Pompano Beach, FL asked in Uncategorized for Florida

Q: can a Pennsylvania Dealer (used car) license plate be valid in Florida? Is it legally allowed to be used in Florida?

Owner of Condo Unit has his car parked in lot with a PA Dealer plate on the car for 3-4 months at a time. The condo is in Florida.

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered

A: Using a Pennsylvania dealer license plate in Florida can lead to legal issues. Dealer plates are intended for vehicles used in the course of business by dealerships, and they come with specific restrictions. These plates are not meant for personal use or for vehicles that are primarily located out of state.

If your car with a PA dealer plate is parked in a Florida condo lot for several months, it may be considered as being primarily garaged in Florida. Florida law typically requires vehicles that are primarily located in the state to be registered there. Continuing to use out-of-state dealer plates could result in fines or other penalties.

To avoid potential legal complications, it’s advisable to consult with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles or a legal professional. They can provide guidance on whether you need to register the vehicle in Florida or if there are any exceptions that apply to your situation.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.