Will a slightly bent license plate result in penalty points?
3 Answers
If the license plate is slightly bent but does not affect the visibility of the plate number, no penalty points will be deducted. Below is relevant information about selecting a license plate: Balance of Yin and Yang: The so-called balance of Yin and Yang means that the numbers on the license plate should include both odd and even numbers, avoiding all odd or all even numbers. According to the "Book of Changes," solitary Yin cannot generate, and lone Yang cannot grow. Harmony of the Three Powers: The harmony of the Three Powers refers to the proper handling of the relationships between Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. Humans live between Heaven and Earth and must respect both. For a three-digit number, the middle digit should not be entirely larger than the digits before and after it. For a four-digit number, the middle two digits should not be entirely larger than the digits before and after them. For a five-digit number, the middle digit should not be entirely larger than the digits on either side.
As a seasoned driver with ten years of experience, I'm quite familiar with minor license plate bending issues. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, license plates must remain intact and clearly visible, with no obstructions or deformations that could hinder number recognition. For minor bends—like slightly curved corners where the plate numbers remain legible—you typically won't receive penalty points, though officers may remind you to fix it. However, if the bend severely obscures the characters, it becomes problematic: you risk a ¥200 fine for illegal parking or camera recognition failures, or even 6 penalty points for compromising road safety. I once backed into a wall corner, bending my plate slightly while keeping the numbers readable, and the checkpoint didn’t penalize me. My advice: don’t ignore it. Straighten minor bends yourself or use a heat gun to soften plastic plates for reshaping. If needed, spend a little to replace the plate at a repair shop or DMV. Prevention is key—park mindfully, avoiding hard contact with obstacles to save money, hassle, and ensure safety.
Once my car was parked in the neighborhood, and it might have been slightly bumped by kids playing, causing the right corner of the front license plate to bend a little. When I drove out of the neighborhood, the security guard reminded me. I went to the police station to ask, and they said that a minor bend that doesn’t affect the number recognition wouldn’t result in points deducted—just a minor flaw with a warning. However, the officer explained that if the plate were severely twisted or blurred to the point where the characters were unreadable, it would violate license plate regulations, and if caught, it could result in 6 points deducted and a fine of 100 to 200 RMB, as it poses a traffic violation risk. Later, I used a screwdriver to gently bend it back into place. A word of advice: don’t worry too much about minor bends. Regularly check your license plate for cleanliness, and when parking, choose spacious spots and avoid getting too close to walls. If you encounter a similar issue, try straightening it yourself first to save a trip to the DMV and avoid wasting time and money. Developing good habits can prevent bigger problems.
