Yes, you can be pulled over for expired tabs in Minnesota, and an officer needs nothing else to justify the stop. The expired sticker on your plate is visible proof of a registration violation, which is a misdemeanor under state law. Most drivers walk away with a citation and a fine, and the case usually resolves quickly once the registration is brought current.
Why the Sticker Alone Is Enough
Expired tabs are a primary offense in Minnesota. An officer doesn’t need to see you speeding, weaving, or committing any other infraction. The outdated sticker is direct evidence that the vehicle is being operated in violation of registration requirements, and that alone supplies the reasonable suspicion needed to stop you.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 168.36 – Unlawful Use of Unregistered Vehicle Certificate, Plates
One jurisdictional wrinkle is worth knowing. In late 2025, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced that her office would not prosecute most criminal cases arising from stops for minor vehicle issues like expired tabs or broken taillights. The Minneapolis Police Department said it had adopted a similar approach in 2021. Neither policy changes state law or removes an officer’s authority to make the stop. They affect only what the county attorney does with charges afterward. Outside Hennepin County, expired tabs remain a straightforward basis for a stop statewide.
When Registration Actually Expires
Your registration expires on the last day of the month printed on your plate sticker.2Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Vehicle Registration Renewal A sticker reading “December” is valid through December 31 and expired on January 1.
There’s a persistent myth that Minnesota gives every driver a 10-day grace period. It doesn’t. Statute 168.09 requires that a vehicle display its issued plates and registration insignia within ten days of the first day of the registration month.3Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Section 168.09 That provision covers a driver who has already renewed but hasn’t yet stuck the new tab on the plate. It does nothing for someone who hasn’t renewed at all. If your registration has lapsed, you can be cited on day one.
What the Ticket Actually Costs
Driving with expired registration is a misdemeanor.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 168.36 – Unlawful Use of Unregistered Vehicle Certificate, Plates The theoretical maximum penalty is a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail. In practice, jail time essentially never happens for expired tabs. You get a citation, you pay a fine, and the matter closes.
Ignoring the ticket is where real trouble starts. If you don’t pay or appear, a warrant can be issued and the Department of Public Safety may suspend your license.4Minnesota Judicial Branch. Pay Fines and Citation Information Failing to appear on a traffic citation can be treated as a guilty plea and a waiver of your right to trial.5Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Section 169.91 – Notice to Appear A suspended license creates problems that dwarf the original ticket.
Can Your Car Be Towed
Not right away. Minnesota law prohibits towing a vehicle solely because its registration stickers have been expired for fewer than 90 days.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 168B – Towing Authorized – Section 168B.035 Two weeks past your expiration date, an officer who pulls you over can write a ticket but can’t have the car towed for that reason alone.
Past 90 days, towing is on the table. A peace officer can order the vehicle towed after preparing a written towing report, and you pay the towing and storage costs.7Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Section 168B.035 – Towing Authorized The 90-day protection also has exceptions. A car blocking a fire hydrant, sitting in a disability space without proper placards, or violating snow emergency rules can be towed no matter how recently the tabs expired.
What to Do After You Get the Ticket
Renew immediately. Expired-tabs citations function much like correctable violations in practice, because the court’s main interest is compliance, not punishment.
Once you have your new sticker and receipt, take that documentation to the court or prosecutor’s office listed on your citation. Showing proof of current registration often produces a reduced fine or an outright dismissal, especially on a first offense. Prosecutors see these cases constantly and rarely have any interest in litigating them once the underlying problem is fixed.
Renewing Your Registration
To renew you’ll need your plate number, the last three digits of your VIN, and current auto insurance information, including your insurer’s name, policy number, and expiration date.2Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Vehicle Registration Renewal Active insurance coverage is required before DVS will process a renewal.
You can renew online through the Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services website, by mail using the renewal notice, or in person at any deputy registrar office. In person is the fastest fix if your tabs have already expired, since you walk out with the new stickers the same day. Every renewal includes a base filing fee of $8 plus a technology surcharge, with the registration tax itself calculated from your vehicle’s base value and depreciating over time.8Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Vehicle Fees