Newly Purchased Vehicle Without License Plates: Is It Subject to Penalties When Driving on the Road?

According to the regulations in Clause 3, Article 6 of Circular 15/2014/TT-BCA:

Within 30 days from the date of making the documents for vehicle ownership transfer, the organization or individual that purchases, is transferred, given, or receives the vehicle must go to the vehicle registration agency to complete the procedures for changing the vehicle registration, and relocating the vehicle.

Thus, within 30 days from the date of purchasing the vehicle, you must complete the vehicle registration procedures and be issued a license plate according to the regulations. In cases where you cannot immediately proceed with the vehicle registration, you can temporarily register as stipulated in Article 16 of Circular 15/2014/TT-BCA:

- Automobiles; chassis trucks with cabins; bedless trucks; trailers, semi-trailers; imported or domestically assembled tractors in transit from warehouses, ports, factories, or dealers to the registration location or to other dealers or storage facilities.

- Vehicles with foreign plates that are temporarily imported and re-exported with a time limit (excluding vehicles operating in border areas with checkpoints): vehicles for conferences, fairs, sports events, exhibitions, tourism; transit vehicles; right-hand drive cars (opposing steering) permitted to circulate according to the law.

- Newly assembled vehicles in Vietnam undergoing road tests on public roads.

- Automobiles with ownership transfer documents going to another locality.

- Automobiles undergoing procedures for revoking registration certificates and license plates for re-export or transfer within Vietnam.

- Vehicles authorized by competent agencies to enter Vietnam for serving conferences, fairs, sports events, or exhibitions.

- Driving test automobiles, automobiles operating within a restricted area (when traveling outside the restricted area).

The temporary vehicle registration certificate is valid for a period of 15 days. Temporarily registered vehicles are allowed to circulate within the time frame, route, and operational scope stated in the temporary registration certificate as per the regulations in Article 18 of Circular 15/2014/TT-BCA.

When purchasing a new vehicle, you must carry out the vehicle registration procedures as regulated. If your vehicle does not fall under the cases requiring temporary registration, during the waiting period for the issuance of documentation and license plates, you are not allowed to operate the vehicle on public roads. If you still operate the vehicle on public roads, you may be fined for the offense of not having a license plate or vehicle registration according to Article 16 and Article 17 of Decree 46/2016/ND-CP:

- For automobiles:

A fine ranging from VND 2,000,000 to VND 3,000,000 for operating a vehicle without a license plate (for vehicles required to have license plates);

Additionally, the driving license will be revoked for 01 to 03 months and the vehicle may be impounded for up to 07 days before a penalty decision is issued.

- For motorcycles:

A fine ranging from VND 300,000 to VND 400,000 for operating a vehicle without a license plate (for vehicles required to have license plates).

Additionally, the driving license will be confiscated and the vehicle may be impounded for up to 07 days before a penalty decision is issued.

Regards!