# Driving without tags - how is this legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-tags-how-is-this-legal/635771 "2012-09-25T13:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-tags-how-is-this-legal/635771/21 "2012-11-09T16:02:46Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Never got a satisfactory answer to this and now (since its on my mind obviously) I see them all the time, literally a half dozen a day if I am looking. > > They are almost always trucks, but not big rigs, I am talking personal 1/2 ton type passenger trucks. Saw one with a Harley Davidson vanity plate and another with a “Roll Tide” plate. > > I am going to stalk one this week since no one seems to know what the deal is. > [@GaryM](#): > > In my state, Missouri, trucks licenced at 18,000 pounds or greater are only issued a front plate. That allows all sorts of John Deere or other plates to be put on the rear. If the police see a pickup with no rear plate they just assume it has one on the front. I was going to say what **GaryM** said, and I think it stands. Even though these aren’t heavy-duty trucks, the owner can still register them for 18k lbs. and therefore only be required to display a front plate. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-tags-how-is-this-legal/635771/22 "2012-11-09T16:33:58Z")
A friend of mine many years ago recounted about going to a model train convention.(OK, that’s him) Somebody in the area thought it was neat to see so many outside plaes from all oevr North America, and decided to start a collection and dozens of people found their plates missing. (Not one of the brightest bulbs, but at least he had a hobby, I guess). The guy says the railroaders had a standing bet over who would be stopped the most number of times for missing plate(s). I see cars with no plates from time to time. I thought people had to display the paper “temporary registration” but it does not seem many do. Of course, the real offense is not having registration, and there is some grace period. maybe these motorists in the OP are taking advantage off the police being tired of stopping people only to find they have legit reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-tags-how-is-this-legal/635771/23 "2012-11-09T19:49:33Z")
I don’t think farm vehicles in missouri need license plates Googled “licensing farm vehicle in missouri” The results are a little confusing and require too much thought for me now [http://www.modot.org/mcs/documents/FarmTruckSafety07.pdf](http://www.modot.org/mcs/documents/FarmTruckSafety07.pdf) But Farmers don’t put license plates on tractors when they drive on the road. This exemption gets extended from tractors to ‘farm equipment’. Grain trucks would easily qualify by extension. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-tags-how-is-this-legal/635771/24 "2012-11-09T21:44:02Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Apparently, Steve Jobs drove without tags > > [http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/10/27/mystery-solved-why-steve-jobs-car-never-had-a-license-plate/](http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/10/27/mystery-solved-why-steve-jobs-car-never-had-a-license-plate/) Interesting story. But you’d have to question the lead: > [@](#): > > Steve Jobs was never one for ostentation[sic] displays of wealth. Check out [the yacht](http://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/steve-jobs-yaucht-sail-005/) - ostentatious by any standard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-without-tags-how-is-this-legal/635771.md?page=1)