Yes, your car can absolutely be towed if it's parked on public property without license plates. The absence of plates makes the vehicle appear abandoned or non-operational, which is a primary reason for law enforcement to authorize a tow. The core issue is that an unplated car on a public street typically violates local ordinances regarding vehicle registration and safe, legal parking.
The Legal Basis for Towing
On public roads, all vehicles must be currently registered and display valid license plates. This is a universal requirement across the United States. Without plates, the car is not legally allowed to be parked on the street. Police or parking enforcement officers consider it a traffic hazard and a potential abandoned vehicle. Most municipalities have specific codes that allow for the immediate removal of such vehicles. Even if you have the plates inside the car or are waiting for them in the mail, the law generally requires them to be properly affixed to the designated spots on the vehicle's front and rear.
Private Property vs. Public Property
The rules are different on private property, like your own driveway. A car without plates can typically remain on your private property without being towed by the city. However, if it's parked in a lot with public access, like an apartment complex or a shopping mall, the property owner or management has the right to have it towed for violating their rules. If your unplated car is blocking a driveway or a fire hydrant, it will be towed regardless of being on public or private property.
Temporary Tags and Grace Periods
If you just bought the car, you should have a temporary tag (paper license) clearly displayed in the rear window. This is your legal proof of registration and generally protects you from being towed for lacking metal plates. Most states offer a short grace period for displaying new plates after purchase. However, this protection is void if the temporary tag is expired, not visible, or if the car is parked illegally for other reasons (e.g., in a timed zone without payment).
| Scenario | Likely to be Towed? | Key Factor |
|---|
| Street parking without plates | Yes, very likely | Violates registration laws; appears abandoned |
| Driveway/private property | No, unlikely | Considered private storage |
| With valid, visible temp tag | No, generally safe | Temp tag acts as legal registration |
| Expired or hidden temp tag | Yes, likely | Lacks valid proof of registration |
| Parked illegally (e.g., handicap spot) | Yes, immediately | Illegal parking supersedes plate issue |
The safest approach is to avoid parking an unplated car on any public street. Keep it in a garage or a private driveway until you can properly register it and attach the permanent plates.
