claims and annual inspections. A friend of mine delayed the process and ended up being fined two months later, regretting not handling it promptly. Requirements may vary slightly by city—for example, Shanghai has stricter rules—so it’s best to clarify local regulations when purchasing the car and act early to save hassle and ensure peace of mind. The vehicle management office is quite efficient; with an appointment, waiting times are short, so avoid the last-minute rush.
