What are the penalties for an expired temporary license plate?
2 Answers
Temporary license plate expiration will result in fines and demerit points. The following are the penalty regulations for expired temporary license plates: 1. Vehicle impoundment: If the temporary plate has expired and a new one has not been processed, the vehicle should be parked at home and not driven until the new temporary plate is obtained. Driving with an expired temporary plate, if caught, will result in the vehicle being impounded. An expired temporary plate is considered invalid and equivalent to driving without a license plate, which will be severely penalized if caught on the road. 2. Fine of 200 yuan: According to the "Road Traffic Law," driving with an expired temporary license plate, if caught, will result in a fine of 200 yuan. 3. Deduction of 12 points: The driving license has a total of 12 points, and driving with an expired temporary license plate, if caught, will result in an immediate deduction of 12 points.
I drove once with an expired temporary license plate and was later stopped by traffic police who fined me 500 yuan and deducted 2 points. According to regulations, temporary plates are typically valid for 7-15 days. Driving beyond this period counts as unlicensed driving, with fines ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan depending on the region. Police may also impound the vehicle, and towing it to a parking lot incurs additional storage fees. My friend had it worse—his insurance refused to cover an accident that occurred with an expired temporary plate, forcing him to pay tens of thousands out of pocket for repairs. Don’t delay on this; visit the DMV to get your permanent plates before expiration. Bring your ID and car purchase invoice—it takes about half an hour if the line isn’t long. Safety-wise, driving with expired plates is high-risk and can easily result in you being deemed fully at fault. I recommend setting reminders to track expiration dates as a habit.
