Question: My registration tabs for my license plates are due. Is there some leeway when I have to purchase those?

Answer: This is a good question and I have learned something myself along the way. Minnesota State Statute 168.09 says: “A vehicle registered under the monthly series system of registration shall display the plates and insignia issued within ten days of the first day of the month which commences the registration period.”

Let me clarify: The registration tabs must be purchased before the end of the month, but you have 10 days to display them. For example, if the registration tabs are October 2014, the tabs must be purchased by October 31, 2014. You then have ten days (November 10, 2014) to get them on the license plates.

I would also like to add vehicles must display the month of expiration in the lower left corner of each license plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner of each license plate.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).