Saw a car with Mexican plates today....

[ditchdj]

Wow I've never seen this before.

Ended up behind a brown Chevy Suburban with Mexican plates here in southern Indiana. It was from the Mexican state of Aguacalientes (that's Spanish for "Hot Waters"). That's the first time in my lifetime I've ever seen a car with Mexican plates on the road.

[Kogarashi]

Neat.

We've got someone in town here (southern CT) who apparently has European plates of some kind. It's the long narrow type rather than the "standard" size used in North America (unless there are Canadian provinces that use a different shape than Ontario; correct me if I'm wrong then). I can't imagine shipping your car overseas to go to school, and if they're a permanent resident then the state would be on their case in no time to get them to change it (and pay out the nose for doing so).

[Peppergirl]

I'm in Southwestern Ohio and I've never seen them around here either.

[IT Grunt]

I've seen a car driving around here that has Puerto Rico(!) plates on it. I've often wondered myself, did they have it shipped here to drive while they were in school or something? I've also had the same thought, if it is a permanent deal then the state is going to be all over him when (not if) they discover it.

[bhskittykatt]

I've seen Puerto Rico, Guam, and Hawaii plates, as well as a few plates from Europe. Haven't seen any from Mexico yet.

We have at least one car around with Europe plates, with the WA plates screwed in over the top of it.

[Bandit]

There's also the Northwest Territories plate that I've seen a few times....



B

[Aisling]

Neat.

We've got someone in town here (southern CT) who apparently has European plates of some kind. It's the long narrow type rather than the "standard" size used in North America (unless there are Canadian provinces that use a different shape than Ontario; correct me if I'm wrong then). I can't imagine shipping your car overseas to go to school, and if they're a permanent resident then the state would be on their case in no time to get them to change it (and pay out the nose for doing so).

I think those are sometimes issued by the state, for European cars on which standard plates don't fit. And if you live anywhere near Greenwich, there's a lot of people down there with too much money. :P

Then again, one of my cousins works for the DOD and is currently in Germany. One of the incentives to get him to go to was that they'd ship his car there and back.

[hatori]

I saw Canadian plates down where I am...and lots of Mexican plates.

[ibor132]

I've actually seen a Miata with Hawaii plates in a parking lot in Bangor, Maine. I was sorely tempted to go question the guy driving about just how that came about, but I figured he probably got that enough without my help.

[RestaurantDude]

Neat.

We've got someone in town here (southern CT) who apparently has European plates of some kind. It's the long narrow type rather than the "standard" size used in North America.

The American "Standard Size" is actually the exception. Most countries use the long narrow size.

For example: The German tag on the front of my car:

[Kogarashi]

The American "Standard Size" is actually the exception. Most countries use the long narrow size.

Oh, I figured as much. I've only seen what I referred to as "standard" in the US, as well as Ontario plates (never seen any other Canadian plates Stateside) and now Mexico. I was just wondering if anywhere else in North America used a different size from the US.

Aisling, that's interesting. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for the next time I see that car, to see if it might not be able to fit regular CT plates, but I do suspect it's a foreign student. There's a big university and two smaller colleges in the immediate area.

[RestaurantDude]

There are, with some exceptions, three commonly used plate sizes:

1) The American size.

2) The European size, which is shorter and wider (Most cars built today that are sold in multiple regions are made to accept this size, or have easily interchangeable parts such that they can easily accommodate different sized plates).

3) And the Australian size, which looks like a smaller version of the European.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

There's also the Northwest Territories plate that I've seen a few times....

Do the plates from Nunavut come in pink camo?

[Peppergirl]

I dated a guy after my divorce who had just gotten out of the Marine Corps and was based in Hawaii. He said it had cost him a fortune to ship it.

We got a lot of looks and honks when we were driving around Cincinnati in his truck with Hawaii plates.

[ditchdj]

I'm sure the cost would be ungodly, considering that you're shipping a three-ton vehicle from the other side of the globe.

BTW I've seen cars with Alaska plates here before. I hear that those drivers are required by the Canadian government to prove they have a lot of money so that they can pay their own way if their car breaks down. Can anyone verify that for me???