Should You Apply for a Temporary License Plate or Buy Insurance First for a New Car?
4 Answers
For a new car, you should purchase insurance before applying for a license plate. Additional information is as follows: 1. Vehicle Insurance: Vehicle insurance, also known as motor vehicle insurance or auto insurance, refers to a type of commercial insurance that covers liability for personal injuries or property damage caused by natural disasters or accidents involving motor vehicles. 2. License Plate: A license plate, commonly referred to as a vehicle plate or number plate, is a plate typically made of aluminum, sheet metal, plastic, or paper, displaying the vehicle's registration number, registration region, or other relevant information. It is mounted on the front and rear of the vehicle. License plates serve to number and register vehicles, with their primary function being to identify the vehicle's region of registration and to trace the vehicle's owner and registration details through the plate number.
This is a very practical question, and I also struggled with it when buying a car. Purchasing insurance first is a must, especially since without compulsory traffic insurance, the DMV won’t issue a temporary license plate at all. The general process is to buy insurance immediately after payment, and only after the compulsory insurance takes effect can you apply for a temporary plate with the policy. Remember to get commercial insurance sorted out as well, like scratch insurance and third-party liability insurance, so you’re covered in case of any scrapes during the temporary plate period. Last month, I accompanied a friend to pick up their car, and the 4S dealership handled both the insurance and temporary plate for us in one go, saving a lot of hassle. The duration of temporary plates varies by location, usually 15 days, just don’t drive with an expired one.
First, the conclusion: you must purchase insurance first. Compulsory traffic insurance is a legal requirement; without it, the DMV will directly refuse to issue a temporary license plate. I've been through several new car handovers, and each time, the payment was made on the same day as the insurance policy was issued. Only with the electronic insurance policy can you apply for a paper temporary license plate. It's advisable to also purchase commercial insurance simultaneously, as nowadays, you can generate an electronic policy in just five minutes through an app. Be careful not to violate the rules regarding the placement of the temporary license plate—it must be properly affixed to the lower right corner of the front windshield and the lower left corner of the rear window, as traffic police are very strict about this. If you're handling the process yourself at the DMV, you'll also need to bring the car purchase invoice and a copy of your ID card.
From the process perspective, insurance must come first. Temporary license plates can only be issued after the compulsory traffic insurance takes effect, as clearly stated in regulations. When I bought my car last time, I purchased the insurance at 10 AM and got the temporary plates by 2 PM. Don't just focus on bargaining and forget about the insurance validity—it's best if the policy takes effect on the same day. I recommend applying for temporary plates twice: use the first 15-day one, then renew it for another period to allow more time for permanent registration. Remember not to cover the license plate area with the temporary plate—I've seen someone fined 200 yuan and penalized points, which was totally unfair.
