What are the penalties for driving without license plates?
2 Answers
According to the relevant provisions of the "Road Traffic Safety Law", driving without license plates will result in a 12-point deduction from the driver's license and a fine. Required documents for new vehicle registration: original and photocopy of ID card (if acting on behalf of someone else, both your own and the driver's documents are required), original and photocopy of the invoice, original and photocopy of the vehicle qualification certificate, original and photocopy of the compulsory insurance policy (the copy will be retained), and the tax payment certificate (the copy will be retained). Obtaining the vehicle qualification certificate: The vehicle qualification certificate is very important. Currently, some car 4S stores delay handing over the vehicle qualification certificate, which can postpone registration. Therefore, to obtain the vehicle qualification certificate as soon as possible, you should communicate more with the 4S store and be more assertive. Keep the triplicate car purchase invoice: After purchasing the car, the 4S store will issue a triplicate car purchase invoice, which must be kept safe as it will be used in the subsequent registration process. The invoice consists of red, yellow, and blue copies, generally requiring the submission of the red and yellow copies, while the yellow copy is kept by the buyer. Pay the vehicle purchase tax and obtain the tax payment certificates: After purchasing the vehicle, you should promptly pay the vehicle purchase tax, usually at the nearest vehicle management office. After successfully paying the vehicle purchase tax, you will receive the original and duplicate tax payment certificates, which should be kept safe. Prepare various documents in advance: Prepare the original ID card and photocopies (make several copies for backup). Non-local residents need to provide the original and photocopy of the temporary residence permit. (For organizations, the original and photocopy of the organization code certificate are required.) Register and inspect the vehicle at the vehicle management office: With all the documents ready, you can go to the vehicle management office to apply for a license plate. First, a specialized traffic police officer will inspect the vehicle, mainly checking the vehicle identification code, vehicle appearance, and the vehicle's warning triangle plate, which should be prepared in advance. Choose the vehicle license plate number: After the vehicle inspection, you can go to the vehicle management office hall to select a license plate number. Generally, there are two options: self-selected numbers and randomly selected numbers, and you can choose either method. Pay the fee and wait for the license plate: After selecting the number, pay the fee and wait to receive the license plate, which usually takes three to five working days.
As a veteran driver with nearly 20 years of experience, I've seen plenty of similar cases. The penalty for driving without license plates is no joke. Under China's traffic regulations, if caught by traffic police driving without plates, you'll face a minimum fine of 200 yuan, which can go up to 2,000 yuan, plus 6 demerit points. I remember a neighbor last year who forgot to display his temporary plate and got fined 200 yuan, nearly having his car towed. It's not just about the money - license plates are a vehicle's ID card. Without them, other drivers can't identify you. In case of an accident, if the other party can't locate the offending vehicle, the risk of hit-and-run increases significantly, posing a direct threat to road safety. My advice: get your formal plates from the DMV as soon as you buy a new car, and make sure temporary plates are prominently displayed on the windshield. Traffic cameras will fine you too if they catch you - don't cut corners and invite trouble.
