Total Motorcycle Community Forums

This is specific to the US, but... I got my bike a month ago, still haven't received my real license plate (DMV says "90 days before you complain...it has been <40") but I want to do some longer distance rides, perhaps into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, or Oregon (I'm in California)... I'm wondering how they'll respond to a bike with no license plate.

Anybody have experience in this area? Resources or views they'd like to share?

Thanks,

Probably get stopped a few times but as long as you have your paperwork up to date shouldn't be any probs.

Happy Riding

You can't get a hold of some temporary tags? Did you order custom plates and they haven't come in?

What's a temporary tag?

When you buy a vehicle in CA the dealership gives you a little scrap of paper you are supposed to tape to the inside of the windshield. The "license plate" is an ad for the dealership... the DMV eventually ships you a license plate, but they aren't in any hurry to do so. Of course, taping a scrap of paper to the inside of the windshield works well on cars, not so hot on flatbed trailers or motorcycles or other open "vehicles".

All perfectly legal in CA... but I know other states have weird views about cars without license plates driving around....

ahh ok, that's how it works in CA. Here in Virginia the dealership will give you temporary paper tags that can be placed on the license plate bracket just like a regular plate. If that runs out before getting your actual plate you can get another temporary tag from DMV.

Make sure all your papers are in order (Insurance, bike ownership papers...etc) and whatever you do......don't the local law enforcement any reason to pull you over

not having a visible plate is reason enough to pull you over.
as long as you have proper documentation, you should be safe from fines, but expect to be pulled over.

thats weird. In pennsylvania they give you a license plate right way. Its the registration that is temporary. They give you a big piece of paper to be displayed in your window (or tank bag) until you get a little ectangular sticker in the mail a few weeks later. The sticker goes on the plate.

I know if you drove with no plate here you'd be pulled over tout suite.

Yeah, CA is kinda on the lazy end of the spectrum when it comes to license plates.

Here's what the back of my bike has hangin' off it...



The temporary registration is supposed to be displayed in a window... it is actually under the seat because I didn't put it back when I washed the bike... and because it has been almost-raining for the last few days (enough to get the helmet wet) and I didn't see any point in destroying it.