Where to Place Temporary License Plates?
3 Answers
Temporary license plates should be placed on the upper right corner of the front windshield and the upper left corner of the rear windshield of the vehicle, ensuring the position does not obstruct the driver's view to guarantee driving safety. Temporary license plates are provisional vehicle permits issued by the vehicle management department of the public security authorities for newly purchased vehicles before official registration, with usage limited by time and region. The required materials for applying for temporary license plates include: 1. Identification documents of the vehicle owner and the agent; 2. Proof of vehicle origin; 3. For domestically produced vehicles, the whole vehicle factory qualification certificate, and for imported vehicles, the import certificate; 4. Rubbing molds of the vehicle identification number and engine number.
When I first got my new car, I specifically asked the technician at the 4S dealership about the proper placement of temporary license plates. They said it's safest to place them in two locations: the front windshield must be adhered to the lower left or right corner, being careful not to obstruct your view, especially on the right side where it can easily be blocked by the air vent trim. The rear windshield should have the plate fixed to the lower left corner for the most standard compliance—some cities are strict and require the full edge of the plate to be visible. I've seen people who took shortcuts by just placing the temporary plate on the dashboard, only for it to fly off during a turn and nearly cause an accident. Remember to use the static cling provided by the DMV; adhesive-backed plates can leave sticky residue that's hard to clean. Also, don't peel at the corners out of curiosity while driving—if the wind blows it away, you could lose all 12 points on your license, and replacing the temporary plate would mean waiting in line for two hours.
Last week, I accompanied my best friend to the DMV to pick up the temporary license plate, and the staff repeatedly emphasized the importance of the placement. The front windshield should have it placed in a corner that doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view—I’ve seen cases where people placed it in the middle, causing severe glare from reflections. The rear windshield must have it placed in the lower-left corner so that following vehicles can clearly see the plate information. Don’t just use transparent tape to stick it randomly; the special adhesive provided by the DMV has grid alignment lines on the back—just align it with the edges and press flat. In our car enthusiasts’ group chat, one guy forgot to stick his temporary plate and left it in the glove compartment, then got fined 200 yuan on the highway. Remember, temporary plates also have an expiration date—if you drive with an expired one, it’s treated as driving without a plate, and your vehicle will be impounded immediately.
