Foreign license plates in the US?

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
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I don't think they would be, but let's assume that you had a European plate of some sort, like Germany or France, and you wanted to bring your car to the United States. Would your European plate be legal to use for a temporary period of time? I know that if you move to another statee, you can still use the plate from your old state for a limited time until you can get new tags in registration in your new state of residence, but does this work for international plates as well? Just curious.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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Uh... I doubt it.

Well, Canadian plates are fine here. And I guess Mexican too. But I doubt European would fly.
 

DaTT

Garage Moderator
Moderator
Feb 13, 2003
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I know if you have a classic Euro car, you can get Euro plates for it and use them as you would regular plates. Not sure if that applies for newer cars.
 

Cdubneeddeal

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2003
7,473
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Yes, you would have to most likely get a trip permit until the new registration comes into effect with U.S. Plates.
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
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if you can drive here with canadian or mexican plates, i'm not sure why you couldn't do so with plates from any other country. you'd probably be subject to the same 30 day rule that most states have, where you have to register with that state within 30 days.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/en...us/7importingyourcar.htm#driversplates

U.S. RESIDENTS importing a new or used car should consult the appropriate department of motor vehicles in their State of residence about temporary license plates.

FOREIGN NATIONALS employed in the U.S. may use their foreign license tags from the port of entry to their destination in the U.S.

NATIONALS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN countries that have ratified the Inter-American Convention of 1943 may drive their cars in the U.S. for touring purposes for one year or the validity of the documents, whichever is shorter, without U.S. license plates or U.S. driver's permits, provided the car carries the International Registration Marker and registration card, and the driver has the International Driving Permit.

MOTORISTS VISITING THE UNITED STATES as tourists from countries that have ratified the Convention on International Road Traffic of 1949 may drive in the U.S. for one year with their own national Iicense plates (registration tags) on their cars and with their own personal driver's licenses.

MOTORISTS FROM CANADA AND MEXICO are permitted to tour in the U.S. without U.S. license plates or U.S. driver's permits, under agreements between the United States and these countries.

MOTORISTS FROM A COUNTRY NOT A PARTY to any of the above agreements must secure a driving permit in the U.S. after taking an examination.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
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Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
euro license plates look so much better than US ones :(

:confused:

I think this is yet another case of someone thinking something is better just because it's European.
 

Saint Nick

Lifer
Jan 21, 2005
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Here on the Air Force base, I've seen anything from Guam license plates, to Hong Kong lincense plates.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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Originally posted by: MrFanel
I have a Russian license plate on my car, as well as a California one.

Only one California plate? I thought California had front plates too.
 

EKKC

Diamond Member
May 31, 2005
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Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
euro license plates look so much better than US ones :(

:confused:

I think this is yet another case of someone thinking something is better just because it's European.

no. i think they are more uniform, the way theres the euro flag and the plate number in big bold letters. american plates have their own styles, and some states have a bunch of different designs. i personally have seen a lot of variations on Florida plates.

when I went to Italy with the gf 2 months ago, I was walking in some alley in Rome, I saw an Inifiniti FX35 with a New York state plate, i took a picture of it. it was like a little piece of home all the way across the atlantic.

that car didn't have a second euro plate, so I guess the italians didn't give a crap. seeing how smartcars are parked vertically and motorcycles on dropped curb all over rome, i doubt they care about anything as long as you don't run over people GTA-style.

days later in Florence I saw another car with Massachusetts plate.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
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Originally posted by: EKKC

that car didn't have a second euro plate, so I guess the italians didn't give a crap. seeing how smartcars are parked vertically and motorcycles on dropped curb all over rome, i doubt they care about anything as long as you don't run over people GTA-style.

They don't care if you run people over GTA-style as long as they aren't in the crosswalk.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
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Originally posted by: jndietz
Here on the Air Force base, I've seen anything from Guam license plates, to Hong Kong lincense plates.

That's different, military is exempt. We drove for 3 years on Texas plates in WV.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
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I've got a regular State Tag on my back, but I use my European plate up front.
 

OREOSpeedwagon

Diamond Member
May 30, 2001
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I think European plates look cooler too. Maybe it's just because I've seen US plates all my life and they seem boring.

Wasn't there a site posted one time where you could buy (not valid) personalized Euro plates to put on your car?
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: AgentJean
Originally posted by: tfinch2
I saw a car on my way home from work last week with Austrailian plates.

There is no way the drove from Austrailia:confused:

wow you think not eh? then i wonder how they got it here!?