Laws in every state differently define the purpose and use of dealer plates. But, it is universally adopted that the use of dealer plates is limited to cars that are for sale and only to dealership employees or to test drivers. Getting pulled over with dealer plates can happen for several reasons. You may look suspicious to the police, or you have committed a traffic violation.
If you get pulled over, be calm and show your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. If you have the authorization of the dealership, show it together with the other documents. If you use the car for a test drive, you have nothing to fear. In case you are breaking the law, do not argue, and pay the fine. That will save you a lot of nerves and money.
What Are Dealer Plates and What Is It Used For?
Dealer plates are a special type of license plates that are used for dealership purposes. Dealer license plate usage is defined by each state and its laws. However, all states share the same basic definition and usage for these plates.
Dealer plates can be used by the cars that are proposed for sale by the dealership. Only the owners of the dealership and their spouses, dealership employees, or the customer can drive these vehicles. Also, the driving must be connected to the possibility of a sale. The only exemption is when the dealership personnel is driving the car to the service center. A dealership employee cannot use a car with dealer plates for personal purposes.
Some of the universal dealer plate rules are:
- A dealer can take out regular dealer plates, which last differently in every state, but usually last a year.
- Another option is to take out a temporary dealer plate that commonly lasts one month. In some states, it can be renewed, while in others, don’t.
- A buyer must change the dealer plates once it buys a vehicle.
- Dealer plates must be visible at the front and at the back of the vehicle.
- A car with dealer plates cannot be driven across state lines.
What The Law Says About Driving With Dealer Plates?
The law in all states strongly prohibits the use of dealer plates in these situations and conditions:
- Dealership service vehicles must use regular plates, not the dealer’s.
- If one car is pulling the other, it cannot do it with installed dealer plates.
- A loaner vehicle cannot use dealership plates. Loaner plates have their unique markings and are different from regular plates.
- If a person wants to sell their vehicle, it cannot replace regular with dealer plates and use them for private purposes.
The law is very strict when defining the use of dealer plates. Only vehicles that are in the dealership vehicle inventory and are meant for sale can use dealer plates.
Dealer Plate Rules & Restrictions For Each State
Dealer plate rules are different in every state, and we gathered information to make your life a bit easier:
Dealer Plates Ohio
- A registered car dealer must obtain at least one dealer plate.
- A dealer can request additional dealer plates, but the number will be limited to the number of sold cars in the last year.
- Dealer plates cannot be used on vehicles that are used for commercial purposes.
- Dealer plates cannot be used on service vehicles, like tow trucks, snow plowing trucks, etc.
Dealer Plates Florida
- The dealer must place dealer plates on all cars that are for sale at that dealership.
- Dealer plates cannot be used on tow trucks, or on vehicles that are transporting other vehicles.
- Vehicles with dealer plates can be driven on the highways if the drive is connected with the sale or other dealer business related to that vehicle.
- Dealer plates may not be used on dealer family member vehicles to avoid registration fees.
Dealer Plates Colorado
- Dealer license plates must be displayed on vehicles that are offered for sale by the dealer.
- Dealer plates must be displayed on vehicles during business hours and during test drives.
- A prospective buyer can drive a car with a dealer license for up to 7 days if he has authorization from the dealership.
- Vehicles that are sold or loaned cannot use dealer plates.
Dealer plates Michigan
- A dealer must obtain at least two dealer plates.
- Dealer plates must be used only by the employees of the dealership.
- In each dealer vehicle, there must be authorization for the use of a dealer plate and a copy of the certificate of insurance.
- The vehicle with the dealer licence can be used to transport money or documents related to the sale of the vehicle.
- The vehicle can also be used to drive to and from mechanic shops, storage lots, and for testing purposes.
Dealer plates Luisisana
- All dealer plates are issued with a year validity period.
- The dealer plate must be visible in plain view.
- A valid plate can be transferred from one vehicle to another owned by the dealer.
- The prospective buyer can use the vehicle with the dealership’s permission for up to 5 days within the state boundaries.
Dealer plates Minnesota
- Vehicles with dealer plates can be used by the dealership owner, their spouse, or dull and part-time employees when it is directly connected with the business transaction of a dealer.
- A prospective buyer can use a car with dealer plates for 2 days. In the case of a truck, semi-trailer, or a truck-tractor that period is 7 days.
- A buyer can use the dealer plates up to 3 days after buying the vehicle.
- The dealer plates must be firmly placed on the rear of the vehicle.
Check Out Keep it Legal: Dealer Plate Regulations You Should Know In Your State:
Common Reasons for Getting Pulled Over with Dealer Plates
Since the law specifically regulates the use of dealer plates, that is an incentive to use them accordingly. A police officer can pull over a driver like any other driver with regular plates.
Expired Tags
Getting pulled over because the tags have expired is a legitimate reason. Police officer often pull over vehicles to check their tags. Even if they don’t immediately suspect any illegal activity, they can pull over any car to check the tags. Vehicles with dealer plates are often checked because of their unlawful use.
Driving with expired tags is a serious violation. A driver can get a ticket, but also the car can get impounded. Depending on the situation, the policeman can issue a verbal warning. But, commonly the first step is a ticket. If the driver continues driving with expired tags, then the vehicle can be impounded. Then the driver must pay additional fees. If this problem occurs often, the driver may lose their license.
Suspicious Activity
Getting pulled over doubt of suspicious activity is often a cause all over the United States. Cars with dealer plates are always on the radar, so be extra careful. If the police have a reason to think that something unusual is happening in the car, they can use it as a reason to pull over the car.
Police can use different signs as suspicious activity. Shouts or loud noises from the cabin space, violent, crashing, or braking sounds, are all enough to stop the vehicle with the presumption of suspicious activity. If the police form an impression that the car with dealer plates is used unlawfully, they can stop it. For example, a heavily loaded car with dealer plates is unusual and suspicious.
Traffic Violations
If the driver is committing traffic violations, even during the test drive, that is probable cause to pull him over. The driver needs to pay attention to the traffic signs and rules, and that is the only way to avoid this issue.
The police don’t look at what types of plates the vehicle has if it is committing traffic violations, so be careful.
What to Expect When Pulled Over?
The police officer will check if the motor vehicle is used according to law. He will ask for documentation both for the driver and the car. He will check the tags, and ask for what purpose the car is used. If the car is not registered it can be impounded. If he asses that the car is misused he will check the history of the vehicle and the driver.
If this is the first problem, he may issue a verbal warning or go straight to the ticket. If there is a history of misuse of the vehicle, the motor vehicle can be impounded. The dealer will also be fined for unlawful use of the vehicle.
What Are The Consequences of Not Having Proper Documentation?
While you are driving with dealer plates, you must have your driver’s license. The dealership needs to have valid proof of insurance and tags. Driving without valid documentation pulls the sets of consequences, like when driving a personal vehicle.
The consequences depend on the situation. If the driver doesn’t have a driver’s license, the fine can easily go over $1,000. If the tags are expired, the fee is between $100 and $200. How long the tags have been expired impacts the fee.
Check Out Another Benefit of having a DEALER or TRANSPORTER plate:
How Long Can You Drive with Dealer Plates?
The dealership can loan the vehicle for sale, demonstration, or testing purposes only. The length of the loan is different in every state. This loan can last up to 5 days. Once the driver buys the vehicle, it should register it to its name.
On the other hand, dealers can acquire regular dealer plates that last for a year and can be renewed. Depending on the state, there is an option of temporary dealer plates that have a varying period of use.
Time Limitations
In some states, like Idaho, the prospective buyer can drive with dealer plates for up to 3 days. In most other states, the time limit is 5 or 7 days.
How to Avoid Getting Pulled Over with Dealer Plates
- Drive safely and according to law
- Avoid arguing and using loud talk in the vehicle
- Have valid tags
- Dealer plates must be visible in front and the end of the car at all times
- The car should be in decent shape
- All the car lights need to be working properly.
Can You Drive Out of State with Dealer Plates?
No, you cannot drive out of state with dealer plates. Driving with dealer plates is limited to a test drive of the vehicle or when the vehicle is driven to the service. Driving out of the state is not considered a lawful way to use a dealer vehicle.
Real-life Stories: Anecdotes and Experiences
A driver complained that he drove off his mother’s driveway with a car that had dealer plates. The police stopped him and asked for documentation. He didn’t have valid insurance and tried to avoid the fine by saying that at the dealership, they didn’t have all his personal details. The police still fined him and said that the next time they would impound the car.
In another situation, a policeman caught a driver driving with the dealer plates from the other state. It turned out that the dealer gave these plates for all family members to use for a daily drive. The driver continued to use the same car to drive to the other state. After the police caught him the third time, they marked the VIN as suspended. The car was impounded, and the driver had to pay the fine.
FAQs
Can You Drive Your Car with a Dealer Plate at Night?
No, you cannot drive your car with a dealer plate at night. The car with the dealer plates can be used during working hours at the dealership. Not even an owner of a dealership cannot use a car with dealer plates during the night without a valid reason.
Can You Drive Out of State with Dealer Plates?
No, you cannot drive out of state with dealer plates. There is no justification to use dealer plates to drive to another state. These plates are used for car testing or servicing. All testing and service can be done in the same state.
If you want to drive the car into another state, you must obtain temporary registration in the state where the car is moved.
How Much Time Can I Legally Drive with Dealer Plates?
If you are a prospective buyer who is testing the vehicle, then the time will vary from state to state. Most states approve of this type of test with the authorization of the dealership.
If the driver wants to continue to use dealer plates after he buys the vehicle, that is, in most states, illegal. There are some expectations, but we recommend checking the local laws first.
Final Considerations
Dealer plates have a defined purpose, and they shouldn’t be misused. If you are following the word of the law and use the plates accordingly, you will not have problems. The police cannot fine you if you are using the car as a dealer while testing the car. As a prospective buyer, you can test the car without problems. Follow the traffic laws at all times, act normally, and have all the valid documentation on hand.
If you misuse the car with dealer plates, you will probably be fined. If you avoid arguing, you may end up with a verbal warning. If you need to pay the fine, let that be the least of your worries. Do not let your emotions drive you because you may end up in court and the car impounded, and the fee will rise.
