What to Do If a Provincial Temporary License Plate Is Used Out of Province?
3 Answers
If a provincial temporary license plate is used out of province, you need to apply for a temporary license plate that allows cross-administrative jurisdiction. Below are the methods for displaying temporary license plates on a car: 1. One Plate: A single temporary license plate should be affixed to the lower left or right corner of the front windshield, ensuring it does not obstruct the driver's view. 2. Two Plates: If there are two temporary license plates, one should be placed on the front windshield, and the other should be affixed to the lower left corner of the rear windshield inside the car. If there is no space on the rear windshield, the other temporary license plate should still be carried in the vehicle. Below is additional relevant information: 1. Traffic Law Regulations: Car owners should be aware that temporary license plates are subject to the same traffic laws as regular license plates. Therefore, do not assume that temporary license plates allow reckless behavior or that they are too small to be captured by cameras—high-definition cameras can clearly record temporary license plates. 2. Types of Temporary License Plates: There are two types of temporary license plates: one has a light blue background with black characters and black borders, which is only valid for driving within the city (local temporary license plate); the other has a brown-yellow background with black characters and black borders, which can be used for driving across cities (non-local temporary license plate).
I had this happen to me just the other day. I was using a temporary license plate within the province to go shopping when a friend mentioned a great spot in another province, so I drove there. I was pretty nervous on the road. Later, I got checked by the police at a gas station. They said the temporary plate was only valid within the province and driving out of bounds counted as illegal driving. I was fined 300 yuan and almost had my car impounded. I immediately called the 4S store salesperson, who advised me to park the car and not move it, or quickly go to the local traffic police station to apply for a cross-province temporary license plate. I needed to bring my ID card and the vehicle purchase receipt. It took me the whole afternoon to sort it out. Luckily, I was fine, but I’ll never take such a risk again. Temporary plates have a short validity period, so it’s safer to apply for a formal license plate in advance for long trips.
If you encounter a situation where a vehicle with a temporary license plate needs to cross provincial borders, first of all, don't panic. Immediately find a service area or parking lot to safely stop and turn off the engine. Then, take out your phone to look up the contact number of the nearest vehicle management office and inquire about remedial measures. Typically, you will need to apply for a cross-provincial temporary pass or return to the original province as soon as possible to avoid risks. At the same time, check if all vehicle documents are complete, and bring the car purchase invoice to the traffic police department to explain the situation and try to mitigate the consequences. Remember, if discovered by the police, you may face a fine ranging from one hundred to five hundred yuan, or even have your vehicle towed, so taking action early is safer. Develop a habit of checking the restricted areas for temporary license plates before driving to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
