can a car be parked on the street without plates

[DePhoebe]

No, you generally cannot legally park a car on a public street without license plates. This applies to both brand-new and used vehicles. A vehicle parked on a public road must be properly registered and display valid, current license plates. The absence of plates immediately signals to law enforcement that the vehicle is likely unregistered and possibly uninsured, making it a target for ticketing and towing.

The primary reason is that on-street parking is considered an active use of a public roadway. For that use to be legal, the vehicle must meet all state and local requirements for registration and insurance. Parking an unplated car on the street is often treated similarly to driving it without plates.

Potential Consequences:

• Ticket: You will likely receive a costly citation for improper registration or no visible registration.
• Towing: The vehicle is highly likely to be impounded. This is because it's seen as an abandoned or derelict vehicle. The costs to retrieve it from an impound lot—covering towing fees and daily storage—can quickly run into hundreds of dollars.

Jurisdiction	Common Fine for Unplated Parking	Towing Likelihood	Typical Impound Release Cost
New York City, NY	$65 - $180	Very High	$300+
Los Angeles, CA	$100 - $250	High	$350+
Chicago, IL	$120 - $200	High	$275+
Austin, TX	$150	Medium to High	$250+
Miami, FL	$100	Medium to High	$225+

If you've just bought a car, you have a short grace period to drive it home, but this does not extend to long-term street parking. The safe alternative is to park on private property, such as your own driveway or a garage, while you complete the registration process. Some states allow you to temporarily display a bill of sale or a tag from the dealership, but these are not valid for extended parking and have strict time limits. Always check your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for specific regulations.

[DiDawson]

Absolutely not, it's a surefire way to get towed. I learned this the hard way when I bought my first used car. I parked it on the street overnight thinking I had a few days to get it sorted. Woke up to an empty spot and a $400 bill to get it out of the impound lot. The cops see no plates and assume it's abandoned. Just park it in your driveway until you get the real plates from the DMV.

[DeSkylar]

From a legal standpoint, parking a vehicle on a public street without plates is a violation of vehicle codes across all states. Public roads require registered vehicles. Without visible plates, it cannot be identified as registered or insured. This creates liability issues and is classified as a parking violation, subject to immediate fines and impoundment. The law makes no distinction for "just parking"; the vehicle is considered in operation on public infrastructure.