How long does a temporary registration permit last in Pennsylvania?

Temporary Registration Plate: 90 days (fact sheet: 'A temporary registration plate is valid for 90 days.'). Temporary Permit extension: an additional 90 days, using the same plate number, when authorized by PennDOT (Bulletin 11-1).

How much does a temporary registration permit cost in Pennsylvania?

Temporary Registration Plates: $20.00 cost to dealer or agent, as listed on the PennDOT Payments and Fees page. No consumer-facing fee for a temporary plate is stated in the opened pages.

Who qualifies for a temporary registration permit in Pennsylvania?

Temporary Registration Plate: applicant titling/registering a vehicle in Pennsylvania through an authorized agent, with Pennsylvania identification and a bona fide Pennsylvania numbered street address (with the exceptions stated in Bulletin 06-05: U.S. Armed Forces personnel or dependents, federal/state government employees or immediate families whose workplace is outside Pennsylvania, an out-of-state leasing company with a Pennsylvania-resident lessee, and an out-of-state company with no Pennsylvania office whose vehicles are regularly operated in business within the Commonwealth).

How do I get a temporary registration permit in Pennsylvania?

Temporary Registration Plate: issued by a full agent / authorized agent at the time of the title/registration application (Forms MV-1 / MV-4ST). Extension: the agent who originally issued the temporary registration plate/permit/card must fax a written request to PennDOT explaining why the extension is requested (attaching any rejection correspondence); PennDOT reviews and either authorizes or denies; on authorization PennDOT gives an authorization number, the agent completes a new MV-1/MV-4ST/MV-120 (same information except issuance date, proof of insurance re-verified), writes the authorization number across the top, and issues the new Temporary Permit; the agent must fax a copy of the new form to PennDOT within 48 hours.

Temporary Registration Permits in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania temporary permit in one table

Question	Pennsylvania rule
Duration	Temporary Registration Plate: 90 days (fact sheet: 'A temporary registration plate is valid for 90 days.'). Temporary Permit extension: an additional 90 days, using the same plate number, when authorized by PennDOT (Bulletin 11-1). Intransit Registration Plate: no duration stated in the opened pages.
Fee	Temporary Registration Plates: $20.00 cost to dealer or agent, as listed on the PennDOT Payments and Fees page. No consumer-facing fee for a temporary plate is stated in the opened pages. Intransit plate fee: none stated in the opened pages.
Who qualifies	Temporary Registration Plate: applicant titling/registering a vehicle in Pennsylvania through an authorized agent, with Pennsylvania identification and a bona fide Pennsylvania numbered street address (with the exceptions stated in Bulletin 06-05: U.S. Armed Forces personnel or dependents, federal/state government employees or immediate families whose workplace is outside Pennsylvania, an out-of-state leasing company with a Pennsylvania-resident lessee, and an out-of-state company with no Pennsylvania office whose vehicles are regularly operated in business within the Commonwealth). If the registration plate is to be issued by PennDOT, valid proof of insurance must be attached. Intransit plate: a person from another state; an out-of-state address and identification are required (the Agent Service must examine an out-of-state driver's license before issuing); the vehicle is not being titled/registered in Pennsylvania. Extensions cannot be granted for: non-submission of title or fees (including insufficient fees); PUC/ICC issues; any type of administrative stop against the vehicle record; in-transit plates; or a transferred plate that is expired.
How to get it	Temporary Registration Plate: issued by a full agent / authorized agent at the time of the title/registration application (Forms MV-1 / MV-4ST). Extension: the agent who originally issued the temporary registration plate/permit/card must fax a written request to PennDOT explaining why the extension is requested (attaching any rejection correspondence); PennDOT reviews and either authorizes or denies; on authorization PennDOT gives an authorization number, the agent completes a new MV-1/MV-4ST/MV-120 (same information except issuance date, proof of insurance re-verified), writes the authorization number across the top, and issues the new Temporary Permit; the agent must fax a copy of the new form to PennDOT within 48 hours. Intransit plate: issued by an Agent Service on Form MV-120 after examining the applicant's out-of-state driver's license.

The permit types

Temporary Registration Plate (issued by a full agent) - Temporary registration plate issued by a full agent in connection with an application for certificate of title / registration (Forms MV-1 / MV-4ST); the fact sheet states a temporary registration plate is valid for 90 days. The issuing agent must record the issuance date, which certifies the date the authorized agent verified the applicant had valid proof of financial responsibility.
Temporary Registration Card / Temporary Permit (pink copy) - The temporary registration card/permit accompanying the title/registration application, valid for 90 days; on PennDOT-authorized extension, a new Temporary Permit using the same plate number is issued for an additional 90 days.
Temporary Cardboard Intransit Registration Plate Card (Form MV-120) - An Intransit Registration Plate is a temporary registration to transport the vehicle from Pennsylvania to the home state. The vehicle is not being titled/registered in Pennsylvania.

What this permit is, and what it is not

The two bulletins are from 2006 and 2011; the 90-day validity and $20.00 dealer/agent cost are from the current fact sheet and fees page respectively.

The process, step by step

Match the situation to the permit. The permit types below are not interchangeable; pick the one that fits the purchase and the paperwork gap.
Gather what the issuing office needs. Temporary Registration Plate: applicant titling/registering a vehicle in Pennsylvania through an authorized agent, with Pennsylvania identification and a bona fide Pennsylvania numbered street address (with the exceptions stated in Bulletin 06-05: U.S. Armed Forces personnel or dependents, federal/state government employees or immediate families whose workplace is outside Pennsylvania, an out-of-state leasing company with a Pennsylvania-resident lessee, and an out-of-state company with no Pennsylvania office whose vehicles are regularly operated in business within the Commonwealth). If the registration plate is to be issued by PennDOT, valid proof of insurance must be attached. Intransit plate: a person from another state; an out-of-state address and identification are required (the Agent Service must examine an out-of-state driver's license before issuing); the vehicle is not being titled/registered in Pennsylvania. Extensions cannot be granted for: non-submission of title or fees (including insufficient fees); PUC/ICC issues; any type of administrative stop against the vehicle record; in-transit plates; or a transferred plate that is expired.
Apply through the stated channel. Temporary Registration Plate: issued by a full agent / authorized agent at the time of the title/registration application (Forms MV-1 / MV-4ST). Extension: the agent who originally issued the temporary registration plate/permit/card must fax a written request to PennDOT explaining why the extension is requested (attaching any rejection correspondence); PennDOT reviews and either authorizes or denies; on authorization PennDOT gives an authorization number, the agent completes a new MV-1/MV-4ST/MV-120 (same information except issuance date, proof of insurance re-verified), writes the authorization number across the top, and issues the new Temporary Permit; the agent must fax a copy of the new form to PennDOT within 48 hours. Intransit plate: issued by an Agent Service on Form MV-120 after examining the applicant's out-of-state driver's license.
Mind the expiry. Temporary Registration Plate: 90 days (fact sheet: 'A temporary registration plate is valid for 90 days.'). Temporary Permit extension: an additional 90 days, using the same plate number, when authorized by PennDOT (Bulletin 11-1). Intransit Registration Plate: no duration stated in the opened pages.
Do not treat a temporary permit as a renewal extension unless the permit says so. For an already-registered vehicle, renewal runs through the normal renewal process.

Temporary registration permits somewhere else

See Temporary registration permits in Oregon.

See Temporary registration permits in Tennessee.

For all states side by side, see the Temporary Registration Permits by State directory.

Source

Facts verified 2026-10-29.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For a dispute about your specific situation, talk to your state motor vehicle agency.