Q. My husband and I are in a disagreement about a neighbor who has two automobiles and only one license plate. We have seen him switching the plate from one car to the other in his driveway. I say he must be a dealer even though the plate doesn't say "dealer." My husband says switching plates this way is 100 percent illegal. -- C.A.P.
A. This round goes to your hubby, said Marge Howell, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. It is illegal to drive a car with a license plate that doesn't match its registration, she says. To legally transfer a license plate from one vehicle to another, you must pay a $15 transfer fee. The fee is required each time the plate is switched.
A valid dealer's tag would be clearly marked as such.
Q. I recently received a title back for a used car that we purchased. The odometer reading was left blank on the new title. Before when I have purchased cars, the car's odometer reading at the time of purchase was listed on the title. Do they not do this anymore? If not, why? -- R.H.
A. The age of the car determines whether the odometer reading is required.
To register a vehicle that is less than 10 years old, you must supply an odometer disclosure statement signed by both the seller and the buyer; and the reading will appear on the new title.
If the car is older, the reading does not have to be on the title.
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