MINI2

MiniLuvr · Apr 10th, 2003, 09:13 AM

Hi All-

Am thinking about ordering a front European vanity plate for my MINI once it arrives later this year. I'd like to order it from http://www.minisales.co.uk/, and would design it to match the Virginia plate number on the back. Does anyone know Virgina law in terms of whether this would be permissable or not?

S2000&CooperS · Apr 10th, 2003, 10:18 AM

Legal? Probably not, but I think you could get away with it. I am planning to order a Euro plate too

MiniLuvr · Apr 10th, 2003, 10:27 AM

Yeah...that's what I'm hearing from folks on the various forums. I checked the state code on the VA State Police web site a little while ago. It states that both the front and rear license plates, as issued by the DMV, must be properly displayed. I'm hearing from folks on the forums that they know of others who have gotten away with using the euro plates in front, without being stopped.

MINIAC · Apr 10th, 2003, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniLuvr

Does anyone know Virgina law in terms of whether this would be permissable or not?

Why not call your DMV and ask?

MiniLuvr · Apr 10th, 2003, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MINIAC
Why not call your DMV and ask?

..I might give that a whirl, MINIAC. I guess there's no harm in asking.

BTW - Did you know you've got a "twin" on one of the other web sites? He's not using the same handle as yours but, his license plate (from Hawaii) reads "MINIAC".

Grinder · Apr 10th, 2003, 11:23 AM

If you call the DMV they'll almost certainly tell you that its not legal. Cops, however, get some discresion, and generally are nice guys. You might get a ticket, but you probably wont.

MINIAC · Apr 10th, 2003, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MiniLuvr

MINIAC - Did you know you've got a "twin" on one of the other web sites? He's not using the same handle as yours but, his license plate (from Hawaii) reads "MINIAC".

I tried to get that personalized plate here in CA, but it was already taken [most likely by a classic Mini owner]. Got this one instead:

S2000&CooperS · Apr 10th, 2003, 08:24 PM

Great license plate!!

Lanrover · Apr 11th, 2003, 09:17 AM

Check with your (or a) MINI dealer in Virgina and ask them what the convention is.

When I picked up my plates at the MINI dealer in Va, they put a plate on the back, but asked me if I wanted them to put a plate on the front.

When I asked about the legality of not using a front plate, they said a lot of their MINI customers ran with no plate at all on the front. They almost never had problems with the law.

I'd go for the custom plate... (but keep my legal plate handy just in case).

-sly

LuckyRVA · May 6th, 2003, 10:33 PM

I've been running without a front plate for awhile now, since I bought the car, and haven't been pulled. I used to live next door to a state trooper and he never said anything to me...even after checking my car out.

Jason

TomM · May 11th, 2003, 10:07 AM

Most cops won't pull you over for just the front plate. However, if you are pulled over for speeding or something else, you will probobly be hit with another $50 fine for no front plate.

I just keep mine with me under the seat and if I am ever asked, I tell them I broke the front mounting bracket while washing the car, and I am having a new bracket sent soon.

Apr 10th, 2003, 09:13 AM	#1
MiniLuvr MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Virginia / Wash DC Area Local Time: 05:37 AM Posts: 24 Offline	European Vanity License Plate Legal In Va? Hi All- Am thinking about ordering a front European vanity plate for my MINI once it arrives later this year. I'd like to order it from http://www.minisales.co.uk/, and would design it to match the Virginia plate number on the back. Does anyone know Virgina law in terms of whether this would be permissable or not? Tony Tony Gould Manassas, Va USA E-Mail: anthony.gould@verizon.net IM Address: aegould9

Apr 10th, 2003, 10:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
S2000&CooperS MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Glen Allen, VA USA Local Time: 10:37 AM Posts: 956 Offline	Legal? Probably not, but I think you could get away with it. I am planning to order a Euro plate too 08 Smart ForTwo Passion Silver/Black/Red (Going on Ebay!) 07 Honda Accord V6 6-speed Taffeta White/Tan (wife's) 06 MINI Cooper S JCW Checkmate Astro Black/Silver

Apr 10th, 2003, 10:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
MiniLuvr MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Virginia / Wash DC Area Local Time: 05:37 AM Posts: 24 Offline	Yeah...that's what I'm hearing from folks on the various forums. I checked the state code on the VA State Police web site a little while ago. It states that both the front and rear license plates, as issued by the DMV, must be properly displayed. I'm hearing from folks on the forums that they know of others who have gotten away with using the euro plates in front, without being stopped. Tony Tony Gould Manassas, Va USA E-Mail: anthony.gould@verizon.net IM Address: aegould9

Apr 10th, 2003, 10:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
MiniLuvr MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Northern Virginia / Wash DC Area Local Time: 05:37 AM Posts: 24 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by MINIAC Why not call your DMV and ask? ..I might give that a whirl, MINIAC. I guess there's no harm in asking. BTW - Did you know you've got a "twin" on one of the other web sites? He's not using the same handle as yours but, his license plate (from Hawaii) reads "MINIAC". Tony Tony Gould Manassas, Va USA E-Mail: anthony.gould@verizon.net IM Address: aegould9

Apr 10th, 2003, 11:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
Grinder Addict Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern VA. Local Time: 05:37 AM Posts: 1,118 Offline	If you call the DMV they'll almost certainly tell you that its not legal. Cops, however, get some discresion, and generally are nice guys. You might get a ticket, but you probably wont. Whatever.

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Apr 10th, 2003, 10:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
MINIAC MINI Profiler Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: City By The Bay Local Time: 03:37 AM Posts: 8,259 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by MiniLuvr Does anyone know Virgina law in terms of whether this would be permissable or not? Why not call your DMV and ask?

Apr 10th, 2003, 01:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
MINIAC MINI Profiler Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: City By The Bay Local Time: 03:37 AM Posts: 8,259 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by MiniLuvr MINIAC - Did you know you've got a "twin" on one of the other web sites? He's not using the same handle as yours but, his license plate (from Hawaii) reads "MINIAC". I tried to get that personalized plate here in CA, but it was already taken [most likely by a classic Mini owner]. Got this one instead:

Apr 10th, 2003, 08:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
S2000&CooperS MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Glen Allen, VA USA Local Time: 10:37 AM Posts: 956 Offline	Great license plate!!

Apr 11th, 2003, 09:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
Lanrover MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2003 Local Time: 05:37 AM Posts: 9 Offline	Check with your (or a) MINI dealer in Virgina and ask them what the convention is. When I picked up my plates at the MINI dealer in Va, they put a plate on the back, but asked me if I wanted them to put a plate on the front. When I asked about the legality of not using a front plate, they said a lot of their MINI customers ran with no plate at all on the front. They almost never had problems with the law. I'd go for the custom plate... (but keep my legal plate handy just in case). -sly

May 6th, 2003, 10:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
LuckyRVA 1.6 Litres of fury!!!! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Queens, NYC Local Time: 06:37 AM Posts: 1,277 Offline	I've been running without a front plate for awhile now, since I bought the car, and haven't been pulled. I used to live next door to a state trooper and he never said anything to me...even after checking my car out. Jason 2002 Dark Silver Cooper S w/ white roof. SOLD

May 11th, 2003, 10:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
TomM - Join Date: May 2002 Location: Northern Virginia Local Time: 06:37 AM Posts: 174 Offline	Most cops won't pull you over for just the front plate. However, if you are pulled over for speeding or something else, you will probobly be hit with another $50 fine for no front plate. I just keep mine with me under the seat and if I am ever asked, I tell them I broke the front mounting bracket while washing the car, and I am having a new bracket sent soon.

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