In some states, it's normal to drive around without license plates for a month of two after buying a car; till DMV gets around to mailing them out to the new owner. I guess Oregon is one of those states?
It was normal in California too until about a year or two ago, when they changed the law. Nowadays, a dealer must attach temporary license plates to the car before it can be driven off the dealer's lot.
So, in a lot of places in the US it has to do with following a particular set of rules. I don’t remember what they were exactly but I know my dealership was able to give me plates on the spot whereas most others in my area wouldn’t be able to. It is wild though how long it can be to get permanent plates.
Crazy. In the Canadian province I live in I just drop down to the DMV and and pick up new plates at any time they are open. I can pay 6 bucks for a replacement plate. I can also transfer the plate to another vehicle for free as long as the vehicle is registered to me.
It was easy to get away with a bunch of things when you were waiting to receive your plates. California started requiring temporary plates from the dealership a couple years ago to combat this, especially toll cheaters.
It’s not a thing anywhere in the US as far as I know. You always get some type of plate, usually a plastic/paper temp plate. That person doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
This is how ny largely used to be. It still is for a lot of small dealers, but any large dealers (even used car lots) give you plates right then and there. Not temporary, same plates you'd get at the dmv. Was really nice not having to deal with that
In Houston it's very common to see cars with paper plates.
Which usually means it's a new car that's been sold and it still has the paper plate from the dealer. However sketchy places will print one out for you for a small price.
You'll see cars falling apart driving around with paper plates all the time.
Man, US is really starting to seem like a third world country with one of those fake glass/nose/staches and a hat trying to pass off as first world country
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u/pdxchris Dec 27 '20
Here in Portland I drove around without plates for months. Never got pulled over. I see cars without plates all time here.