Stolen license plates? Here’s what to do

It happens to drivers, nearly every day, in every state in America: thieves are stealing license plates from cars, including here in Colorado Springs.

It’s a hassle and a headache to deal with. Just ask KRDO’s Traffic Tracker Hanna Knutson.

“It was so frustrating, I never expected it to happen,” Knutson said. “I didn’t even know what to do when I walked out and didn’t see plates on my car.”

Unless it happens to you, most people don’t know the steps to take. Thankfully the process is simple.

First, file a police report online. Second, go to the DMV to get new plates.

But as Kristi Ridlen with the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office explains, you’ll need the number issued on your police report in order to get your new plates.

“It’s about $8.06 depending on the type of license you need,” said Ridlen.

It’s $8 for a new license plate and $5 for new replacement tags, which is a relatively inexpensive fix to avoid a ticket.

“Here in Colorado, you need a license plate on the front of your vehicle as well as the back… so you don’t get pulled over,” Ridlen said.

Make sure to account for potentially long lines at the DMV. But if you’re in a hurry, you can check wait lines online.

So what’s in it for the thieves?

It could be a number of things, but one of the main reasons is renewing registration is expensive. That price varies depending on the make, model and year of the vehicle. In other cases, the car could be stolen and they need a valid sticker on it; or the driver may be uninsured.

So what can you do?

Cut an ‘X’ through your registration sticker so thieves can’t peel it off. You can buy a ‘license plate theft kit’ that makes it harder for thieves to unscrew your plates.