vehicle registration question (insurance, college, DMV)

[wgrea3]

So I have a temporary (2-3 year) job here as a postdoc at UCLA. I've been driving a car with Missouri plates (where I am from) and they are up for renewal in a couple months. I also recently had to get a CA driver's license since my MO license expired.

Both my name and my mother's name is on the title of the car. My mother still lives in MO. She spoke with the DMV in MO and explained that I was out here and just had to get a CA license and asked if I needed to register the car in CA. They told her no since, as she is on the title, she can register the car in MO using her address.

If I'm pulled over while driving the car in CA, and show that the car is registered to my mother in MO, can I be ticketed and/or fined?

Thanks.

[BRinSM]

as long as you are insured to drive in CA i don't think it matters since your mother is the 'owner' of the car.

[ladoll]

Being that you are a student, you do not have to register your vehicle in California.

If you weren't a student (or service member), I think then it would matter, but you are so you should be fine. If you get pulled over for having out of state plates, explain to the officer that you're a student and show them your student ID.

[polyanthus1]

But if I don't provide DMV in North Carolina a forwarding address, then my registration and tag stickers will be out of date and I wish to avoid receiving a citation or warning by a state officer. So, do you see my dilemma?

[ZenMaster2008]

Have the reg sent to your mom and have her forward it to you.

[RCCCB]

Originally Posted by wgrea3

So I have a temporary (2-3 year) job here as a postdoc at UCLA. I've been driving a car with Missouri plates (where I am from) and they are up for renewal in a couple months. I also recently had to get a CA driver's license since my MO license expired.

Both my name and my mother's name is on the title of the car. My mother still lives in MO. She spoke with the DMV in MO and explained that I was out here and just had to get a CA license and asked if I needed to register the car in CA. They told her no since, as she is on the title, she can register the car in MO using her address.

If I'm pulled over while driving the car in CA, and show that the car is registered to my mother in MO, can I be ticketed and/or fined?

Thanks.

People who become residents who are driving cars from out of state can be ticketed.
Chances are you will not if you say you are borrowing your mother's car for a couple of weeks while yours is being repaired.
Where you would get a problem might be with the police associated with your campus when you report out of state plates constantly for your parking permit.
Depending on your area you can also bite the big one if a cop who has seen you before a few times and is wondering about your plates pulls you over.
After a cop sees you for 3-4 months driving around, they may want to find out what the deal is.

I also wonder about your insurance since most insurances would not cover your car while in another state like that.
May seem cool now, but they may say you falsified your application by not reporting you were a resident of CA going to college and were driving around over here all the time.
Can be a bad one if you get the perfect storm.
Drive safely!