[UWE90]

Hi all. I'm a California resident currently living in Seattle for college, and I'm about to finish in 5 weeks. I currently pay $43.75 per year for my WA license plate, which is way cheaper than how much my friend in LA pays every year for his tabs (We have the same car). However, it seems that a CA resident will have to register the out-of-state car to CA DMV upon return to California.

I have CA driver license with WA license plate registered to my address in CA. I'm currently debating whether I should register back to CA or keep my WA plate. I've driven my car for past 3 summer breaks back in CA and have gotten away with having a WA plate cuz I told the cops I'm still in school.

Is there any CA residents here driving with an out-of-state license plate, or most importantly, same situation as me? If I can get some feedback from you guys that'd be great. Thanks!

[joec500]

I did this exact same thing for years when I had WA plates...I am from Seattle, but went to school in CA and had my WA plates throughout college and about 1-2 years in CA. As long as you have a place in WA you can send tabs to, it's pretty easy. But I think cops are cracking down on this. I eventually just got CA plates as I got pulled over a lot. I say...keep the WA plates for as long as you can, but eventually you will realize it's just easier to be legit and not deal with the cloak and dagger police stuff.

[UWE90]

Originally Posted by joec500

I did this exact same thing for years when I had WA plates...I am from Seattle, but went to school in CA and had my WA plates throughout college and about 1-2 years in CA. As long as you have a place in WA you can send tabs to, it's pretty easy. But I think cops are cracking down on this. I eventually just got CA plates as I got pulled over a lot. I say...keep the WA plates for as long as you can, but eventually you will realize it's just easier to be legit and not deal with the cloak and dagger police stuff.

Ya you have a good point there. I think you might have a better case compared to mine cuz you have a WA driver license, I assume. I don't have an address that I can register to in WA and if I want to register to my frat house here in Seattle then it'll be more expensive.

If I switch my plates back to CA, I think cops will then crack down on my tints for front window. Damn CA for having such a strict law for everything.

[stickypaws]

Unfortunately it's illegal and the cops will ticket you for it if they feel like it. You have ten days to notify the DMV or any address change.

But the bigger issue is your insurance company. They can refuse any claims if you have lied to them about your permanent residence.

(ps, having the WA plates with a permanent CA residence was also illegal according the CA DMV; they want their revenue.)

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

it's illegal yeah yeah
Try whatever you can bro.
The cost here is fucking retarded!
I just paid $597 for my registration!
That's more than my fucking car payment.

If i were you i would try to get away with keeping the WA Plates

[joec500]

Hmmm, also research the various Counties in CA....I registered in San Francisco and my tabs were only $280ish.... I have an E92 335i 2007

So if you have friends or family in other parts of CA...let's say somewhere like Fresno, that could save you a lot of money, and then you don't have to deal with being THAT illegal...Also you could have your insurance in that CA address too...My uncle lives in San Jose, so I have that has my "garaging" address, as in San Francisco, insurance is much higher.

[LACSTER]

Pay your dues or he'll come for you.

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

Originally Posted by LACSTER

Pay your dues or he'll come for you.

haahahha
LOL

[UWE90]

LOL damn

but ya I don't think I'll be moving out of Cali again, at least for a long time. I guess it all depends on if anyone wants to report me if I have my WA plates on.

Plus, WA plates look better than CA plates. There's a picture of Mount Rainier on the background!

[to_riffic]

dude if u're in hollywood, theres a ton of ppl w/ different license plates. dont trip man. just rock ur WA plates. i go to film school in hollywood, i hav a ton of friends in class that aren't even CA natives, so i could report all their asses, but thtas just dumb. u'll be alrite

[UncleWede]

It's because of people like you that don't want to pay your (going up to 1.65% of FMV?) vehicle licensing fees that we have a $40B deficit in Calif. Think of all those furloughed State workers, or the 20,000 additional that are going to get pink slips next week.

j/k (sorta)

[E90330iS]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

It's because of people like you that don't want to pay your (going up to 1.65% of FMV?) vehicle licensing fees that we have a $40B deficit in Calif. Think of all those furloughed State workers, or the 20,000 additional that are going to get pink slips next week.

j/k (sorta)

yes "people like him" made cali owe $40 bil huh? i think I should expect to see all WA plates in cali from now on.

j/k sorta, sorta

[Z22Z]

dude i still roll with my nevada plates and it has been about four months since i moved to cali. because the car is registered under my brother's name i plan on telling cops im "borrowing" the car for a week or so. if you get pulled over tell the cops you are still in school. a lot of people take more than four years to graduate.

[UWE90]

Originally Posted by Z22Z

dude i still roll with my nevada plates and it has been about four months since i moved to cali. because the car is registered under my brother's name i plan on telling cops im "borrowing" the car for a week or so. if you get pulled over tell the cops you are still in school. a lot of people take more than four years to graduate.

ya that's what i plan to do too...saying i'm taking a quarter off for business school. lol