Quick Summary:
- Check the rear plate tabs, compare month and year with today’s date.
- Photograph the plate, tabs, windscreen registration card, and rental agreement page.
- Contact the rental company immediately, request written confirmation registration is current.
- If stopped, stay calm, show documents, and ask officers to verify DMV records.
In California, your hire car should always be properly registered, but travellers sometimes notice the small registration sticker on the rear licence plate looks out of date. It can be worrying, especially if you are driving through busy areas or parking on the street. The good news is that the sticker is only one visible clue, and it does not always reflect the vehicle’s true registration status. What matters is how you check it, what evidence you capture, and how quickly you notify the right people so you can keep your trip moving without collecting avoidable fines.
This guide explains how to spot an expired month and year tab, what to photograph for your records, who to contact at the rental desk or support line, and what to say if you are stopped by law enforcement or cited by parking enforcement.
Understand California registration stickers and what “expired” looks like
California plates typically display two small tabs, a month sticker and a year sticker, placed on the rear plate. Many drivers assume an expired tab automatically means the car is unregistered, but that is not always true. Rental fleets sometimes have admin changes, sticker delays, or a new registration card in the glovebox while the physical tab has not been applied yet. Your job as the renter is not to fix it yourself, but to document what you saw and alert the rental company promptly.
To spot an issue, look at the rear plate and check:
Month tab: Shows a month abbreviation or number. It should match the renewal month currently in effect for the vehicle.
Year tab: Shows the year. If the year is earlier than the current year, it looks expired. If it is the current year, check whether the month has passed already.
It is also possible that the stickers are faded, scratched, or partially peeled. That can look suspicious to enforcement officers and can trigger a parking ticket in some cities, even if the car is actually valid in DMV records.
First, verify what documents are in the car
Before calling anyone, check the paperwork that should be in the vehicle. Most rental companies keep the registration card in the glovebox, centre console, or a document pouch. Do not remove or discard anything, and do not try to move stickers around.
Look for:
Vehicle registration card: This usually lists the plate number, VIN, make/model, and the registration period. If the card indicates a current registration period but the plate tab looks old, that is a strong sign the sticker simply was not updated.
Rental agreement: Confirm the plate number and vehicle details match what is on the car. If there is a mismatch, contact the company immediately, because that can complicate any traffic stop.
Insurance or roadside information: Keep these handy, since they may include a number to call while you are on the roadside.
If you picked up near a major hub, support processes can be quick. For example, travellers arriving into Los Angeles often collect vehicles via car rental at LAX and may have access to on-site support, while other locations may rely on phone or email confirmation.
What to photograph, and why it matters
If you notice the sticker might be expired, take clear photos straight away. This protects you if a parking ticket appears later, and it helps the rental company resolve the problem without guesswork.
Photograph these items in good light:
1) Rear licence plate close-up: Capture the full plate number and both month and year tabs in the same frame.
2) Rear of the vehicle from a few metres away: Show the plate in context, so it is obvious it is the same car you rented.
3) VIN plate or door jamb label: Many cars have the VIN visible at the base of the windscreen or on the driver’s door frame. A photo helps if the rental company asks you to confirm the vehicle identity.
4) Registration card: Photograph the entire card, front and back if there is information on both sides. Ensure dates are readable.
5) Your rental agreement: Capture the page that shows your name, rental dates, vehicle details, and plate number.
Keep these photos in a single album, and consider taking a screenshot of your phone’s date/time settings if you are worried about proof of when the photos were taken. Do not post the images publicly, because they contain sensitive identifiers.
Who to contact, and what to ask for
Your priority is to notify the rental company as soon as you can safely do so. If you are parked, call immediately. If you are already driving, wait until you can pull over safely or reach your destination.
Contact options typically include:
The pickup location: The desk or airport facility where you collected the car can usually confirm fleet status quickly.
Roadside assistance or customer support: Use the number provided with your paperwork. Ask for the issue to be logged to your reservation.
Hola Car Rentals booking support: If you arranged your car hire through Hola Car Rentals, keep your confirmation details to hand so the support team can help you route the issue to the supplier efficiently. If you collected in the Bay Area, you may have used car hire at San Francisco SFO, while San Jose travellers might be in a larger people carrier from minivan rental at San Jose SJC.
When you speak to the rental company, be specific. Provide the plate number, VIN (if available), and explain what you see on the sticker. Then ask:
Is the vehicle registration current in DMV records? Sometimes the system is current even if the tab is not.
Can you email or text written confirmation? A short message confirming the registration is valid can be useful during a traffic stop.
Should the vehicle be swapped? If the registration truly is expired, insist on a replacement car. You should not be asked to visit the DMV yourself.
How will tickets be handled? Ask what to do if you receive a parking citation for “expired registration” while the company resolves it.
How to avoid tickets while you wait for resolution
You cannot control how strictly a particular area enforces registration display, but you can reduce your risk.
Limit street parking in high-enforcement zones: City centres, beach areas, and near stadiums can have active parking enforcement. If you can, use off-street paid parking where enforcement is typically focused on payment compliance rather than plate tabs alone.
Keep documents accessible: Store your rental agreement and registration card together so you can quickly show them if questioned.
Do not tamper with stickers: Never try to peel, move, or “fix” a tab. That can look like fraud and can create more serious issues.
Request a vehicle swap if you feel exposed: If you will be staying in a place where you must park on-street overnight, it may be safer to exchange the vehicle rather than hope for the best. This is especially true if the year tab is clearly in the past.
Depending on your route, you may be far from your pickup station. If you began in Southern California, you might be closer to support at Avis car rental in San Diego or Los Angeles, including supplier counters such as Enterprise at LAX, which can simplify a swap.
If you are stopped by police, what to say and do
Getting stopped can feel intimidating, particularly if you are visiting from abroad. Your aim is to be calm, transparent, and organised.
1) Pull over safely: Signal, move to the right, and stop in a safe, well-lit area where possible.
2) Provide standard documents: Hand over your driving licence, rental agreement, and the vehicle registration card if requested. If you have written confirmation from the rental company that registration is valid, offer that too.
3) Explain briefly: Say you are in a hire car, you noticed the sticker may be out of date, and you have already contacted the rental company to confirm status. Avoid over-explaining.
4) Ask if they can verify electronically: Officers can often check DMV records by plate or VIN. If the system shows valid registration, that typically ends the issue quickly.
5) Do not admit fault for the sticker display: You did not apply the tab, and you should not frame it as something you “forgot”. Keep it factual: you rented the car like this and reported it.
If an officer issues a fix-it ticket or citation anyway, accept it calmly and focus on the next steps with the rental company. Arguing on the roadside rarely helps.
If you receive a parking ticket for expired registration
Parking citations can happen even when you were not present, and they may appear as a notice on the windscreen. Take a photo of the ticket in place before removing it, then photograph the details closely so the citation number, location, and alleged violation are legible.
Next:
Notify the rental company immediately: Provide the citation number and your photos. Ask for written instructions on whether you should pay it, dispute it, or leave it for them to handle.
Follow your rental agreement terms: Many agreements require you to inform the company and may set out an admin fee if the company processes the ticket. Do not ignore it, because unpaid citations can become more expensive.
Keep your evidence: Your earlier photos of the registration card and your outreach to the company can support a dispute if needed.
In many cases, if the vehicle registration was actually current and the tab was simply not updated, the company can provide proof and resolve it. If the registration truly was expired, the company should take responsibility, and you should request a vehicle exchange as soon as practical.
How to prevent this issue at pick-up next time
You can often spot sticker problems before leaving the lot. When you collect your car hire, add a 30-second check to your routine:
Check the rear plate tabs before you drive off: If the year looks wrong or the month has passed, ask the agent to confirm registration status in their system.
Confirm the registration card is in the vehicle: If it is missing, request assistance before leaving.
Match plate number to your agreement: This avoids confusion if you later need support.
Take pick-up photos: A quick set of exterior photos can protect you for many issues, not just registration tabs.
These steps are especially useful at high-volume airports where cars turn around quickly, including Sacramento, where travellers may use car rental at SMF and be on the road fast.
When an “expired” sticker is urgent, and when it is less so
Not all sticker concerns carry the same risk. Treat it as urgent when:
The year tab is clearly in the past: This is more likely to attract attention.
The registration card also appears expired or missing: That is a stronger sign of a real compliance issue.
You will be parking on-street frequently: Parking enforcement is where many travellers first encounter problems.
You are planning long drives through multiple jurisdictions: The more places you drive and park, the more chances for scrutiny.
It may be less urgent, though still worth reporting, when the registration card indicates a valid period and the sticker is only slightly out of date. Even then, get written confirmation and keep your photos, because it only takes one ticket to complicate your trip.
FAQ
Q: Can I drive a California hire car if the registration sticker looks expired?
A: Usually yes while you confirm status, but you should document it and contact the rental company immediately. If registration is truly expired, request a vehicle swap.
Q: What photos are most important for protecting myself?
A: A clear close-up of the plate showing month and year tabs, the registration card, and the rental agreement page with the plate number and dates.
Q: Should I go to the DMV to renew the registration myself?
A: No. The vehicle owner, typically the rental company, handles registration. Your role is to report the issue and request a compliant replacement if needed.
Q: What if a police officer says the sticker is expired but the registration card is current?
A: Ask politely if they can verify registration electronically via DMV records. Show the registration card and any written confirmation from the rental company.
Q: If I get a ticket, do I pay it straight away?
A: Follow the rental company’s instructions and your agreement terms. Take photos of the ticket, notify the company promptly, and keep all evidence in case it is disputed.
