Many car owners often ask “Where can I park my unregistered car?” and this makes sense considering how clear the law is on the subject. For those that do not know, the law is firmly against parking unregistered vehicles on public property.
But if you do have an unregistered car, where are the suitable places to park it? Our automotive team is here to answer your questions, so continue reading to find out!
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What Are the Legal Parking Areas for an Unregistered Car?
The legal parking areas for an unregistered car in the US are limited to private property, commuter lots (park and ride), and storage units. These areas are not considered public properties, and you will not be found guilty of any offense if your unregistered car is parked there.
As you may already know, the 50 states in the United States don’t always agree in terms of their laws. This means something with legal protection in one state may be illegal in another. However, when it comes to parking an unregistered car on public roads and properties, it is always illegal. This leaves no room for misinterpretations and ambiguity around the law.
However, there are still places you can park unregistered cars without breaking any law. We will consider these areas below.
– Private Land
Parking on private properties is perhaps the most obvious location to park your unregistered car, considering the law states you cannot park an unregistered car on public properties. However, if you can secure a parking spot in an area that is considered private, you are not breaking any laws.
Also, private land is arguably the best place to park your unregistered car. This is because, unlike other areas where you can park an unregistered car, private land allows for extended parking periods. That is, you can park your car for a long time on private land as long as the owner of the land is comfortable with it.
Getting private land to park on is a hurdle for many, though. You need to find someone comfortable with you parking an unregistered car on their property. While this is usually a family member or friend, you can get such permissions from strangers too. However, you need to be assured that your vehicle will be secure, and strangers will likely charge you a fee for parking on their land.
– Park and Ride Facilities
These are also called commuter lots, and they allow drivers to park their vehicles for a fee. The name comes from the fact that most of these facilities exist to allow drivers to park their cars and go ride on public transport. Park and ride lots are usually situated near public transportation centers.
These park and ride facilities are not only good for parking a vehicle and riding public transport, but they can also be used as good storage points for unregistered vehicles. That is, as long as you pay the stipulated fee, you can park your unregistered cars here and not break any laws in the US.
The only downside to using these areas for parking unregistered cars is the fee. Of course, there is no universal rate, and the amount you pay will differ depending on the region. However, in the United States, you should expect to pay around 10 dollars per day. Although, in some regions in the United States, park and ride sites are free for a day and there’s a fee of two dollars for every other day after the first free day.
– Storage Areas
Another place you can park your unregistered car is a storage facility. These facilities usually allow the car to stay for a specific period upon the payment of a fee. In the storage facilities, your car is safe from the law, and its security is also assured.
In fact, proponents of these storage areas often emphasize the fact that the security of the vehicles is assured. While you can still expect a reasonable degree of security from park and ride sites and private lands, none of them quite compare to the 24/7 security many storage areas offer.
Additionally, these storage areas allow you to park your vehicle for an extended period of time. Without a doubt, you will have to pay more, but the assured security is enough reason to consider this method.
Despite being very secure and relatively inexpensive, this parking option for your unregistered car is not as common as the other two. Most will only consider this option when private lands and park and ride sites are not feasible. This can be due to the difficulty in finding a suitable one in many regions of the United States.
What Is the Penalty for Wrong Parking of an Unregistered Car?
The penalty for wrong parking of an unregistered car ranges from a fine of 200 dollars to the vehicle being impounded. If a car is impounded, it will attract even more fees, including the fees that will be paid for the storage of the vehicle while impounded.
The exact penalty depends on the state where the unregistered car was parked. In some states, you have to pay a fine, which may start from 200 dollars, but it can rise up to 500 dollars. After paying the fine, you need to get your car registered if you intend to keep it on the road, which will set you back another 50 to 100 dollars.
If you are a repeat offender or have your unregistered car parked in an area where it poses a threat to the other drivers on the road, you may be looking at more serious penalties like vehicle impounding. There is minimal probability of being charged in court because of this offense, though.
Can You Park an Unregistered Car in a House Driveway?
You can park an unregistered in a house driveway in some states, while some states consider it a public nuisance and will penalize you for parking there. As weird as it may seem, even your own driveaway does not offer immunity from the laws regarding the parking of unregistered cars.
States like Connecticut allow you to park an unregistered car, while states like New York, Florida, and California frown against this practice. The fine in New York starts from 200 dollars, while in California, your vehicle may be towed. You should expect a fine to the tune of 500 dollars for parking an unregistered car on the driveway in Florida.
Therefore, ensure you contact your state’s DMV to clarify where the state stands before you park the unregistered car. In some states, the law allows for up to a month of parking an unregistered car in your driveway. After this, your vehicle may be towed or impounded, and you will have to pay to claim this vehicle.
How Long Can You Park an Unregistered Vehicle on Public Property?
You can park an unregistered vehicle on public property for no more than three days in most states in the United States. You need to refer to your state’s DMV to be sure of the exact acceptable length of time to park a car before it becomes an offense.
However, depending on the circumstances, like if the unregistered car is posing harm to citizens, you may not have the luxury of three days. Also, some states have special laws for “abandoned vehicles,” and your unregistered car may just be considered one depending on the provisions of the state laws.
After the grace of parking your unregistered car on public property elapses, make sure you get it registered immediately. If that is not feasible, consider the different parking options for unregistered cars.
Conclusion
An unregistered car bears many risks, one of which is the risk of being impounded or having to pay exuberant penalty fines. This article examines locations where you can park your unregistered car, and here are the points of particular importance:
- You can park an unregistered car at a private property, storage units, and park and ride sites, as long as you get the required permission or pay stipulated fees.
- Private lands and storage units offer the benefit of security and parking for an extended period, while park and ride sites are quite cheap and convenient.
- The penalties for parking an unregistered car on public property range from a fine of around 200 dollars or having your car impounded or towed.
- You can park your unregistered car for up to 72 hours in most states without breaking the law.
- Whether or not you can park an unregistered car in a house driveway depends on the laws of the state, with states like Florida, New York, and Florida opposing it.
Now that you know the details about parking your unregistered car, you need to ensure vehicle registration as soon as possible if you plan on using the car on public property.
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