When you think about a new car, you don’t think about the license plates that you’re going to put on it. You might think about the stereo and whether it works well or the smart features on your dashboard. But the license plates are probably not top-of-mind.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the plates that you’re going to use. In fact, to make things easy, you should contemplate using your current license plates on your new ride. While rarely talked about, transferring your plates leads to several benefits, including the ability to keep something that’s significant to you.
For example, maybe your license plates hold sentimental value. Do you have something special on it? Did you write a unique message, hinting to your favorite hobby, sports team, or school? Or, do you have historical plates that you don’t want to give up? All of these examples are sentimental reasons why you should transfer your license plates onto your new vehicle.
But if your plates hold zero significance, there’s still a benefit that might interest you: the savings you can experience. By using what you currently have, you can take advantage of the full registration year. That means you don’t have to fork over any additional cash on unnecessary items.
Transferring your license plates saves you time, money, and a potential heartache from separating with something you value. But how do you go about this endeavor? Surprisingly, the process isn’t as straightforward as you might think.
The steps to transferring your plates
Putting one set of license plates onto another vehicle sounds easy. You just unscrew the plates and screw them onto your new ride, right?
Unfortunately, no.
Transferring your license plates requires a few different steps. Usually, the process includes three specific parts.
1. Register your new vehicle
Before you transfer your plates, you have to get your new vehicle registered in your name. Otherwise, you have no authority to move plates from one vehicle to another.
2. Fill out the application
Typically, there’s an application for transferring your license plates. The paperwork is easy to fill out. It only requires you to provide simple information, like the registration number for both vehicles and the license plate number. And as long as you have this material on hand, you should have no problem filling out the application.
3. Pay the fee
Transferring your license plates is not free. You’ll likely have to pay a small fee. But the amount is typically more cost-effective than getting registration and new license plates for your vehicle.
These three steps outline a very basic process to help you transfer your plates. However, this framework can get longer and more intricate, depending on the state that you live in. In fact, if you want to transfer your plates, you might encounter a long and confusing process if your state has various rules and stipulations.
State laws on transferring plates
When it comes to transferring your license plates, the laws vary from state to state. There’s no uniform process. Every state does it a little differently, so you can’t go by what your friend or family member did in the state they live in. The process they followed might be entirely different than what your state requires.
For example, say you live in Hawaii. If you want to transfer your license plates from one vehicle to another, all you have to do is submit a request. Of course, you have to own the vehicle that you’re putting the license plates on. But if you do, you shouldn’t have any trouble. The DMV will likely grant your request. Then, you’ll be on your way to transferring your plates. It’s as simple as that.
However, maybe you live in Pennsylvania. In that case, the process is a little trickier. If you want to quickly transfer your plates in that location, your new vehicle has to be the same type as the previous one that initially had the license plates. If it’s not, you have to go through a slightly longer process that requires you to return your plates and undergo an application process.
You also have to consider who you’re transferring your plates to. In Pennsylvania, you’re prohibited from transferring license plates to most people. This rule is a standard across many states, but not all of them have this law. Yet, Pennsylvania does offer an exception.
If you have family members who own or lease a car, you can transfer your license plates to them. But that family member must be a parent, spouse, or child. Otherwise, they can’t receive your plates.
These are just two examples of how different laws can be across the U.S. Despite the few instances of overlap, transferring plates in one state is different from the process you’ll see in another state. What’s even worse than this confusion is that you have to go through the DMV to complete this process, which is never an easy organization to deal with.
Visiting the DMV to transfer your license plates
Regardless of your location, you’ll have to interact with someone at the DMV to transfer your license plates.
The DMV is where you’ll receive and return your transfer application. It’s where someone will approve your transfer request. And it’s where you’ll pay if there’s a fee to transfer your plates.
But if you’re like most people, you probably don’t want to visit the DMV. Waiting hours to get or submit all of the necessary information to complete a task that should take minutes sounds miserable. Transferring your license plates shouldn’t be time-consuming, which is why other options are available to you.
How to transfer your license plates without the DMV
If you want to transfer your plates without looking up your state’s laws or contacting your local DMV, use Barry Risk Management, Inc.
A representative from the company will ensure you do everything your state requires to transfer your license plates. With knowledgeable agents eager to help, Barry Risk Management, Inc. can quickly discover the steps you need to follow to move license plates from one vehicle to another.
What’s even better is that the process is all online. You don’t have to go to the DMV. You don’t have to pick up an application. Everything you do with Barry Risk Management, Inc. happens on your laptop and in the comfort of your own home.
If you want to save time transferring your license plates, contact Barry Risk Management, Inc. now, and a representative will give you everything you need to jumpstart your process!
