How much trouble would I get in if I used my old SUV plates for my new car?

Mr. KnowItAll

Ohh...That's FEDERAL.
Jail time. (fraud is a bad thing)

Fraud, in addition to being a criminal act, is also a type of civil law violation known as a tort. A tort is a civil wrong for which the law provides a remedy. A civil fraud typically involves the act of intentionally making a false representation of a material fact, with the intent to deceive, which is reasonably relied upon by another person to that person's detriment.

Kiffin # 1

In effect you're driving an unregistered vehicle. besides the fine and points on your license, plus no insurance coverage, they may even impound the car. Don't chance it! Try to borrow the money for the plates from a friend, parent or relative and do it immediately.

Resident Heretic

It's called driving with an improper tag.

Fred C

The plates mean nothing on a new vehicle unless you still have insurance and registration on the SUV, it was just repoed, and you are in the limited number of days you have to transfer coverage to the replacement vehicle. Over that limit, or if you had no insurance/registration left on the SUV, you will be guilty of driving an unregistered vehicle, you can be ticketed anywhere from $500 on up, your vehicle can be impounded, and your plates seized, for starters.

miyazaki75

The fine would be alot more expensive than just getting new plates!

Belen

Don't even think about it. You will be in a lot of trouble if you decide to do that and you definitely will regret it. It is never a good idea to break the law.

charmedchiclet

It will be the same as if you were driving with NO licence plates. The fact that it used to belong to your old car won't make any difference.

just me

The least that could happen is your car will impounded

JeffyB

Go for it!

(I want to see you on "COPS" on Fox Network)

MrChili

See 'ya after your 10 years in the pen is up.

oklatom

Defrauding the state of taxes due. You will get a ticket at the very least, perhaps get a free ride to jail, and your vehicle impounded with a hold that you can only get it back with current plates. So, you can spend a little putting the right plate on it, or a lot at the impound yard and still have to put the right plates on it, plus the fine for the ticket and the 10% to the bail bondsman. Your choice.

fisherwoman

It's not worth jail or the fine. Most plates are designed a certain way, for truck and cars and motorcycles. If you put a truck plate, on a car, it will raise a red flag, and you will be pulled over. If the dealer put temp plates on, and you haven't received the perm ones, you can go to the DMV, and purchase trip permits to allow you to drive until the plates arrive.

Mr. Bevere

Depends a lot on which state you are in and which cop you are dealing with. If you are a girl you might just get by saying you are in process of transferring the tags over to your new car. It has gone so far towards a police state in this country that a whole lot of things like this are arbitrarily decided by the cops. You may just get a warning giving you a period of time to show you have in fact transferred the tags. If you are in a northern state, like MD or PA well, the other people who say you could go to jail may be right. Those yankees treat minor traffic offenses like felonies and high treason, when in fact it's just a poor working person trying to get by. Good luck, and drive real careful. Most states they still have to have some reason to stop you, so don't give them any. Stay off the roads at night, and if you have to drive with the improper tags pick a time of day when traffic is heavy. That way you will not be as noticeable. Make sure all your lights work, don't forget to use your turn signals, and stay out of the left passing lane! Cops watch cars in that lane more than others.

bundysmom

TONS of trouble. You have nothing showing you are the legal owner of the car and it can be impounded. If you have no money then why did you buy the car?

Wolf

A hell of a lot.
I had a friend who had two camaros. He got plates for both-he screwed up and put the wrong plates on the wrong cars. He still had to go to court and pay a nice fine and explain his mistake, even though he did have plates for both.
Trying to pull something off like you are talking about is just plain insanity. Cant you get your old plates transfered over? Here in Ohio you can do that.

Snuffy

if the SUV tags are still valid, get them legally transferred
to your new vehicle. otherwise they have no value to you
and could cost some bucks if you'd stopped and checked

Bruce S

Go for it? I drove around for a year on someone else's stickers, but don't change the plate. If your plate is run and the car description doesnt match, u will be pulled over for sure. There are people out there that go 7-8 years without being pulled over. Your gonna change or pay eventually, so a temporary fix couldn't hurt.

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