What are the penalties for driving a new car without temporary license plates?
4 Answers
If a new car is driven on the road without temporary license plates, the traffic police may issue a warning or impose a fine ranging from 20 to 200 yuan. Below is relevant information about temporary license plates for cars: 1. Application process: (1) To apply for temporary license plates, the car buyer needs to provide their ID card, purchase invoice, compulsory traffic insurance policy (copy), and the vehicle's factory certificate. Copies of these four documents must also be submitted. (2) Go to the vehicle management office window to apply, fill out the application form, and submit the required materials. After review, you can pay a 5-yuan processing fee to receive the temporary license plates. (3) Temporary license plates for new cars are valid for no more than 15 days, and the owner should promptly apply for official license plates from the vehicle management authority. 2. Necessity of obtaining temporary license plates for new cars: Any new car must have temporary license plates before being driven on the road. New car owners should apply for temporary license plates as soon as they obtain the vehicle invoice, new car certificate, and compulsory traffic insurance policy. Driving without temporary license plates is not permitted.
I've encountered this situation before. A friend of mine got pulled over the day after picking up his new car because he didn't have temporary license plates displayed. The traffic police explained that driving a vehicle without valid license plates, whether temporary or permanent, is considered a violation. Under the current 9th edition of traffic regulations, this offense incurs 9 penalty points plus a minimum fine of 200 yuan. In some cities, they even impound the vehicle directly. The worst part is that insurance won't cover any accidents that occur in this situation, leaving you fully liable. Actually, dealerships provide temporary plates when you pick up the car - yellow plates with black characters should be placed on the lower left corner of the front windshield, while blue plates with black characters go on the rear windshield. Never be lazy and just toss them in the glove compartment. If you genuinely forgot to bring them, don't try to push through - pull over and show the traffic police your purchase invoice. Being cooperative might reduce the penalty. My suggestion is to have the salesperson help you properly install the plates before driving off. If you're really in a hurry, consider using a tow truck - the cost is much lower than dealing with fines.
Driving a new car without temporary license plates is extremely risky. Last time, I witnessed traffic police towing a car to the parking lot, and the parking fee alone cost over 300 yuan later. A 200-yuan fine isn't actually the most severe part—the real killer for new drivers is the 9-point deduction. The law also stipulates that compulsory traffic insurance must be compensated at a discounted rate for unlicensed vehicles. If you rear-end a luxury car, you could lose everything. Some experienced drivers think temporary plates are just a piece of paper and that police won't easily notice, but many patrol cars are now equipped with license plate recognition systems that can detect obstructions within two seconds. When picking up your car, remember to ask the 4S dealership to issue three temporary plates—one for the front, one for the back, and one as a spare, valid for up to 30 days. If you forget to display them, avoid running red lights or taking expressways; back roads make you less likely to be spotted.
After the new traffic regulations took effect, this situation will directly result in a 9-point deduction, which is even stricter than running a red light. The key point is that it is illegal as long as the wheels touch the road surface, even if you are just moving your car from the residential area to the opposite side of the street. During enforcement, traffic police will check two things—whether there is intentional evasion of license plate display and the actual status of the license plate. If you are stopped, immediately present the vehicle's certificate of conformity and purchase invoice to prove it is not a stolen vehicle. In such cases, it is usually only treated as failure to display the license plate. Remember not to argue with the traffic police, as their body cameras are recording. It is recommended to affix the temporary license plate in the 4S store's delivery area and take a photo with your phone for record-keeping. If you need to pick up the car across cities, it is best to apply for a nationwide temporary license plate in advance, as local temporary plates cannot be used outside the province.
