Where should the temporary license plate be affixed?
3 Answers
Temporary license plates should be affixed to: 1. The front windshield; 2. The rear windshield. A new car without a temporary license plate cannot legally drive on the road. A temporary license plate is a provisional motor vehicle license plate applied for, valid for fifteen days. New cars can apply for temporary license plates before they are officially registered. Notes on temporary license plates: 1. After purchasing a new car, you need to apply for a temporary license plate at the local vehicle management office; 2. When the vehicle is registered and the official license plate has been paid for, you need to apply for a temporary license plate at the vehicle management office and affix it to the car to drive the vehicle back to your locality; 3. If the vehicle has not been issued an official license plate locally but needs to be modified elsewhere, you need to apply for a temporary license plate locally to drive the car to the modification site. After modification is completed, you need to apply for another temporary license plate from the local vehicle management office to drive back to your locality; 4. If the car is not registered but needs to be driven on the road, you need to apply for a temporary license plate locally.
I encountered an issue with temporary license plates when buying a car. The salesperson emphasized that the temporary plates must be affixed to the lower right corner of the front windshield and the lower left corner of the rear windshield. These locations are chosen because they ensure the license plate number is clearly visible from the outside without obstructing the driver's view, preventing accidents when turning or reversing. I once saw a friend who placed them incorrectly, resulting in a fine from the police and obstructed rearview mirror visibility, nearly causing a rear-end collision—a lesson learned the hard way. Therefore, when affixing them, use strong, transparent tape to secure them firmly, avoiding areas prone to rain to prevent the numbers from getting wet and blurry. Additionally, temporary plates have a short validity period, so replacing them with permanent plates as soon as possible is safer. These small details are crucial, and both new and experienced drivers must remember to follow the rules.
The placement of temporary license plates is quite simple: on the lower right side of the front windshield and the lower left side of the rear windshield. When I picked up my new car last year, the salesperson told me this. It's important to choose the right spot—not too high or too centered—otherwise, it can obstruct your view while driving on the highway, which can be quite scary. The method of attaching them also matters: first, clean the glass with a damp cloth before applying the plate to prevent dust from making the tape less secure. I saw someone on a forum complaining about getting fined for a crooked plate, so I used a little trick: I had a friend help adjust the position and reinforced it with waterproof tape. Don’t leave the temporary plate on for too long; switch to a permanent one as soon as possible for peace of mind. When it comes to driving, safety details shouldn’t be taken lightly.
