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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
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    2

    Default Towed for Having Expired Vehicle Tags Despite Having Renewed My Registration

    My question involves a traffic citation from the state of: Virginia. I saw that my tags were due to expire and renewed my registration online. The dmv gave me a print out of my temporary registration with instructions to keep it in the car until I received the tags. Over the weekend my car was towed from my resident lot with no warning or notice. I was notified at the towing company that in order for it not to have been towed I needed to have the temporary registration displayed on the dashboard. I looked over the parking regulations of the complex and it does indeed say that no vehicles with expired tags can be parked in the lot. My question is that because the dmv print out contains sensitive information and nowhere it states that it needs to be on display in order for my vehicle to not be towed, is there a way of getting my money back? Is there a way for the towing company to run my plates to see if the registration is current? Something doesn't feel right about me doing everything I needed to do and still being penalized because of some unwritten rule about displaying my temporary registration.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    18,340

    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    No.

    If they didn't SEE the printout, it was a legal tow and you don't get your money back.

    It defies common sense that you think you don't have to put it where it can be SEEN or that you have to be told to put it where it can be SEEN.

    The most obvious place is on the dashboard or taped to the back window or windshield where it can be SEEN.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    19,901

    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    The first question is whether you renewed before your tags actually expired. If the tags expired, that piece of paper isn't a temporary anything it's a receipt and you are not registered until the new stickers come. If you did renew before you expired, that printout is only a temporary registration card (useful if the cops stop you), it doesn't eliminate the fact you have expired plates.

    Your tags were expired anyhow. Just because you had a renewal pending doesn't change that. It is some "unwritten rule" you're grasping at. The written rule is clear and you violated it.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    16,474

    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    Quote Quoting flyingron
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    The first question is whether you renewed before your tags actually expired. If the tags expired, that piece of paper isn't a temporary anything it's a receipt and you are not registered until the new stickers come. If you did renew before you expired, that printout is only a temporary registration card (useful if the cops stop you), it doesn't eliminate the fact you have expired plates.

    Your tags were expired anyhow. Just because you had a renewal pending doesn't change that. It is some "unwritten rule" you're grasping at. The written rule is clear and you violated it.
    That may not be accurate Ron. My states gives you temporary registrations when you renew online. It might be the same in OP's state.

    The problem is that while the police can look it up and see that the registration is current, a towing company cannot, nor can an apartment complex.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
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    2

    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    I did renew before. So it is temporary registration and that was exactly what I was asking: whether or not the towing company can look up your plates! Thank you

  6. #6
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    Sep 2010
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    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    Quote Quoting llworking
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    That may not be accurate Ron. My states gives you temporary registrations when you renew online. It might be the same in OP's state.
    It's exactly accurate. I was giving the information for VIRGINIA which is his state. If you renew online BEFORE your expiration date, you get a temporary registration card good for 15 days. If you renew AFTER your expiration date, not only do you pay a extra charge, the receipt is nothing but a receipt. It is not usable as a temporary registration (in fact, it won't even offer to print it out like the temporary registration though you can manually print it via your browser).

    From the DMV's own site (https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/dmvnet/...gist_entry.asp)

    Less than 15 Days Until Expiration?

    If there are fewer than 15 days remaining on your current registration be sure to print an Official Internet Receipt. When carried with your registration card this receipt will extend your current registration for up to 15 days from the date you renew to allow time to receive your registration card and decals via the U.S. mail. Most customers receive their vehicle registration materials within five days, but U.S. mail delivery times vary. Please allow 15 days to receive your decals before contacting DMV.

    Already Expired?

    If your current registration has already expired and you are renewing online, the Official Internet Receipt will NOT extend your registration. Please allow up to 15 days from the date you renew to receive your registration card and decals via the U.S. mail.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
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    18,340

    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    Quote Quoting houtth01
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    what I was asking: whether or not the towing company can look up your plates!
    Why would they?

    It would mean investing time and money in the equipment and procedure to do that.

    They have no statutory obligation to do so.

    And every right to rely on VISIBLE evidence of current registration.

    You're the one who chose not to display it.

  8. #8
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    Sep 2010
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    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    And every right to rely on VISIBLE evidence of current registration.
    And the rules say nothing about the registration being current. It says the tags have to be current.

    Believe me, I got nabbed because my wife never puts the #*$&@$ stickers on her car and I was driving it. I found them still stapled to the registration AFTER I got stopped. At least the cop wasn't hardassed enough to write me up anyhow. He did watch as I applied the stickers.

  9. #9
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    Mar 2013
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    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    Quote Quoting flyingron
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    And the rules say nothing about the registration being current. It says the tags have to be current.
    Right. The tags are the visible evidence.

    Quote Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    Believe me, I got nabbed because my wife never puts the #*$&@$ stickers on her car and I was driving it. I found them still stapled to the registration AFTER I got stopped. At least the cop wasn't hardassed enough to write me up anyhow. He did watch as I applied the stickers.
    Luck you had them.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    16,474

    Default Re: Towed with Expired Vehicle Tags but Renewed Registration

    Quote Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    It's exactly accurate. I was giving the information for VIRGINIA which is his state. If you renew online BEFORE your expiration date, you get a temporary registration card good for 15 days. If you renew AFTER your expiration date, not only do you pay a extra charge, the receipt is nothing but a receipt. It is not usable as a temporary registration (in fact, it won't even offer to print it out like the temporary registration though you can manually print it via your browser).

    From the DMV's own site (https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/dmvnet/...gist_entry.asp)

    Less than 15 Days Until Expiration?

    If there are fewer than 15 days remaining on your current registration be sure to print an Official Internet Receipt. When carried with your registration card this receipt will extend your current registration for up to 15 days from the date you renew to allow time to receive your registration card and decals via the U.S. mail. Most customers receive their vehicle registration materials within five days, but U.S. mail delivery times vary. Please allow 15 days to receive your decals before contacting DMV.

    Already Expired?

    If your current registration has already expired and you are renewing online, the Official Internet Receipt will NOT extend your registration. Please allow up to 15 days from the date you renew to receive your registration card and decals via the U.S. mail.
    The OP clearly stated that they renewed PRIOR to expiration. What you quoted clearly says that if there are fewer than 15 days prior to expiration the receipt will extend the registration for up to 15 days.

    I do not get where you are coming from on this...

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