My vehicle is currently in Mexico, and I will not be returning to the US until late July. My license plate expires in June. Mexico doesn't care that I have an expired license plate, as it's only used for identification purposes here. But as soon as I cross the border into the US, I will be driving an illegal vehicle. What options do I have to return to the US without driving illegally on an expired license plate? The car is currently registered in Kansas.
asked Mar 25, 2014 at 21:35 2,127 3 3 gold badges 23 23 silver badges 40 40 bronze badgesI think we need the state, although all the states I am familiar with the license plate does not expire, but rather the registration for the car expires.
Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 21:55@StrongBad: Saying a license plate doesn't expire is a lot like saying a drivers license card doesn't expire--only the licensure of the driver does. It's called a "license" plate for a reason!
Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 22:00 @StrongBad: In any case, the car is currently registered in Kansas. Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 22:00 I was thinking more along the lines of a vanity plate or a discontinued plate style. Commented Mar 26, 2014 at 13:59@StrongBad: It used to be that you had to replace your license plate every year, when you renewed the registration. The concept of renewable license plates (with attachable expiration date stickers) is a "relatively" modern invention (since the 1950s, I think--which in the context of the history of automobiles is about the middle ages :) )
Commented Mar 26, 2014 at 16:16In other questions, you were mentioning changing your US tax home state. This can be done for vehicles as well.
A popular choice (in Baja California) is to re-register the car in South Dakota.
South Dakota specifically allows non-residents to register cars there, without the vehicle ever having to be in South Dakota. You have to apply at the county level. Clay County is one county that is very expat friendly. A call to the county treasurer there will explain the process. It's usually cheaper than other states as well.
You'll need a US address (any state) that the plates can be mailed to, they can then be forwarded to you. You will also need to adjust your US insurance.
To get a matching driver's license you have to go to SD in person, but outside of Kansas a mismatch between the license and the plates shouldn't be much of an issue. In Kansas they would likely expect you to re-register the car locally.
On the mainland of Mexico, there are TIP stickers (import bonds) for tourist vehicles. Investigate how changing the plate would affect (or not) the refund of your bond when leaving the country. As that sticker doesn't apply in Baja, it's not an issue among the dozens of people I know with SD plates.
Other states are an option, such as rural counties in Texas. It should be part of a plan to have a matching address, drivers license, and car plates from a single county and state, to keep things simple.
Of course if your state or county allows renewals without the vehicle being present then it would be simplest just to get the new stickers or plates mailed to you from somebody at the registration address in Kansas.