New cars and number plates

Rouxenator

Rouxenator

Dank meme lord
Joined
Oct 31, 2007
Messages
46,376
Reaction score
22,375
Location
Stellenbosch
Why do I see so many new cars that do not have number plates on? Some don't even have the barely visible temporary paper registration. Are the dealers so lazy that they can't even sort out number plates these days?

In 2000 I got a Bantam, ordered it on a Monday, drove off the showroom floor the Wednesday afternoon with number plates. This was in Somerset West so they had to come to Stellenbosch to register it.

In 2004 I bought an Astra, three days after signing everything I took delivery with number plates. Again in Somerset West.

In 2010 I bought a Corsa in Tygervalley, completed all the paperwork Monday morning, took delivery the same day. Went back on Tuesday to get the number plates.

In 2014 I bought an Astra in Worcester, completed all the paperwork Monday afternoon, fetched it Wednesday afternoon with number plates.

My point is this, why do I see new cars driving around for weeks without number plates? Few people buy cars are quickly as I do so the dealers have ample time to get the number plates sorted. All of the cars I bought were in towns other then where I stayed so they had to send someone to get the car registered here. Yet I see plenty of cars from local dealers that do not have number plates.
 
I would also love to have the question answered. Never, ever had a need for a temporary paper licence plate.
 
Case in point, the lady next door hat a beat out old Jetta 4 that gave her endless troubles. She has been "buying" a new car for the last couple of weeks and finally managed to get the car yesterday, a very cute red Up! - from the local dealership... without number plates. I mean seriously, you can walk from the dealership to the traffic department and the nearest place that prints plates is 200m from the dealership. What's the excuse here?
 
I think its got to do with etolls; people enjoying the fact that they cant be found out with no plates;

how many times have I seen people with one letter missing, or a very strategic knock on the plate breaking off a letter;

happens a lot these days, nothing new
 
eg2505 said:
I think its got to do with etolls; people enjoying the fact that they cant be found out with no plates;

how many times have I seen people with one letter missing, or a very strategic knock on the plate breaking off a letter;

happens a lot these days, nothing new
Click to expand...

Uhm... this paper numberplate thing pre-dates e-tolls. I have been wondering about it for many years. It is often seen in cases where Mr.Douchebag has just procured a new Audi or other douchebagmobile.
 
Paper number plates should only be valid for 72 hours max. Anyone driving without both number plates should be fined R5000 just so cover some of the potential fines they could have incurred.
 
I would love to know too....in all the years of car ownership (30 years) I have never had them.
 
Sonic2k said:
Uhm... this paper numberplate thing pre-dates e-tolls. I have been wondering about it for many years. It is often seen in cases where Mr.Douchebag has just procured a new Audi or other douchebagmobile.
Click to expand...

Mr.Douchebag reporting in, my Audi had plates on it when I got it :p, I only know 1 person who didn't get plates when they bought their car.
 
Rouxenator said:
Paper number plates should only be valid for 72 hours max. Anyone driving without both number plates should be fined R5000 just so cover some of the potential fines they could have incurred.
Click to expand...

Out of interest what is the max amount of time you can drive around with temporary paper registration?
 
It's because the dealership can issue a paper plate themselves, and people want the car immediately. I bought a car in January. My daughter dropped me at the dealership at about 10 am on the Saturday morning, and I filled in all the paperwork, got the finance approved, got the insurance sorted over the phone and drove out at about 12 with the paper plates. Two or three days later they had the registration done and I went and collected my proper plates, and I stuck them in the boot until I needed them.

I then did a road trip to the Cape on the paper plates, fully expecting to be stopped by every cop in the country because I had no plate on the front and only the paper on the back. I can't tell you how many cops I drove past, including a road block, and not once was I stopped and asked why I was driving without number plates.
 
Napalm2880 said:
Out of interest what is the max amount of time you can drive around with temporary paper registration?
Click to expand...

21 days. Previously the dealership could re-issue a temp plate and some guys milked that so now they're only allowed to do one.
 
Just resurrecting this thread to say I bought a new car two weeks ago and am still waiting for the dealership (Suzuki) to call me in to have the plates fitted. I've had a piece of paper stuck in the rear window with prestik since day 1. It's not legible through the tinted smash and grab.
 
If at all possible, don't let them 'drill' holes in your bumpers if there are no number plate holders. Two way tape works fine.

Oh and congrats.:giggle:
 
Mr Smooth said:
If at all possible, don't let them 'drill' holes in your bumpers if there are no number plate holders. Two way tape works fine.

Oh and congrats.:giggle:
Click to expand...
Thanks, good advice. They have already mounted the license plate holder.
From the dealer a minute ago: They are still waiting on the NATIS papers from the bank - that's the holdup apparently. They're expecting it to arrive tomorrow.
 
And if you have the energy, wash the car yourself (2 bucket method).
These car washes all over the place just damage your paintwork even more!!!

A wash, wax and seal will protect the paint.
 
pinball wizard said:
Swift, or?
Click to expand...
FiestaST said:
Hopefully not the Celery. Mostly cos it's bare bones.
Click to expand...
Baleno GLX
Very nice car but yoh... bodywork is thin on this thing. Makes it lighter (900 kg)- it has good steel frame structure, but I feel like I have to be careful when washing the roof LMAO.
Living at the coast, I may consider taking it in for Tectyl given the thickness of the panels.
 
Mr Smooth said:
And if you have the energy, wash the car yourself (2 bucket method).
These car washes all over the place just damage your paintwork even more!!!

A wash, wax and seal will protect the paint.
Click to expand...
Agree, washed it for the first time this weekend. It's a breeze to wash and wax. I got a Meguars kit of shampoo and wax (separate) along with a bunch of microfiber cloths and wax application pad.
 
Daruk said:
Baleno GLX
Very nice car but yoh... bodywork is thin on this thing. Makes it lighter (900 kg)- it has good steel frame structure, but I feel like I have to be careful when washing the roof LMAO.
Living at the coast, I may consider taking it in for Tectyl given the thickness of the panels.
Click to expand...
Nice.

Most impressive thing of the Baleno imo is the space utilisation. It's a B-segment hatch that's touching the door of C-segment hatchbacks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter