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

[bignateyk]

I dunno. I forgot to put my new registration sticker on last year and I drove around all over the state (PA) for the year. I think I put about 15K miles on my car with an expired registration sticker and didn't ever get stopped.

I think you will be fine as long as you don't get pulled over for anything else. It's pretty hard for the cops to see your sticker as your drive by at 70mph.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Are you saying you have to get the car physically in Utah to register it? Why? Can't you register it online?

 

[illusion88]

Are you saying you have to get the car physically in Utah to register it? Why? Can't you register it online?

Exactly. I could do it through the mail, but I don't have that time. There is an online "express renewal", but that's not for me. I need to get a new registration. They won't even let me print out a temporary one. Which is stupid, once I get to UT I'll get it registered, get a temporary card until I get it smogged, and then I can get my stickers. Why can't I pay them the $109 now and print off a temporary card? Too complicated for the Utahans.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Are you saying you have to get the car physically in Utah to register it? Why? Can't you register it online?

EDIT: Looks like you answered this already. Still, what about doing the paperwork online and having it mailed to whatever address you'll be able to access in the week or so it takes for you to get them, and then just bring the receipt of your order? Not perfect but might at least keep you from getting your car impounded.

 

[piasabird]

Register your automobile. Are you a deadbeat? If I was a cop I would assume it is a stolen car or tell you you can walk untill you register the vehicle. If you hold the title bring it with you. You are asking for trouble. You have no right to drive a vehicle with no registration.

 

[scott916]

If you get pulled over in CA, your car will be impounded. 100%. I'd say your best bet is to risk it and drive straight through when traffic is nice and heavy, or put one of those paper dealer plates in the back and keep the plate on the front because it doesn't have reg tags on it.

 

[illusion88]

If you get pulled over in CA, your car will be impounded. 100%. I'd say your best bet is to risk it and drive straight through when traffic is nice and heavy, or put one of those paper dealer plates in the back and keep the plate on the front because it doesn't have reg tags on it.

Now that I have an extra few days (fucking clutch), I might go get a "one way" registration from the CA DMV. It's only good for a one way trip on a specific date, but it will get me through California. It's not good in NV or UT though. Weak.

 

[illusion88]

Register your automobile. Are you a deadbeat? If I was a cop I would assume it is a stolen car or tell you you can walk untill you register the vehicle. If you hold the title bring it with you. You are asking for trouble. You have no right to drive a vehicle with no registration.

I've said a few times that I will get it registered, once I get to Utah. I should have done it a month ago over the mail, I didn't. Now that it's zero hour I have to get it to Utah, and register it there. Done and done.

 

[QueBert]

I got a ticket for this in uhhh July, and a month later I was pulled over again for the same thing, the cop was all ready to write me a ticket when I showed him the 1st one.


"well shit I can't give you a ticket for something you've already gotten a ticket for" and he let me go

 

[drebo]

I got a ticket for this in uhhh July, and a month later I was pulled over again for the same thing, the cop was all ready to write me a ticket when I showed him the 1st one.


"well shit I can't give you a ticket for something you've already gotten a ticket for" and he let me go

You're lucky you had the old ticket. I know someone who got a ticket in CA for expired plates, didn't have the ticket, and got pulled over for it again a couple days later (CHP instead of local PD), and they impounded his car.

2 years out of reg is more than a fix-it ticket. You get stopped, they'll take the car.

 

[Beau]

...Utah doesn't charge back taxes or late fees so why register it if I'm not driving it?

When did this change?

I bought an old Porsche from my grandpa a few years ago that had been sitting for 2 years and had to pay back taxes on it...

Edit, I should rephrase. He had to pay the back taxes on it before he could transfer the title to me, but I covered the back taxes for him as part of the purchase.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I took a oneway from San Jose over to Denver in Nov '08

CA was told that I would be registering the vehicle in NV (true).

I had registered it online through the NV website and had them mail me a temp tag until the vanity plates were ready. I had the copy of the registration with me.

State of NV gave me no problems, nor did I have any problems in Colorado.

Utah was confused when they did a traffic stop. Vehicle had CA plates (from dealer), one way transit tag (from CA) and NV registration (only). But everything there was completely legal and no ticket was issued. They could have had me at 80 in a 70 zone, but the officer may not have been able to figure out what plate to put on the paperwork or just been nice.