Should You Be Keeping Your Old License Plate in Arizona?

When I was growing up, my dad decked out our basement with a new TV, pool table, and a fully functioning bar. Part of that décor was license plates from my father's various vehicles over the years.

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Motorcycle plates from Miami and 80s Arizona plates littered the walls, and gave a home-y vibe to our little hangout spot.

If you want to replicate that, you may want to check the rules first.

Is Keeping Old Plates Illegal in AZ?

As identifiers of your personal vehicle, obviously license plates are not to be taken lightly. Even in their expiration, they can be used to commit identity fraud amongst other crimes. In order to combat that, many states have made it illegal to keep old license plates.

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Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Pennsylvania

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You'll notice that Arizona isn't on the list! Luckily, ADOT doesn't quite care what you do with your old plates. A major part of this is convenience, they don't want you wasting your precious time waiting in line at the DMV.

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What Can I Do With My Old Plates?

If you don't plan to return your old plates to the DMV, there's quite a few ways you can still put them to use. As stated earlier, many people like to hang their old plates on the wall, which is exactly what I've done with my old Florida plate.

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ADOT also recommends that, if you plan on discarding the plate, to please recycle it. This helps cut down on wasteful trash that won't break down, and can instead be recycled to something entirely new.

[ADOT][Junk Car Medics]