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SB440 • 2026

License plates from another vehicle; use, authorized time period.

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.2-720 of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of license plates from another vehicle; authorized time period.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Bagby
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide additional details beyond what is already stated.

License Plate Use for Repairs and Demonstrations

This act changes the law to allow car owners to use their license plates on another vehicle for up to 30 days if their own car is being repaired or used by a dealer for demonstration.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the time limit from five to thirty days for using someone else's license plates when a person's car is in repair at a garage or being used as a demo car by a dealer.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Car owners whose vehicles are being repaired.
  • Motor vehicle dealers who need to demonstrate cars.
  • Garage operators repairing customer vehicles.

Terms To Know

motor vehicle
A car or other road vehicle that is not a moped.
moped
A small motorized bicycle with pedals, as defined by law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not apply to mopeds.
  • It only applies when the car owner's vehicle is being repaired or used for demonstration purposes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 499 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0499)

  3. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB440)

  4. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  10. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Enrolled

  11. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB440ER)

  12. 2026-03-10 House

    Read third time

  13. 2026-03-10 House

    Passed House Block Vote (99-Y 0-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-09 House

    Read second time

  15. 2026-03-05 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)

  16. 2026-03-03 Department of Motor Vehicles

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  17. 2026-02-20 Department of Motor Vehicles

    Assigned HTRAN sub: Department of Motor Vehicles

  18. 2026-02-04 House

    Placed on Calendar

  19. 2026-02-04 House

    Read first time

  20. 2026-02-04 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

  21. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB440)

  22. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Read second time

  24. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  25. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  26. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Read first time

  27. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  28. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  29. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

  30. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  31. 2026-01-22 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation (13-Y 0-N 1-A)

  32. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102990D

  33. 2026-01-13 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Use of license plates from another vehicle; authorized time period.
Extends from five to 30 days the time period for which the owner of a motor vehicle is authorized to use license plates from his motor vehicle on another motor vehicle owned by a person operating a garage or owned by a motor vehicle dealer, provided that such use is limited to the time during which his motor vehicle is being repaired or while the motor vehicle owned by the garage operator or motor vehicle dealer is loaned to him for demonstration.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
46.2-720
of the Code of Virginia, relating to use of license plates from another vehicle; authorized time period.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
46.2-720
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
46.2-720
. Use of license plates from another vehicle in certain circumstances.
The owner of a motor vehicle to which license plates have been assigned by the Department may remove the license plates from the motor vehicle and use them on another motor vehicle owned by a person operating a garage or owned by a motor vehicle dealer provided such use does not extend for more than
five
30
days and provided the use is limited to the time during which the first motor vehicle is being repaired or while the second motor vehicle is loaned to him for demonstration, as provided by §
46.2-719
.
For the purposes of this section, the term "motor vehicle" does not include a "moped" as defined in §
46.2-100
.