Imagine walking out to your car, ready to start your day, only to find that your license plate is missing. As you look closely, you realize that someone has stolen your license plates.
It will be like a movie to you. Panic will set in. You’ll begin to wonder who would have taken your license plates, and what he/she going to do with them. Then you realize that you’re about to leave the house and you begin to wonder if you could drive your car if your license plates were stolen.
Can I Drive My Car If My License Plate Was Stolen?
No, you cannot drive your car if your license plates are stolen because driving a vehicle without a license plate, or with a stolen license plate is illegal and you can be pulled over by the police and issued a ticket.
Once you discover that your license plates have been stolen, do not attempt to drive your car. Since it’s against the law to drive without license plates, you might find it difficult to convince the police officer who must have pulled you over that the plates were stolen.
Permanent or temporary license plates serve as a form of identification for vehicles, allowing law enforcement to easily identify and track them. Therefore, without a visible license plate, you risk being pulled over by the police and facing fines or other penalties.
What to Do If Your License Plate Was Stolen
Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if your license plates are stolen:
1. File a Police Report
The first thing to do if you discover that your license plate has been stolen is to file a police report. You can do this by calling their non-emergency phone number or just dial 911.
When speaking with the police, provide as much information as possible about the theft of your license plate. This includes details such as:
- Date and time of the theft (if known).
- The location where the theft occurred.
- Description of your vehicle, including make, model, color, and any distinguishing features.
- The license plate number that was stolen.
- Any relevant circumstances surrounding the theft, such as suspicious activity or witnesses.
The police may ask you to provide additional information or documentation to support your report. Cooperate fully with them and provide any requested details or assistance.
After filing the report, the police will provide you with a report number or reference number which serves as a record of your report and can be used for reference in the future.
2. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
After filing a police report, the next thing to do is to contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to report the theft of your license plate and request a replacement. The DMV will know how to handle the stolen plate issue.
There are several ways to contact the DMV, they are by:
- Phone: Through the phone, you can call the DMV’s customer service number, which is usually listed on their website. Be prepared to provide information about the theft when speaking with a representative.
- Email: Your DMV may allow you to report the theft and request a replacement license plate via mail. Check the DMV’s website for any email addresses or forms you need to use.
- In-Person Visit: If you prefer face-to-face interaction, visit your local DMV office during their business hours. Bring all required documentation and be prepared to fill out any necessary forms.
However, before contacting the DMV, you need to gather this information:
- Your vehicle registration information, including the vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Details about the stolen license plate, such as the plate number and the date/time of the theft.
- Your identification, such as a driver’s license or state ID.
You may need to fill out a form for reporting stolen license plates and request a replacement plate. You must be prepared to pay any applicable fees for the replacement plate. The cost varies depending on your state’s regulations.
After reporting the theft and requesting a replacement plate, they will inform you of the timeframe for receiving your new license plate. Once your replacement license plate is ready, the DMV will provide it to you.
3. Obtain a Temporary Permit or Sticker
When you contact your DMV and make a report about your stolen plates, you will be given options to take. They may provide a temporary permit or sticker that you can affix to your vehicle until your new license plate arrives.
Or, you may be issued a new set of license plates on the spot by the DMV, allowing you to immediately replace the stolen plate and continue driving legally.
However, if the plates are not ready on the spot, you may need to opt for the temporary permit or sticker which will serve as a temporary form of identification for your vehicle and allow you to drive legally during the interim period.
Moreover, when requesting a temporary permit or sticker, be prepared to provide the following information:
- Your vehicle registration information, including the vehicle identification number (VIN).
- Details about the stolen license plate, such as the plate number and the date/time of the theft.
- Your identification, such as a driver’s license or state ID.
The DMV will provide you with instructions on how to obtain a temporary permit or sticker. You may be required to fill out some forms, provide documentation, and pay some fees.
In some cases, the DMV may issue the temporary permit or sticker to you on the spot if you visit their office in person or they may mail the temporary permit or sticker to you once your request has been processed.
Once you receive the temporary permit or sticker from the DMV, affix it to your vehicle as instructed and start driving with it until your new plates are ready.
4. Update Your Insurance Information
Once you receive your replacement license plates from the DMV, your next step would be to update your insurance information with the new plates to ensure that your vehicle remains properly insured and compliant with legal requirements.
Contact your insurance provider as soon as you receive your replacement license plate and inform them that you have received a replacement license plate for your vehicle.
Provide them with the new plate number and any other information they may need to update your policy. They may ask you to fill out a form, provide documentation, or make changes to your policy online.
Once you have updated your insurance information with the new license plate number, verify that your coverage is up to date and accurately reflects the information provided. Review your policy documents or contact your insurance agent to ensure that there are no discrepancies.
These are the most important things you must do immediately after you discover your license plates missing. As you can see, driving the car is not part of it.
You should also keep an eye out for any suspicious activity or unauthorized use of your stolen license plate. While unlikely, there is a possibility that the stolen plate could be used in criminal activities or traffic violations.
If you notice any suspicious activity, such as seeing your stolen license plate on another vehicle or receiving notices of traffic violations or other incidents involving your plate, report it to the appropriate authorities immediately.
Furthermore, you can consider implementing theft prevention measures to protect your vehicle from future theft by installing security cameras, using anti-theft devices, or parking in secure locations whenever possible.
Why Would Someone Steal One Number Plate?
There could be several reasons why someone might steal a single license plate, they are:
- For Criminal Activity: Because they want to use the stolen license plate to commit crimes. For example, individuals may steal a license plate to use on a stolen vehicle to evade detection by law enforcement. By swapping out the stolen plate for a legitimate one, they can make the vehicle appear legally registered.
- For Fraudulent Activities: Stolen license plates can also be used in various fraudulent activities, such as identity theft or financial fraud. Criminals may use stolen plates to create false identities or to engage in activities such as fraudulent vehicle registrations or insurance claims.
- For Traffic Violations: Some individuals may steal one of your license plates to avoid paying tolls or parking tickets or to evade detection for traffic violations. By using a stolen plate on their vehicle, they hope to avoid being identified and held accountable for these infractions.
- For Resale: In some cases, stolen license plates may be sold on the black market or to individuals who are looking to obtain false identification or commit fraudulent activities. While the monetary value of a single license plate may be low, there can still be a demand for stolen plates in certain circles.
- Vandalism or Mischief: In rare cases, one license plate may be stolen simply as an act of vandalism or mischief. Some individuals may take the license plates as souvenirs or use them as decorations, without any specific intent to use them for illegal purposes.
- Mistaken Identity: Occasionally, one number license plate may be stolen mistakenly, especially if they are similar to another plate or if the thief is targeting a specific type of vehicle. In such cases, the thief may realize their mistake and discard the stolen plate once they realize it does not serve their intended purpose.
Conclusion
Discovering that your license plate has been stolen can be a concerning experience. The fact that you’re reading this post means that you or someone you know has had his/her license plates stolen.
Well, you or the person should not drive the car, rather, he should file a police report and notify the DMV about the stolen plates to be able to request another one.
The DMV will handle it from here and ensure that a replacement is made available as soon as possible to enable you to continue driving your car.
