Warning about "Specialty" license plates and theft...

[Martinjmpr]

Just wanted to throw out a warning for those of you who are registering a vehicle and who might want to pony up the $50 for a "specialty" license plate:

I did that on my Pathfinder, got the "Afghanistan Veteran" license plate and paid the $50.

Last week, both license plates were stolen from my vehicle parked in the driveway. I'd had a plate stolen before and it was no big deal - made the police report, got the report number, went to the county clerk's office and paid I think $5 to replace my stolen plate.

Ah, but that was a "regular" plate. Since I had a "specialty" plate, they not only charged me the $5 - the also said they'd assess me another $50 "special plate" charge. So I told them "OK, just give me a regular plate then."

But then the clerk said "well, we can do that but since you're switching from a specialty plate to a regular plate, we have to do an all-new registration for a full year" and the cost was $67 for that. [Rant1]

So since it was cheaper to do it, I just paid the $50 to get a new specialty plate. But then, they didn't have them in stock at the clerk's office so they had to give me a temp - and charged me a fee for that, too. [Rant2]

Bottom line, if you have a specialty plate, make sure it's attached securely (I'm seriously considering just riveting my plates on from this point.)

And if you're registering a new vehicle, think twice about that specialty plate. I think next time I'll just get a regular plate and slap a "Veteran" sticker on the back window - much cheaper that way. [Mad]


Rant over....

[TheGrey]

Outrageous!

[BushMasterBoy]

Call ahead before go to any government office. I showed up at the White House and they didn't even invite me in. Rude bastards!

[68Charger]

I never got specialty plates because I refuse to give more the the gov't than I have to.
If you buy new vehicles, the $50 probably doesn't seem like much, but you're already paying more than some people pay for a vehicle.

Thankfully, TX doesn't have nearly the 'crat tax that Colorado has now. (thanks to Ritter)

[hurley842002]

I never got specialty plates because I refuse to give more the the gov't than I have to.
If you buy new vehicles, the $50 probably doesn't seem like much, but you're already paying more than some people pay for a vehicle.

Thankfully, TX doesn't have nearly the 'crat tax that Colorado has now. (thanks to Ritter)I don't know about other plates, but the one's I have required me to donate a minimum of $50 to the organization my plates are designed for, and then show the receipt as proof, no money to the gov.

[ray1970]

I had custom plates that read “420”. People stole them every other day.

[BushMasterBoy]

420 is Hitlers birthday. Hence "take a hit of this".

[SuperiorDG]

I had custom plates that read “420”. People stole them every other day.

Why would they keep giving you the same plate number it they were stolen?

BTW I've heard the purple heart plates are free for those that have earned them.

[Martinjmpr]

Why would they keep giving you the same plate number it they were stolen?

BTW I've heard the purple heart plates are free for those that have earned them.

I think the rule is that if your purple heart plate gets stolen and you want to replace it, you have to deploy overseas and get shot again. :D

[ray1970]

Why would they keep giving you the same plate number it they were stolen?



I was just goofing. I never had any 420 plates. Although if I did I would imagine they would be difficult to keep on my vehicles the same way mike marker signs with 420 kept disappearing.

Also, if anyone wants to slow down license plate theft I’d recommend some torx head screws. Nothing is theft proof but the class of people who would steal a license plate likely aren’t walking around with the correct size torx screwdriver so might just move on to an easier score.

[ray1970]

And, for the record, I’m with 68Charger. I’m not spending extra money on fancy plates.

The lady at the DMV asked me if I was interested in them once. I told her that if I thought I’d never get a ticket that I wouldn’t even put license plates on my vehicle. Much less spend extra to do so.

[kidicarus13]

72440

[Gman]

I think the rule is that if your purple heart plate gets stolen and you want to replace it, you have to deploy overseas and get shot again. :D
[LOL]

[Justin]

Had some jerk try to pull my rear plate off a few months ago. He failed due to the security bolts, but the plate was bent enough that I ended up having to buy a license plate frame to keep it flat.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I don't know about other plates, but the one's I have required me to donate a minimum of $50 to the organization my plates are designed for, and then show the receipt as proof, no money to the gov.

I think the two I did were that plus extra to the government for the different plate. I'm down to one "fancy" plate now, but I registered a car on Thursday and ALMOST did this again. It was $50 to the org, and then $25 to the government, IIRC.
Ultimately I just went with the regular ones. After this thread, I'm more glad I did.

[ray1970]

On a related note, a person could keep spare razor blades handy on their vehicle by taping them to the back side of the license plate for safe keeping.

[ray1970]

I think the two I did were that plus extra to the government for the different plate. I'm down to one "fancy" plate now, but I registered a car on Thursday and ALMOST did this again. It was $50 to the org, and then $25 to the government, IIRC.
Ultimately I just went with the regular ones. After this thread, I'm more glad I did.

Not sure about the $50 but keep in mind the $25 isn't just an initial investment. That $25 gets charged every time you renew those plates if I understand correctly. So if you have those plates for ten years that's $250.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Not sure about the $50 but keep in mind the $25 isn't just an initial investment. That $25 gets charged every time you renew those plates if I understand correctly. So if you have those plates for ten years that's $250.

I think I had mine mixed up - it was the opposite. These are the only specialty plate I have left: https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/get-involved/share-the-road/
Says it is a one-time $50 to the gov't after the one time $25 donation. I've never really noticed the extra fees over the years - but I did get an itemized breakdown of the fees on my [plain green/white] plates on Thursday afternoon.

BTW: Props to JeffCo taj mahal on Thurs afternoon. I got there at 4 and was out in about 20 minutes! That was a first as I've definitely been there > 90 min in the past.

[spqrzilla]

Last time I bought a vehicle, I had the clerk register it to the plates from the Jeep I'd just scrapped.

[brutal]

I only have the basic Honorably Discharged Veteran plates and never had any issues.

While we're on the subject, $177.97 to renew the plates for my 13.5 year old truck that does around 5K miles per year. I find the state's vehicle registration fees absolutely egregious, particularly when the roads and bridges we pay EXTRA fees for are all still shite. At least I get a pass on the $40 emissions test this year. Fuckers.

[GilpinGuy]

Money VOLUNTARILY given to the gov't? [hahhah-no]
I get wanting to show your pride, gratitude, etc., but not 1 cent of my hard earned money goes to the gov't unless it keeps me out of prison. Tax is theft.

[ray1970]

On a related note, I bought a brand new truck in Texas and the plates cost me $45. Moved here with that same truck a year later and when I put Colorado plates on it it was somewhere around $380. It was quite the surprise and my first lesson in the high cost of living here.

[spqrzilla]

Never heard that. My local clerk let me use the old plates from my Jeep Cherokee when I scrapped it and bought a Toyota. Those had to be six or seven years old.

[fly boy]

I thought I would update this thread with this WTF?

I have Marine Corps plates on some of my vehicles. I purchased a used truck this week and wanted to put some Marine Corps plates on it. I paid $50 or whatever it was for these plates a few years back and they were only on a vehicle for less than a year. In perfect shape so I thought why buy new ones and waste $50 again, just transfer these to the purchase.

NOPE!!! I have to buy all new ones because the DMV wont let you use them if they are more than 2 years old. WTF is that? I am going to write a letter to some douchebag politician once I figure who to send it to. I realize they dont give a shit about a citizen who isnt made of money or cant help them politcally, but I need to vent at them. I hate the government.

let me clarify. they wont let me use the plates because they hadnt been used in 2 years. I have plates that I have used for 15 years straight. but dont take them off the vehicle and then try to use them on a vehicle 2 years later. I paid for them, why cant I use them?

Because ColoFornia?

In WY we HAVE to change plates every 8 years. They re-design them, so even if you purchase custom plates, you will have to buy a new set when the new design comes out.

[O2HeN2]

let me clarify. they wont let me use the plates because they hadnt been used in 2 years. I have plates that I have used for 15 years straight. but dont take them off the vehicle and then try to use them on a vehicle 2 years later. I paid for them, why cant I use them?
I have a reasonable guess as to why. I bet after a plate isn't used for two years, the state marks the plate number as unused and can re-issue the number to someone else.

So your number may be in use on another vehicle. Most likely it isn't. Being the government (and especially the MVD), they can't be bothered to simply look up your old number and see if it's been reissued (I doubt they even have a process of taking it off the available list). Easier to shaft the customer, because they have no market pressures that result in good customer service.

O2