What are the differences between genuine and fake temporary license plates?
2 Answers
Here are the specific differences between genuine and fake temporary license plates: 1. Paper quality: Genuine temporary plates use specialized paper, and each new vehicle can only apply for one. They bear the official seal of the traffic police department. Temporary plates must be reviewed and approved by the Vehicle Management Office of the Municipal Traffic Police Detachment before use. 2. Font style: Temporary plates, like regular plates, use specialized fonts. The length and width of the characters on the seal are noticeably different. Counterfeit plates have stiff fonts with unrounded corners on the numbers. 3. Printing patterns: The authenticity of temporary plates can be identified with the naked eye. Genuine temporary plates have printed patterns on the front, with some solid dots; fake temporary plates mostly have hollow patterns.
Last time I helped a friend inspect a vehicle, I paid special attention to the differences between temporary license plates. Genuine temporary plates are printed on special watermarked paper with a textured feel, featuring bright red official seals from the DMV, and the serial numbers can be verified in the traffic management system. Fake temporary plates use ordinary paper, with dull or blurry seals, and the numbers don’t match the system at all. The amount of information also differs: genuine plates clearly display the vehicle identification number (VIN), issue date, and expiration date, while fakes often omit critical details or intentionally list unrealistically long validity periods. Using a fake temporary plate is equivalent to driving without a license—getting caught results in an immediate 12-point deduction, and the vehicle will be impounded. Some counterfeit plates now look quite convincing, but under UV light, hidden anti-counterfeiting marks are visible, which forgers struggle to replicate accurately.
