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.

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.

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.


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.

[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]

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-...hare-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.

[ray1970]

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

[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.