Can Your Car Get Towed for Expired Tags?

Getting those tags—the ones that indicate your car is ready for use—is an annual responsibility of car ownership. Every year, they surprise you, so you have to make sure you have the money. But what happens if things get busy and you forget or simply can’t afford the money at that moment? Some people begin to worry that their work-related car may be towed because they neglected to pay for the registration tags.

So, is it really possible for your car to be towed for having tags that are much past due? Yes, in theory, it might if your registration is past due by more than six months. The catch is that, depending on the situation or the officer’s call, you might be able to get lucky in some cases.

Can My Car Get Towed Without Plates?

Yes, your car can be towed if it’s parked on public property without valid plates or parked illegally. In many jurisdictions, a valid license plate is legally required to operate a motor vehicle on public roads. If a car is found driving or parked on a public roadway, alley, or government-controlled area without a valid license plate, it may be towed.

But there is usually an extension period—typically 45 days after the expiration date—before towing for expired licence plates is enforced. 

Before their cars are towed, this window gives their owners a fair amount of time to update their licence plates and get them into compliance with the law. Car owners must always be aware of when their licence plates expire in order to prevent any inconvenience or possible vehicle towing.

How to Get Car Out of Impound without Registration?

yes you can Get Your Car Out of Impound, first of all registered your or Obtain moving permit and pay all the fees (towing, storage and tickets and also provide proof of ownership.

Even though the registration hasn’t been updated, these documents are essential proof that you are the legitimate owner of the impounded car. By presenting these documents, you should be able to get your car released from the impound lot and take care of the registration issues later on, making sure that everything complies with the law.

Proof of Purchase

A legitimate bill of sale becomes essential when handling an impounded car without an updated registration. This formal document proves that you are the owner of the car and provides proof of the recent buying of it.

Title Documentation

You can strengthen your claim to the impounded car by presenting a copy of the original title that has all required ownership information completed in your name. Even if your registration information hasn’t been updated yet, this document is an essential trace of your legal ownership.

Identification and Ownership Verification

Personal identification documents must be carried in addition to the bill of sale and title. These could consist of your driver’s licence and any other documents the impound lot requests to confirm your ownership of the car.

Reaching out to the Impound Lot

It is best to get in touch with them and find out what specific documentation they might need before you go to the impound lot. By being proactive, you can ensure a faster and more seamless vehicle recovery process.

Temporary Permits or Tags

Depending on the situation, the government may grant you a temporary permit or tag that will let you drive your recently acquired car for a set amount of time. To find out if these choices are available to make it easier to get your impounded car back, check with the local authorities.

Legal Support

Getting legal counsel could be helpful if issues come up or you have trouble getting your car back. A legal expert can help you with any concerns that may come up during the procedure and can lead you through the essential steps.

Can your car get towed for suspended plates?

Yes, your car can be towed if it’s parked or driven with suspended plates, as this means the vehicle is unregistered and illegal to operate. Law enforcement has the authority to tow and impound unregistered vehicles.
Driving with suspended plates can lead to fines, impoundment, and other penalties. To retrieve the vehicle, the owner must resolve the suspension by paying fees, renewing registration, or meeting legal requirements. For example, under vehicle code 22651(o), a car can be impounded if its registration is expired for over six months.

Why Did My Car Get Towed for No Reason?

If your car was towed and you believe there was no reason, it’s likely due to legal, safety, or administrative issues.

Common Reasons: Illegal parking, street cleaning, unpaid fines, expired registration, or suspended plates.

Safety Issues: Accidents, abandoned vehicles, or obstruction of traffic may lead to towing.

Administrative Actions: Private property violations or five or more overdue parking tickets can trigger a tow.

What to Do? Contact local law enforcement or towing services to determine why your car was towed and how to retrieve it.

To avoid unexpected towing or fines during transport, check your registration status before arranging a tow. Learn more about cost-effective towing in our [Ultimate Guide: Cheapest Way to Tow a Car Long Distance.

What Does The Law Say About Expired Registration?

State vehicle codes allow towing if a car’s registration is more than six months expired. However, enforcement varies, and towing can happen anytime after the grace period. To avoid penalties or impoundment, car owners should renew their registration on time, as authorities may tow vehicles from public or private property based on local laws.

Legal Time Frame

According to state vehicle codes, a car may be towed if its registration is more than six months overdue.

Ambiguity in Language

Some people may interpret the law differently because of its ambiguous wording.

Flexibility in Enforcement

Concerns regarding towing from any location at any time during the post-grace period are raised by perceived ambiguity.

Importance of Timely Renewal

Emphasises the crucial need for vehicle owners to adhere diligently to renewal timelines to avoid towing.

Location-Neutral Enforcement

The law’s ambiguity may suggest enforcement flexibility irrespective of the vehicle’s location.

Why did My Car Get Towed?

There could be more reasons for your car to be towed than just a parking infraction. Financial factors may play a role in your decision to have your car towed, such as past-due auto payments or the possibility of being repossessed soon. 

Moreover, unpaid traffic tickets are yet another reason your car might be towed. It’s important to understand that towing actions can stem from a variety of problems, going beyond parking violations. To determine the precise cause of the towing incident, a detailed review of your financial and legal situation is necessary.

Parking Violation

A parking violation is a frequent cause of car towing. This can be parking in an area that is restricted, obstructing a driveway, or staying longer than allowed in a parking space that has been assigned.

Financial Problems

Towing may result from failing to make auto payments on time or from having a car at risk of repossession because of financial troubles. If payments are past due, repossession agencies have the authority to start the towing process.

Unpaid Traffic Tickets

Another reason for towing could be a build-up of unpaid traffic tickets. Traffic infractions that go unpunished may result in the towing of a vehicle by the authorities.

Abandoned or Inoperable Vehicles

Cars left in public areas for extended periods without movement or in an inoperable condition may be considered abandoned and subject to towing.

Can your Car Get Towed for Expired Tags if it’s Parked?

Yes, even when a car is parked, it may still be towed in many jurisdictions for having expired tags. If a car with an expired registration is discovered parked on public property, it might be towed by police or parking enforcement personnel.

Towing for expired tags is frequently used as part of efforts to make sure that cars on public roads adhere to the law, which includes having current registration. Vehicle owners must be mindful of and follow renewal deadlines in order to prevent the inconvenience and possible expenses of having their cars towed because their tags have expired.

Can your Car be Towed for Expired Registration in Texas?

In Texas, a car with an expired registration can indeed be towed. Vehicles with expired registrations may be towed under state law, particularly if they are parked on public roads or other property. Owners of vehicles in Texas should make sure that their registration is current and renewed within the time frame given to reduce the possibility of being towed.

Maintaining awareness of the pertinent regulations and adhering to them is crucial in order to avoid any inconvenience or expenses related to having a car towed because of an expired registration.

May you also read this : How Long Before a Tow Company Can Sell Your Car

Final Remarks

your car can be towed for expired tags, depending on state laws and local enforcement policies. Many jurisdictions allow towing if your registration is more than six months overdue or if the vehicle is parked on public property without valid tags.

If you’re concerned about towing due to expired tags, planning ahead with a trusted transport service can help. NexGen Auto Transport offers a reliable and hassle-free way to move your vehicle safely, reducing the risk of impoundment. Their car shipping cost calculator provides instant, transparent pricing, making it easy to budget for long-distance transport and avoid unexpected towing fees.

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