California License Plate Laws

  • Thread starter Thread starter Danoff
  • 37 comments
  • 3,372 views
Danoff

Danoff

Premium
Messages
34,431
United States
Mile High City
So I live in LA, and as I have documented in this forum, I have recently purchased a car.

I have two questions.

How many license plates are required by law on cars in CA and in LA? I think it's two but when I checked the DMV website it said that it depends on how many are issued to you.

Do I have to keep the stupid dealer advertisements in place of my license plates until I get issued the real ones? Here in CA it takes months to get your license plates so the dealerships put advertisements for themselves where your plates will eventually go. I'm just not sure if I'm required to keep that ad in place of if I can just drive around with no plates.
 
If you drive around with no plates you'll get pulled by the police if it's legal or not, but if it's legal to remove them, remove them, see if a speed camera can get you then :lol:. Do you even have speed cameras in the US?
 
If you drive around with no plates you'll get pulled by the police if it's legal or not, but if it's legal to remove them, remove them, see if a speed camera can get you then . Do you even have speed cameras in the US?
Click to expand...

The red light camera can't get me as it is because my plates consist of dealer ads. They don't have any form of identification on them other than which dealership the car was purchased at. I don't see how that's much more useful than me driving around with no plates.
 
They could contact the dealer and find out who they sold that models of car in that colour to recently and where the owners live and their numbers ect. They can find out easier than you might think.
 
GameBoyFX
Ya, me and my mom were goin thru an intersection while the light was green and the camera flashed us :scared: stupid thing.
Click to expand...
Then it should have the opposite lights in the picture showing them to be on green so you'd be okay for that.
 
They could contact the dealer and find out who they sold that models of car in that colour to recently and where the owners live and their numbers ect. They can find out easier than you might think.
Click to expand...

That reasoning is the only reason I haven't taken them off already... but I'm not sure that they can do that without a warrant, so I'm not sure it's a requirement for me to keep those ads on the car.
 
I wouldn't think they'd need a warrant to contact the dealler, anyway it's better safe than sorry if you're unsure.
 
You should probably keep the dealer ads in place – they certainly don't hurt anything. They're an easy way to signal to officers, "Hey, I just bought this car, don't pull me over for not having plates yet".

I believe the law requires two plates, but you only need registration stickers on the back one.
 
Sage
I believe the law requires two plates, but you only need registration stickers on the back one.
Click to expand...
And you can't keep the front one on the dash if you think front plates make your car look stupid (or there's no mount). You'll still get a ticket.
 
This brings up a related question I've got. When I bought my WRX, it only had a rear plate, and no front. (Just a dealer ad) Furthermore, DMV is going to be sending me new plates with new numbers, so the ones on my car are probably not even in the system. Should I keep the ones that are on there on and risk having them run and coming up blank, or put the paper dealer plate there, or what? I've got the sticker in the window from the dealer detailing the info and the VIN, which supposedly is all you need until plates are issued.
 
In California, you must display two license plates. The reason the DMV site says it depends on how many plates you're issued is very old cars, which in California receive Horseless Carriage plates, only receive one plate. Furthermore, old cars can be registered with year-of-manufacture plates from the year they were built, and California has not always required pairs. I wouldn't test the two plate thing either - in California, they're no joke about it and they often use it as a reason to pull you over if they suspect anything else.

Do not remove dealer plates unless you have a temporary license plate on the vehicle. It was my experence in California that temporary plates aren't issued. In that case, keep the dealer plates on the car until you get your new plates.

Takumi, just keep it how it is. Why is the DMV sending you new plates? In California, the plates stay with the car - it's a method many people use to figure out the age of the car.
 
:scared: :Knock on wood: I drive with just the back license plate. In fact the other day I was radared on the freeway and nothing came of it. I've been "front plateless" since about 98 or so when I got the car? The only time I used the front one was when I'd go to the "Races". ( don't do that anymore because it's a damn joke :lol: ) I've never gotten a ticket for it, but my friend did when we went to the races. They were being a dick because it was the only thing "illegal" on the car. :rolleyes: As for me I don't care much I guess, maybe I should. I'm more worried about driving good and drivers around me.

Disclaimer: Just because I do it doesn't mean you shouldn't and I'm not advocating not placing one

On that note, I should mention the reason I don't put one on is the car will over heat a lot easier, especially during the summer. I know because I've drivin up a hill on the way to Sacremento with it on and off and it does make a BIG difference. :grumpy:
 
No, I was just going to say if you can't make it up hills because the front license plate causes the engine to overheat, maybe you should consider a new car. :D
 
:lol: oh, yeah... that too. Well it's still a good car, I get 27mpg and the engine is still strong (I think) :scared: It's just everything else is falling apart like the paint, body and etc. :grumpy:
 
VIPFREAK
:lol: oh, yeah... that too. Well it's still a good car, I get 27mpg and the engine is still strong (I think) :scared: It's just everything else is falling apart like the paint, body and etc. :grumpy:
Click to expand...
Have you serviced the rubber band recently?
 
M5Power
Do not remove dealer plates unless you have a temporary license plate on the vehicle. It was my experence in California that temporary plates aren't issued. In that case, keep the dealer plates on the car until you get your new plates.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the actual "dealer plates"? or those print outs, you stick on the rear windshield?

danoff: I don't know about the rules in CA, but I've always taken off the dealer ads in the license plate frame. I'm pretty sure it's not a problem, as long as you have that temporary permit thingy, stuck on your rear windshield.

Event
Have you serviced the rubber band recently?
Click to expand...
:lol: I hear Toyota rubber band ranks high in reliability.
 
a6m5
Are you talking about the actual "dealer plates"? or those print outs, you stick on the rear windshield?
Click to expand...

The print out that is registered to the vehicle that is stuck on the rear window. This is DC's version:

dctemp76.jpg
 
The print out that is registered to the vehicle that is stuck on the rear window. This is DC's version:
Click to expand...

Yea, in CA, they just put little peices of cardboard in place of the license plates that have the logo of the dealership on them. The real temporary registration is on a sticker in the windsheild.

I think I'm going to take the dealer ads off. I hate driving around with an advertisement for the dealership on my car. It's like saying "HEY EVERYONE, I JUST BOUGHT A NEW CAR, PLEASE KEY THE DOOR!!!"

I'd much prefer the alternative, which is not having any plates at all. I guess if I get pulled over I'll just say that I couldn't imagine it was required.

Here's what my "license plates" look like right now (this is exactly what they look like, no extra numbers, no official anything).

video-logo.gif
 
No - that's not at all required. Only the legal document is required. If you wish, you can move it to the lighted license plate holder area in the rear.

When you do get plates, why not the most attractive plate in the country?

yosemiteT.jpg
 
When you do get plates, why not the most attractive plate in the country?
Click to expand...

I'm not big on the designs on the plates. I'll probably get boring white. I would get blue to match my car if they made them.
 
danoff
I'm not big on the designs on the plates. I'll probably get boring white. I would get blue to match my car if they made them.
Click to expand...
I agree. The plain ones are the best......... until the DMV release Portland Trail Blazers plates. 👍
 
danoff
I would get blue to match my car if they made them.
Click to expand...
You could always steal an older CA plate then. :p (Of course, I'm kidding – but seriously, CA used to have blue plates. Our BRAT has 'em. And I bet you a bajillion dollars that Doug knows the exact years that they were given out.)
 
The California special plates are like badges of honor. Only the nicest cars have them out there - it's like a class system. It's one of the only places in the country where this is true.

That's the only reason I'd get them.

Sage
And I bet you a bajillion dollars that Doug knows the exact years that they were given out.)
Click to expand...

1969-1988, I think. I have 1EUF631 on the wall in one of the unused rooms.
 
The Michigan blue and white license plates own you all...oh wait I think I'm the only vehicle that still has it :lol:.
 

Latest Posts

Back