No front plate in Switzerland!

Sure, I absolutely DO agree, Switzerland IS a Police state.
But if you behave you have no problems.

Marcel Massini

 

Understand. But here in the great state of Arizona, the State of Arizona ONLY gives us one plate. Just one not two.

So having run the Ferrari Tribute to the Mille Miglia in Italy with an Arizona registered car and ONLY one plate, I'll count myself lucky having made it through without issue. BUT that's not my question. Just as someone else suggested, a vinyl decal of my Arizona plate might placate the police. My question to you was do you honestly think the Italian or Swiss Police would really know? In an effort to best comply with European laws this seems the only reasonable solution other than to throw in the towel and not even attend.

 

Front plates are mandatory in the UK, but it's not enforced as much as it should be (not enough traffic cops for a start off!), and with a foreign registered car, the chances are the Police simply wouldn't bother stopping you.

Added to that, the fine in the UK for no front plate is only £100 (@ $130) if you do get caught, so people are quite happy to risk it, in order to look "kool!" (sic)

 

why wouldn't you just get a metal reproduction license plate made for your state and then mount it on the front while you're overseas?

 

So far I haven't done either but my guess is between forging a fake plate as a sticker would be easier than forging a fake plate in metal.

 

How about asking Florida/Arizona for an additional plate and explain the circumstances? Given enough lead time they could do it, but the question is if they would do it. Worth a try versus getting into the counterfeiting business or paying unnecessary taxes to register in a 2-plate state. Maybe dealer or temporary plates? Just a suggestion.

 

^Florida would sell you a duplicate plate for $100 or so several years ago.

 

You would not be "forging" a license plate. You're buying a vanity/novelty plate. What you do with it is another story. Having a metal plate the same size, from the same state, same coloring and same numbers/letters (assuming they do that) as the legitimate plate on the rear of your car probably won't attract any extra attention above and beyond the expected attention of a "foreign" plate in another country. Do you think anyone overseas will know if it was pressed at a commercial business or if Bubba made it in the penitentiary? In any event, not recommending you do anything illegal or break any laws

State Replica License Plates, Any Name, Any State

 

What happened to the good 'ol days when driving in Europe was a blast? High speed limits (or none), little enforcement and great roads. It sounds like the socialist, police state bureaucrats have taken over and nobody says anything... they just take it.

I always thought it would be great to ship a Ferrari over and spend a month enjoying the roads and the sites, but after hearing this, forget it.

There are too many great places and roads right here.

 

Those days are long gone.

 

Based on about 40 years of experience with Florida DMV I would be surprised if Florida would do this. They'd probably be concerned that it might be attached to a second vehicle. Not that anyone would have a reason to do that, but that's how the bureaucrat mind works. So, if you have a car from a single plate state it seems you'd be pretty harassed driving it in Europe based on Marcel's comments and experiences. Gee, I thought the EU would have sorted out all these little details.....

 

Why in the world would any European country, much less the entire EU, be concerned about something so incredibly minor? There are a minuscule number of U.S. plated cars driving around in the EU and they're certainly not doing it long-term.

The purpose of license plates is to quickly visually identify a vehicle for legal reasons (breaking laws/crimes). I find it ludicrous that any state or country would allow just a rear plate. Vehicles need to be identified from either end or either direction. Do I like front plates? No. Do I think cars without front plates look cleaner/better? Yes.

Add to this the fact that a license plate may be the only highly reflective surface on the front end of a car. This could critical with a completely disabled vehicle on the road, in the dark.

Many countries outside the U.S. are more efficient and "civilized" regarding how they deal with speeding. Much of the time it's just an unmanned speed camera taking a photo of the FRONT of vehicles. Then you get the ticket in the mail. Some countries require the driver's face in the photo along with the license plate, for legal reasons. Having no front plate circumvents these processes.

 

The good old days in Italy...
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There is a country in Europe without a general speed limit:
Autobahn-Speedhunter - map
However, the autobahns are so crowded, if you don't have speed limits, you will have a traffic jam. Especially on weekends and close to larger towns.
The good thing, if you go to fast they will not send you to jail and the fines are not so high.

 

Just don't let the Swiss authorities see your username!

 

If one wants to take one's car to Europe from a single plate US state, how can that be done legally, that would satisfy the various countries that might be entered? That's the point. And yes, as controlling as the EU bureaucracy is I would expect that after 25 years they'd have a rule for just about every conceivable situation, especially where motor vehicles are concerned.

 

I don't see why they would bother with something like that. Nobody is going to be allowed to continue to drive around on a long-term or permanent basis with U.S. plates in another country. You would have to register the vehicle in the system where the car is based (and be issued their license plates). If it's over there temporarily I would get a matching plate made for the front. You're not trying to deceive anyone - just trying to meet their requirements. Would it be legal there? Don't know. Don't know if they would care since the license plate would match the paperwork and the car would not be remaining in the country.

 

When 'The Wall' came down, the 'Legendary' Autobahn died.

It exists in spirit but not in reality any more. Only about 20% of the 'Super Slabs' have a useable 'NO SPEED LIMIT' (My avatar).


Probably the BEST is A81 - Wurzburg to Heilbronn or vice versa.

Most of the rest are too crowded and thus very dangerous at speeds over say ... 120mph. The danger is NOT Speed, but the differences in speeds of the various vehicles. And each country's drivers (Germany is THE Center of Europe) bring their own quirks to the 'velocity stew.'

There is an 'old' WWIII(3) Airfield along that route (they exist all over Germany, if you know where to look) that is 'gun-barrel' straight and smooth for perhaps 5-7 Km.

Hit that right and speeds of (well) over 200mph have been known to occur there.

Many carmakers (especially Stuttgart) test their 'incognito projects' there. I've seen a few there over the past 25 yrs....

But not for long.



A70, A73 and A93 have their moments. In Germany (outside Bavaria; a whole 'nother country') I cant help much.



All that said, I find the USA a VERY Dangerous place to drive. I feel better at 120mph in Germany than I do in the USA at 70mph in many locations.

 

A decade ago, I used to run a jaguar XJR supercharger with no plates at all, just a set of snapped ones in the boot, and a new set. The car was so common at the time, speed cameras were unable to track down the jag as it would take too long, and if I was stopped, I'd get a producer ticket, requiring me to take the car to a police station within seven days with new plates fitted, having explained some 'naughty lads broke the plates off last night, they are in the trunk officer'.

Worked like a charm for about two years!, never a fine, and strangely, no speeding tickets either!

 

You beat me .... Mine was only 10k CHF. Now I feel lucky........not really

 

To be fair, much of what marcel describes is more applicable to the German speaking part of Switzerland . The French and Italian parts are not quite as enthusiastic about enforcing the more minor laws. They will still fine the hell out of you for speeding, but I washed my cars on Sunday's at my home without issue

Btw, the cantons of Geneva and Zurich, that altogether represent less than 2 million people, collect more than 100 million CHF per year in speeding fines. Yes, it's about the money.

 

Oh for the days when a gumball or cannonball run could be safely negotiated at a safe yet high speed over most of the Eurasian continent, at the cost of a half dozen spare false number plates, crate of red bull, and a few cartons of Marlboro for the Eastern European cops! How times change.