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License Plate Missing

Maize and Blue

Maize and Blue

New member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Location
San Jose
Moto(s)
10R
Name
Arft
So.... My license plate went missing :thumbdown and I need to get another one.

Can I just go to the DMV, hand in my registration, buy a new plate and sticker and go home? Or am I gonna have to fight with them about it?:rolleyes
 
I'd be more concerned about being held responsible for the things done by the vehicle using your plate than I would be about replacing it. Report it right away. Replacing it is a small thing. Plate theft or loss isn't that uncommon.
 
Maize and Blue said:
So.... My license plate went missing :thumbdown and I need to get another one.

Can I just go to the DMV, hand in my registration, buy a new plate and sticker and go home? Or am I gonna have to fight with them about it?:rolleyes
Click to expand...

I believe if you file a police report for the stolen plate, then take a copy of the report with you to the DMV, the fee for a new plate is either smaller or perhaps even $0.

Knowing the DMV, they will want your old plate. So, when you get a new one, they'll ask for it, and if you tell them it's stolen and you don't have it, they will refuse to help you until you get a police report. So, get a police report first.
 
^^^this.

- File a police report first.
- Take case number with you to DMV. This will be in lieu of old plate.
- Wait in horrific line (don't forget to bring hard boiled eggs to eat and a screaming baby, for company whilst waiting)
- Pay $15 for new plate and stickers.
- Go to O'Reilly and get some anti-theft plate fasteners.
- Ride into the sunset (don't forget a helmet for your screaming baby)
:0D
 
I recently got new plates for a motorcycle from DMV because the old plate had been damaged, and DMV did not require the old plate and issued a new plate (with new plate number) on the spot.
 
I lost the plate on the Rat bike about 6 months ago (damn low tensile strength tie wraps) somewhere on 101. You have to call CHP (or the city you lost the plate in if you know it) and file a report. Then you just need the report number when you go to the DMV. They wouldn't do anything for me the first time I went in to get a replacement without the report number.

I think I called the San Jose office (408-467-5400) and filed the report. It only took about 5 minutes.

Good luck.
 
I had a plate stolen once. It was recovered by the police and returned to the DMV. DMV gives me a call and I go get the plate.

All good right?... Right...

About 3 months after I got the plate back I was in an accident. While I'm being treated a helpful officer comes up and cuffs me.

I'm like- "WTF"
Him- "That bike has a stolen plate."
I'm all -"Yah it was stolen, recovered by police, returned to the DMV, who then returned it to me. Check the VIN it's the right plate on the right bike."
Him-"We'll see about that."

Now at the time I had just been in a pretty serious accident, I had a concussion, a dislocated shoulder, was bleeding out of my nose and an ear, a dislocated jaw, when they did the x-rays they noticed I had lost some fillings(they were in my stomach)...

In order to evaluate my shoulder and back injuries the paramedics convinced the cop to take the cuffs off, at first he refused but then once the paramedics pointed out I wasn't going to run anywhere for the time being and that we were in the middle of nowhere and I had no where to go he reluctantly removed them.

Then the cop comes back...
Him-"I can arrest you right now."
Me- "For what?"
Him-"For not retracting your stolen property report."
Me-"Well since the plate was recovered by a police agency and then returned to me by a state agency who both knew it was stolen and then returned why would I have to retract the report."
Him-"I could arrest you right now."
Me- "For what?"
Him-"Filing a false police report."
Me-"Which one?"
Him-"The one about the stolen plate."
Me-"Can I talk to your sargent?"
Him-"No, I'm doing the investigation."
Me-"Hey you, lieutenant(somebody with pips had showed up)."

It took about 3 min. for the lieutenant(or captain whatever) to figure it out, but in the mean time I'm being held(for 45 min+)instead of going to the ER.

Eventually everything ended up OK.

The lesson: If a plate is stolen and then returned call the agency that the theft was reported to and cancel the report.
 
Last edited:
Cool, Thanks for the advice. I'll call CHP tomorrow, cause I'm not quite sure where it ended up. :twofinger

Chuck. Wow, sorry to hear about your luck. I will be sure to follow your advice should it get returned.
 
rritterson said:
I believe if you file a police report for the stolen plate, then take a copy of the report with you to the DMV, the fee for a new plate is either smaller or perhaps even $0.

Knowing the DMV, they will want your old plate. So, when you get a new one, they'll ask for it, and if you tell them it's stolen and you don't have it, they will refuse to help you until you get a police report. So, get a police report first.
Click to expand...

Maybe the plate just fell off?
 
russ69 said:
Maybe the plate just fell off?
Click to expand...

DMV probably does not want mystery plates floating around, so if it just fell off but is still missing, you probably still want some sort of report.
 
To obtain replacement plates:

In person:
Visit your local DMV; make an Appointment(s) for faster service.
Present a valid California driver license or identification card.
or
Out-of-state or out-of-country driver license or identification card and one of the following secondary photo identifications:
A valid passport
Military identification card
Identification card issued by a state or United States government agency
Student identification card issued by a college or university
Identification card issued by a California-based employer
Surrender the remaining plate(s)
If your current address is different from the address on DMV’s records, you must also provide:
Proof of ownership (a copy of your title or registration card)
Police report, if your plate(s) was stolen
A vehicle verification completed by the California Highway Patrol, if replacement plates were issued within the last 90 days
Complete an application for replacement plates. Refer to the chart below to determine the appropriate form.
Pay the required duplicate or substitute fee:
Regular series fee
Permanent Trailer Identification fee
Disabled Person and Disabled Veteran fees
Special, Special Interest, and Special Equipment fees
Off-Highway Vehicle fee
Moped fee
 
jmillington said:
I recently got new plates for a motorcycle from DMV because the old plate had been damaged, and DMV did not require the old plate and issued a new plate (with new plate number) on the spot.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you have to file a statement-of-facts on what happened to the plate. I've always said they "fell off" due to rust, loose-bolts, etc. They remove the old plate# from your record and issue you a new one. Personally I don't care what they say the cause is in their files, it still removes your old# and assigns you a new one. Then you pay your $15 and get new plates and go on your merry way.

The results are exactly the same. If your plate fell off and someone picked it up and used for mischief, it's the exact same thing as if they stole it off your bike. And any police agency looking a plate# of a perp is going to get the identity from DMV records.
 
Make an appointment at the DMV -- cannot stress that enough. It is easily done online, and can save you a lot of time. I had to visit my local DMV twice in recent month for plates, and I was in and out under 20 minutes both times.
 
Also if you are a AAA member, you can take your lost tag police report to any AAA office that handles DMV stuff and avoid the lines. Lost my tag last month and after 10 mins filing the lost tag report, dropped by AAA and was out in 5 mins. YMMV
 
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