Is it legal to remove your own license plates if they're out of date and your car's going to get towed because of it?
Asked by
AshlynM (
10684
)
February 22nd, 2012
The plates have expired. Can one remove expired license plates off of their car before it’s towed?
I realize we can just renew the registration, however…the car itself is very old, from the eighties. Perhaps we just want the impound to keep the car and we’ll give them the title but we’ll keep the plates, since they’re expired anyway.
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14 Answers
Do you want the car to get towed and empounded? Why don’t you sell it for scrap? Yes, you can and should keep the license plates. You need to notify the DMV, so, if it is applicable in your area, you won’t continue being charged personal property taxes.
Where I live all vehicles that are not stored in a building have to have a valid licence plate, have 4 tires that hold air and be able to start.
If it is junk, you can sell it for scrap. Someone will likely come and get it for you. Look up junk or scrap metal dealers.
Yes you can take the plate off if you want to.
It does vary state to state. In my state if a car is visible from the road, it has to have a valid plate on it. Some states you also are reuired to turn the plates back in, while some states you keep them.
Normally the tow agency keys off the plate as well. If you are surrenduring the vehicle to someone else, then you do want to take the plates and registration from the vehicle.
Don’t let it be impounded!!! You will incur charges.
Take the plates off and call the car donation company in your area. You will get a tax write off. Donating it will get you a $500 write off.
A junk car dealer will usually go for $75 no matter what the condition. It is up to you to decide what is best.
Also you can advertise it on Freecycle and someone will take it immediately but will give you nothing.
In my state you are supposed to turn the plates in to DMV. If the car is going to be parked on a public road, it must have plates on it (in other words, it has to be registered and therefore, insured). If you own the car, you can legally remove the plates, put new plates on, etc. Depending on where you are going to store the car, determines whether or not you must keep plates on it.
That’s no way to get rid of your car. Look into selling it for scrap or donating it to charity.
If you take the plates off, they will tow the car for not having plates, look up the VIN and track you down for the towing, impound and storage fees. By then it will be hundreds of dollars. It would be cheaper to re-register.
Check the suggestions above for getting rid of it for free or for a small benefit to you.
It depends upon where you live and whether the car will be parked on private property or public roads. Check your local ordinances.
In Calif. you can renew as Planned Non-Op, which is much cheaper.
You never stated what state you live in. It all depends on the state regulations. I know in DC you have to have the tags on and registered. But in Tennessee you don’t have to have tags on if your not gonna drive the vehicle. In Louisiana you don’t have to either, but I do agree with the others. Call a local junk shop and ask if they need a car for parts. You can also call an auto school and see if they would take your car for use in their school, auto schools always need shop cars to teach the students on.
In California, you simply file a non-operation form with the DMV and keep the car off the street.
Yes, under the conditions you have described, you can remove the registration plate(s).
I would recommend that you destroy the plates.
@john65pennington That would be illegal in my state. The plates don’t belong to the car owner, they belong to the state and must be turned in.
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