Driving from California to Utah with a car 2 years out of registration

[illusion88]

How many tickets am I going to get? How many times will I be pulled over? I've never been pulled over on this drive before, so my track record seems pretty good. The cops in the smaller towns are notorious for pulling over speeders and what not, they need to generate that revenue.

I plan on obeying the speed law. That's going to be a bit tough in Nevada. I just got off the phone with both the Utah and California DMV, and there is nothing I can do until I get to Utah and register it there. There is no temporary registration that I can get. Heh, maybe I should drive overnight? Use the cover of darkness to conceal my trickery?

 

[joesmoke]

i would expect sufficient impediment

 

[quikah]

You should be good as long as a cop doesn't follow you or pull you over.

 

[lxskllr]

You're more likely to get pulled over at night. It's better to drive during the day. Stick to roads you have options on. You need to be able to change direction quickly.

 

[killster1]

You're more likely to get pulled over at night. It's better to drive during the day. Stick to roads you have options on. You need to be able to change direction quickly.

night driving is fine why is he going to have to change directions? hes not smuggling drugs or dead bodies no big deal.. seriously ur replies to shit makes me laugh everytime. cops will not care they will care more about insurance. if u where smuggling drugs or super worried u could print out fake registration sticker or steal plates off same car type as urs

 

[illusion88]

You're more likely to get pulled over at night. It's better to drive during the day. Stick to roads you have options on. You need to be able to change direction quickly.

Heh, this is my route. Not a lot of options to turn off the road and avoid the cops haha.

 

[kami333]

With or without plates?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Watch out for your cornhole bud.

 

[Sukhoi]

Make sure you avoid any chain controls in CA.

I'd take 101 down to 37. Stay on the busiest roads you can. If a sheriff gets behind you on the roads around Sonoma/Napa you'll be nailed for sure.

 

[illusion88]

With or without plates?

I got plates. The sticker says registration was due 10/08. The car has been off the road and inoperable since then. Utah doesn't charge back taxes or late fees so why register it if I'm not driving it?

 

[arcenite]

I got plates. The sticker says registration was due 10/08. The car has been off the road and inoperable since then. Utah doesn't charge back taxes or late fees so why register it if I'm not driving it?

I'm pretty sure this thread is the answer to your question.

 

[illusion88]

I'm pretty sure this thread is the answer to your question.

I should have gotten it fixed earlier, like a month ago. I knew I was going to be getting the car fixed by now, and I should have fixed the registration too. I guess what I mean is, why keep up the registration if there is no penalty for getting it registered a few years late?

I'm not sure if Utah requires that or not. My car was sitting in storage in CA, so no police officer was going to see it, thus no ticket for it between then and now.

 

[Vic Vega]

Rent a one way truck/trailer from Budget or Penske or use a car shipping service.

I've done the no registration thing across town but that's it (after purchasing the car from a private owner and having the bill of sale with me in the car).

 

[Eli]

Meh. I wouldn't worry about it.

You would have to have a cop right on your ass, or paying close attention as they pass you in the other direction to even notice. Just don't get pulled over for anything else. That's the only time I've ever really heard of someone getting a ticket for expired tags.

Making it even more difficult(in your favor), it's likely the cops in the other states aren't familiar with California's tags.

 

[Linflas]

There seems to be some special magic to stuff like this based on where you are in life. When I was in the military and college afterwards I would not have made it 5 feet away from my house with a dead inspection sticker or dead plates. On the other hand a few years back I was following my wife to drop off our mini van for some work and when we were sitting at a traffic light I noticed the tags had expired 4 months earlier. We actually had the stickers but forgot to stick them on. She had been driving all over the place with them like that and not once was pulled over.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Just renew it...sheez.

 

[BoomerD]

Did you ever file "non-op" on the vehicle in California?

If so, you may not have to pay all the late fees...but IF you get caught with plates that are 2 years expired...you may have the vehicle impounded as well as getting the tickets and having to pay the fees.

Will you get caught on the drive? No way to know for sure. IIRC, the last time we made that drive, we didn't see a single cop from California to Iowa...and he pulled us over for no plates. (new vehicle...plates hadn't been issued yet. No ticket issued) BUT, especially if you make the trip this time of year, you're probably gonna see lots of cops along the way, especially in the Sierra around the chain control points (if they're up) and around the bigger towns.

 

[SooperDave]

It used to be that in Ca. your car can be impounded if it is more than 1 year out of registration.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

You should be fine -

Don't drive like a jackass and make sure your front windows are not tinted. Its a 1-day, all day drive so you should be fine.

Just don't speed going down those massive hills as you head out of Nv and into Ut.

 

[BoomerD]

It used to be that in Ca. your car can be impounded if it is more than 1 year out of registration.

I think that's still the case...which is why I mentioned it in my previous post.
Of course, the OP MIGHT get lucky and get stopped by a kind, understanding cop...

 

[SooperDave]

I think that's still the case...which is why I mentioned it in my previous post.
Of course, the OP MIGHT get lucky and get stopped by a kind, understanding cop...

Yeah, in between reply and submit I was distracted and by the time I posted you beat me to it. I was going to edit but just didn't care enough.

I've caught a few breaks over the years but I too doubt the CHP is going to let him go being that far out of date. Proof of insurance might help

edit: Wiki says 6mos. is the time limit now.

 

[Matthiasa]

Where I am not at all unless you do something stupid, there could be a lot.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Pull the plate off of the back and place it in the rear window but visible.
I am guessing that the stickers for CA are only on the rear plate.


That way, there will usually have to be another reason to stop you.

Keep within 5mph of the speed limit and you should have no self induced problems.

Once out of CA, Nevada police are not going to bother you for the plate unless you are doing something else. Put the plate back on the rear bracket once you hit Reno.

You only have 3-4 hours in CA anyhow - leave the Bay area around the crack of dawn. During the time you will be in CA, you are also heading into the sun which will have an impact on spotters

 

[69Mach1]

I don't know how it is now but in the past California held your title and would not release it until you were current on your registration. I knew a guy who ended up selling a pickup for scrap because California wouldn't release the title so he could get it licensed in Idaho. The back registration fees were more than the vehicle was worth.

 

[illusion88]

I don't know how it is now but in the past California held your title and would not release it until you were current on your registration. I knew a guy who ended up selling a pickup for scrap because California wouldn't release the title so he could get it licensed in Idaho. The back registration fees were more than the vehicle was worth.

The car is previously registered in Utah, and in Utah there are no back taxes or late fees. It will cost me $109.50 once I get back to UT.

Oh, clutch is making a noise, gonna try and get it fixed and leave tomorrow.