How Many Times Can a Temporary License Plate Be Applied For?
2 Answers
Temporary license plates can be applied for up to 3 times. Temporary license plates are only valid within their effective period. The validity period for temporary license plates within an administrative region is 7 to 15 days. If the official license plate cannot be issued within the period of using the temporary license plate, the vehicle owner needs to apply for a temporary license plate again. When a vehicle applies for temporary license plates more than three times, the vehicle will be locked and cannot apply for any more. Temporary license plates are paper motor vehicle license plates that allow motor vehicles to temporarily drive on the road, also known as temporary driving license plates. They are temporary vehicle driving certificates issued by the vehicle management department of the public security bureau for newly purchased vehicles before formal registration. The validity period of temporary license plates does not exceed thirty days, and there are four types: temporary license plates within administrative regions, temporary license plates across administrative regions, temporary license plates for testing purposes, and temporary license plates for special-type motor vehicles.
I remember when I bought a car, the new license plate procedures took a long time, and I had to apply for temporary plates three times in total. The first one was the standard 15-day validity period. After it expired and the official plates hadn't arrived yet, I reapplied at the DMV and got another 30 days. The third time was because I had to travel out of town and needed a temporary plate for the transition. The staff told me that as long as the reason is valid, such as delays in new car procedures or transferring to another location, multiple applications are possible. However, frequent operations, like applying several times within a month, might be rejected to prevent misuse. I recommend keeping it to two or three times at most and not relying too much on temporary plates—getting the official plates done as soon as possible is more convenient. Sharing this experience to remind everyone to prepare materials like the car purchase invoice and ID card in advance to minimize issues. Overall, there are limits to temporary plates, but they are flexible—the key is to stay legal and compliant.