{"id":441,"date":"2024-08-14T20:04:17","date_gmt":"2024-08-15T03:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/wp-site\/?p=441"},"modified":"2025-07-07T13:57:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T20:57:31","slug":"how-to-get-a-temporary-license-plate-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/dmv\/how-to-get-a-temporary-license-plate-in-california\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get a Temporary License Plate in California"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In the state of California, a car dealer may issue a Temporary Operating Permit (TOP) if all your registration fees have been paid but your permanent California license plates and stickers have not yet been issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-card\"><div class=\"shadow-variant-card relative overflow-hidden rounded-xl p-8\"><div class=\"flex flex-col gap-3\"><span class=\"text-lg font-medium text-slate-900\">QUICK LOOK<\/span><div class=\"jerry-block-content text-sm text-slate-700\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A temporary license plate is called a temporary operating permit (TOP) in California.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can face citations or tickets, fines, and penalties if law enforcement catches you driving in California without license plates, even if you\u2019re waiting for your new plates to arrive.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>California offers different types of TOPs for different circumstances, some of which require fees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"temporary-license-plates-in-california\">Temporary license plates in California<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A temporary operating permit (TOP) is the California version of a temporary paper license plate, and it typically lasts for 90 days. According to the California Vehicle Code, you\u2019ll need a TOP to legally operate a new vehicle in California while you wait on your permanent license plates and registration stickers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"temporary-license-plates-in-california\">How to get a temporary operating permit in California<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A licensed car dealership will issue a TOP if your plate and stickers aren\u2019t ready when you buy a new car, so long as your vehicle registration fees are paid.<br><br>If you buy a used car, the dealership should also fill out and attach a Report of Sale (DMV Form REG 51) to the vehicle (usually on the bottom of the windshield on the passenger\u2019s side). This form will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vehicle\u2019s make, model, year, and VIN<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Date the vehicle was sold<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vehicle\u2019s odometer reading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numbers of the dealer and salesperson<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Name and address of the person the vehicle was sold to<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The temporary license plate number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of TOPs in California<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are other circumstances where you might need a different kind of temporary operating permit, including if your car fails its Biennial Smog Certification. You can get the following TOPs from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biennial Smog Certification TOP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle fails the Biennial Smog Certification test, you\u2019ll need to get a temporary permit. This permit will be valid for 60 days from the date of registration expiration or the date the vehicle is removed from non-operating status.<br><br>To get one, do the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pay all registration fees, plus an additional $50 for the temporary permit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit your failed inspection report<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/car-insurance\/proof-of-insurance\/\">Provide proof of insurance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One-time 30-day TOP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can apply for a 30-day TOP for the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A non-resident vehicle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An impounded vehicle (so long as all fees are paid)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A vehicle referred by the California Highway Patrol for VIN inspection or assignment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A vehicle having trouble passing original or transfer smog inspection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A vehicle requiring Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax with an expiration date other than July 31<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One-time 60-day TOP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can apply for a 60-day TOP under the following circumstances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An incomplete registration application in regards to a vehicle failing a smog inspection test, after all fees are paid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A salvage retention vehicle that is being rehabilitated, so long as the customer has paid all registration fees and submitted brake and light certificates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One-time 90-day TOP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get a 90-day TOP under the following circumstances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You are waiting for your permanent California license plate to be manufactured after buying a new car<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have applied for personalized plates and are waiting for them to be manufactured<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One-Day Moving Permit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get a One Day Moving Permit from California\u2019s DMV for no fee under the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With a Planned Non-Operation Filing (PNO) on file to move from one place of storage to another\u2014this is a car that is not intended to be driven<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To move a vehicle from one garage or repair shop to another for <a href=\"\/car-repair\/\">car repairs<\/a>, alteration, dismantling, or wrecking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To move a vehicle from one place to another for inspection by the DMV or CHP, VIN verification or assignment, smog control inspection, weighing a vehicle, or getting brake or light certification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For a vehicle that is incomplete or in the process of being altered.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One Trip Permit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A unique permit is available for the following circumstances:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For a vehicle to participate in a parade or float from one place to another and for no more than 100 miles roundtrip, which must be completed within 60 days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An unladen vehicle for one continuous trip from one place in California to another in or out-of-state, and vice-versa (must be the most direct route).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-separator-jerry-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn More<\/strong>: <a href=\"\/car-insurance\/temporary-car-insurance\/\">How to find temporary car insurance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-separator-jerry-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-cta\"><div class=\"flex flex-col items-start gap-4 rounded-xl border border-zinc-200 px-12 py-8 md:flex-row md:items-center md:gap-14\"><div class=\"flex-1\"><span class=\"text-xl font-black text-gray-900\">SIMPLIFY YOUR CAR INSURANCE IN MINUTES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"flex-1\"><a href=\"\/signup\/insured?service=insurance \" class=\"bg-primary block w-full rounded-full px-14 py-2 text-center font-black text-white hover:no-underline\">Find savings now<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jerry-meet-experts\" data-wp-interactive=\"jerry\/meet-experts\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;modalVisible&quot;:false}\">\n  <div class=\"font-circular text-2xl font-extrabold text-slate-900\">Expert-driven. Built for you.<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-3\">\n    <div class=\"flex justify-between items-center py-3 border-b border-neutral-200 cursor-pointer font-semibold text-gray-900\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.toggleModal\">\n  <button class=\"text-left text-base\" type=\"button\">\n    Why you can count on Jerry&#8217;s articles  <\/button>\n\n  <div class=\"transition data-[visible=true]:md:rotate-180 text-xs iconify i--chevron-down text-gray-500\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"modal-backdrop fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-50 overflow-hidden overscroll-contain bg-black\/70 font-body transition-transform delay-100 duration-0 md:relative md:z-auto [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:bg-black\/0 [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onModalInit\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n  <div class=\"modal-view fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 flex max-h-[75%] w-full flex-col rounded-t-3xl bg-white pb-7 pl-7 pt-3.5 transition md:relative md:rounded-none md:pl-0 md:transition-none [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:translate-y-full [&amp;:not([data-visible=true])]:md:hidden\" data-wp-bind--data-visible=\"context.modalVisible\">\n    <div class=\"modal-header md:hidden flex justify-between items-center pb-1 mb-1 border-b border-zinc-200\">\n      <div class=\"modal-title text-base font-semibold\">Summary<\/div>\n\n      <div\n        class=\"modal-close-btn wp-block-group w-11 h-11 mr-2.5 content-center text-center\"\n        data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.hideModal\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"iconify i--close text-gray-500 cursor-pointer\"><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"modal-body pr-7 overflow-y-auto\"><div class=\"wp-block-template-part\"><div class=\"flex flex-row items-center gap-2.5 rounded-lg bg-gray-pink px-4 py-5\">\n  <span class=\"iconify mt-0.5 shrink-0 self-start text-xs text-primary i--shield-check\"><\/span>\n\n  <div>\n    <div class=\"font-body text-xs font-bold text-primary\">Our goal is clear, trustworthy information.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"mt-1 font-body text-xs text-gray-600\">\n      Our content is created, edited and fact checked by a team of licensed insurance agents, automotive pros and\n      experienced journalists who know the industry inside and out. Facts are thoroughly researched, verified and kept\n      current, and our editorial team is separate from our business partners, so our opinions &#038; tips are unbiased. All\n      insights drawn from Jerry\u2019s proprietary, aggregated customer auto insurance quotes data provide unique, real-world\n      guidance.\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"text-base font-semibold text-gray-900\">Our experts<\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"my-8 flex flex-col gap-8 items-center justify-center\">\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jason-Tushinski.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jason-Tushinski.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jason-Tushinski-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jason-Tushinski-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Jason-Tushinski-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Jason Tushinski            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Jason Tushinski is an insurance writer with a background in journalism and over seven years of experience in freelance writing. Jason specializes in insurance and combines a wealth of skills obtained throughout the publishing industry to create useful, easy-to-understand content for car owners. Jason has written over 1,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from insurance company offerings to DMV processes to car model specifications. Before joining Jerry, Jason worked as freelance video content creator, news writer and editor for the Sun News Network, and researcher for CBC. His writing is published in Maclean\u2019s and This Magazine.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n          <div\n        class=\"meet-experts-item group relative flex h-auto w-full flex-none flex-col justify-between overflow-hidden rounded-3xl py-9 text-sm shadow-variant-card\"\n        data-expand=\"false\"\n        data-wp-init=\"callbacks.onItemInit\"\n      >\n        <div class=\"grid h-full w-full grid-cols-1 overflow-hidden px-8 md:grid-cols-4\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pat-Roache.png\" class=\"size-16 rounded-full md:size-32 col-span-1 md:ml-4\" alt=\"meet-experts-thumbnail\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pat-Roache.png 250w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pat-Roache-150x150.png 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pat-Roache-56x56.png 56w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pat-Roache-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 346px) 260px, (max-width: 576px) 432px, (max-width: 720px) 540px, (min-width: 720px) 250px, 100vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/>\n          <div class=\"col-span-3\">\n            <div class=\"my-4 flex-1 content-center font-circular text-lg font-medium text-slate-900 md:mt-0\">\n              Pat Roache            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <div class=\"text-slate-500 mt-2 leading-6\">\n              <p>Pat Roache is an insurance writer with over two years of experience in the automotive industry. With a focus on car insurance, maintenance, and brand reviews, Pat\u2019s mission is to create engaging and accessible content that empowers readers to take autonomy over their car ownership. As a writer and editor with Jerry, Pat has penned over 600 original articles and edited over 1,000. Pat\u2019s 8+ years of experience in the performing arts as a writer, director, producer, and performer lend to their keen eye for research and presentation. Most recently, Pat\u2019s new English translation of Donizetti\u2019s Italian opera \u201cD[x]n Pasquale\u201d had its world premiere in 2022 with Opera MODO (Detroit, MI). Pat also writes grants for an LGBTQ arts non-profit in Chicago, IL.<\/p>            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n        <div class=\"absolute hidden group-data-[expand=true]:flex bottom-0 w-full h-24 bg-gradient-to-t from-white from-30% to-transparent to-100% items-end justify-center\">\n          <div\n            class=\"flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center gap-2 my-4 font-circular text-primary\"\n            data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.onItemExpandClick\"\n          >\n            <span class=\"text-sm\">See more<\/span>\n            <span class=\"iconify i--chevron-down text-xs\"><\/span>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Temporary license plates are called Temporary Operating Permits in California and typically last up to 90 days while you wait for permanent plates to arrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":63481,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-advice","format":"standard","meta":{"jerry_authors":"[{\"id\":\"148\",\"type\":\"main-author\"},{\"id\":\"250\",\"type\":\"editor\"}]","jerry_author_ids":[148],"jerry_idx_page_label":"","jerry_meta_desc":"Temporary license plates are called Temporary Operating Permits in California and typically last up to 90 days while you wait for permanent plates to arrive.","jerry_related_posts":"[6079,29799,5177]","jerry_summary":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[514],"tags":[89,118,624,346],"class_list":["post-441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dmv","tag-california","tag-car-registration","tag-resource_dmv","tag-state-laws"],"modified_by":"harveen.sran@getjerry.com","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63482,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441\/revisions\/63482"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jerry.ai\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}