Is it legal to trade license plates if they are for decoration only?

[DasFusca]

I have some old NJ license plates that I inherited. I would like to trade them for other states. Is that legal? they are from the 90's. Would anyone be interested in trading their states for a NJ one. I have a few other states already. would be cool to get all fifty.

 

[bobtile]

I don't think it's a good idea. You're supposed to turn them into motor vehicle when you're done with them . If they are registered to you, and you trade them to someone that may want to steal a car and put the plates on it, that can come back to you.

 

[DasFusca]

Thanks for the reply. These aren't my plates they were from a relatives car dealership. I still wouldn't want to get someone in trouble. I know NJDMC really wanted my old plates back. I believe these must be out of the system after 15 to 20 years.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Look at some rod shops and you'll see plates hanging on the wall....doubt you have anything to worry about.

 

[A383Wing]

It's entirely legal...I got Washington Plates here I'll trade for NJ

Bryan

 

[WP29440SE]

I have bought and sold MANY plates from all over the country. there is nothing illegal about it until you try to USE them illegally.

 

[Deleted member 214]

I've got at least 20, variety of states and one Caribbean country. What states are you looking for?

In Ohio, on a classic car you can pick up a set of plates at a swap meet, garage sale, flea market, etc. from the same year it was made and register them for the car. I've got 1970 plates on my Road Runner.

 

[Meep-Meep]

I've bought plates at swap meets. There are the plate dealers that sell them as well. Even in CA where the plates are the property of the state no one seems to care.

 

[copper67440]

I bought new unissued 67 plates that are registered for my Coronet and a set for a 68 F100 I just bought.

 

[tallhair]

I'm planning on getting a set of 68 and 70 plates and running them on my cars. Legal here in IL if you register it as a Antique vehicle. You can run YOM plates as long as you have the Antique plates with you for inspection.

 

[hunt2elk]

Old plates are for sale all the time here at car show/swap meets. I wouldn't think it would be an issue.

 

[Snowtrooper1966]

In California, as
long as a plate is no longer associated with a vehicle, it can be sold. They can then be registerd with a different vehicle for the same era (black plates 1966-1969). That was how it was explained to me by DMV employee.
Kept the black plates off the 1966 Belvedere I sold in November since it was shipped back east:

Some of these can go for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

Also have kept my vanity plates from modern vehicles I've owned These cannot be transferred. They are supposed to be surrendered when not associated w/vehicle. Since I still have them, if I ever wanted to use them again, I would have to pay the delinquent fees for the years I have had them:

Pumpkin King (Nightmare Before Christmas & Sons nickname)
and
Snowtrooper (for obvious reasons)

also from Supersport Kawasaki street bike:

LightCycle (from Tron)

Favorite plate, and only one displayed is this one from Canada, purchased from a dealer online:

 

[440+6]

I've got at least 20, variety of states and one Caribbean country. What states are you looking for?

In Ohio, on a classic car you can pick up a set of plates at a swap meet, garage sale, flea market, etc. from the same year it was made and register them for the car. I've got 1970 plates on my Road Runner.

Did the same in Michigan.

Favorite plate, and only one displayed is this one from Canada, purchased from a dealer online:

That is the coolest plate I've ever seen.

 

[Snowtrooper1966]

That is the coolest plate I've ever seen.

Think so too!
They used that shaped design for many years. They no longer do, as it was expensive to produce....
Originals are still available, but there are also lots of "novelty", never meant for issue as well...

 

[Bruzilla]

I never turn in Florida tags. When you go to register a car, if you have an old tag to turn in , the cost for a new tag is like $84. If you don't, it's around $224.

 

[DasFusca]

I went on line and I found that you can get all fifty state plates from lots of venders for around $200. But what fun is that? Ebay is pretty strict with theft and crime and if they allow it it must be "okay" :thinker: I have Texas, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and NJ. So if anyone wants to trade for a NJ Plate PM me and we can make a trade. I have two kinds. Bue with yellow raised letters and yellow fade to white with raised black letters. Most are in really nice condition and I would like to trade for plates in similar shape.

 

[wahya]

I recently found a Florida tag, same year as my car(71), same weight class(they used to designate for different size cars) and my county designation, on E-bay. On top of that, it had never been on a car before. I just had to get it. Its now registered on my car and I love it.

 

[Jonnyuma]

I was working on a collection up until 8 or so years ago when I decided to sell them all. I'm sure there's some variables from state to state, with NJ surely being among the most restrictive and onerous (I don't know specifics, just bettin' the odds here). But as stated before, unless they're used fraudulently or for criminal purposes there's no enforcement mechanism...kind of like pot in Washington state.