I saw a MINI here in Los Angeles that had European license plates on back of vehicle. They looked like white European plates with official CA numbers. It said for instance CA 4DMY069. If anyone knows how he got these please let us know. I know of many websites you can order the plates from but are they legal? We would do anything to have at least the Euro plates on the front.

 

Sorry I don't have any info on this, but I live in California too and have been wondering if having euro plates is legal here too

 

I've read through the CA vehicle code and as far as I can tell, there is no way for these to be legal. All CA plates have to be issued by the DMV, and have to be the correct measurements, and there is no variation. Maybe there is some small, little-known exception to this, but I couldn't find it if there is.

By the way, where in CA were you, and what color was the car? I remember hearing about a BRG/W Cooper in Santa Monica, I think it was, a while back that had these plates, and the driver said they were legal. I still doubt it though.

PigLick

 

The CA vehicle code states that license plates have to be a certain size, and the euro plates don't fit the description. However, I asked a cop on the street today what he thought of euro plates. btw I'm in LA, the cop said as long as the front license plate has the same numbers and letters as the official CA license plates on the back he won't give people any hassles. He was adament about having CA license plates on the back. After hearing this I'm ordering my euro plates as soon as I pick up my car, since it's the police that really enforce the vehicle code anyway, and if they think it's okay then i say go for it. He also did say that not every cop will feel the same way, but in general he and most of his fellow officers won't pull anyone over just because of that, he said there's other more important things he needs to attend to.

 

This is true, the DMV said they have no control what the police will do. My only suggestion is to have the state code at the beginning. For instance CA 4DMV420. We will try it for the front and stick with squares on the back. Yes the MINI is BRG in Santa Monica. I wish I could have caught him.

 

Now where did I see to order them? Please post some good sites. Oh and be sure they are reflective or they most likely won't pass.

 

Cheers!
Clover

 

Technically, the code requires that both plates be the 'standard' size. If you have a front plate, and it has the same number as the rear plate, you probably will not get bothered, except in a city that makes a buch of $ on red light tickets. If you get pulled over for some other reason, for instance catching a CHP car on I-15 you will have to put the CA plate on the car and take it to the CHP office.