So I got pulled over for no light above my license plate, my car didn't come with one, what can i do?

Question

I have the warranty on my car, it's brand new. (2008 Mazda 3). They gave me the 3 year or 30,000 miles warranty, so if they didn't include the license plate light on the car doesn't that mean they have to put it on for no charge? But wouldn't that also make the car illegal to sell? does anyone know anything about this? It's a law in Utah to have the lights above your plate, so I mean what do I do?

Answer 1

your warranty would have nothing to do with getting a light installed. its not the factory's problem that you bought a car in a state that requires you to have one. You need to go to an auto shop and see if they sell them or you will have to get one installed.

Answer 2

take your car back to where you bought it and tell them what happened.

Answer 3

Yeah, It's a brand new car (a nice one btw... I just bought an 08 Mazda 3 too)... It should have come with license plate lights. Go back to your dealer and tell them it didn't come with the lights and they should put them in for you.

If not tell them you want to return the car and go somewhere else to buy it... car dealer's hate losing customers.

Answer 4

The Cop was just being nosy. If it was manufactured without a light, it is legal.

Answer 5

In most if not every state you are required to have a rear license plate bulb, so the car definitely has a socket there. My guess is that either a bulb didn't get inserted in the socket or the bulb was faulty and failed. If you are comfortable doing it you should be able to get a bulb for a few dollars from an auto parts store. If not take it back to the dealer and have them take a look, cant imagine they would charge much if anything to do this on a brand new car.

Answer 6

it will have a light or it may have been left off.  take the ticket to the dealer, i bet the bulb was blown out or non-existant.

either way, have them repair it.

federal law requires the light.

if it is a bulb and they want to charge you for it, they are not a very good dealer.

Answer 7

Every car made for the US or Canadian market has to have a licence plate light, that has been federal law for a long time.  I suggest your car has one and the bulb is defective.  It isn't something that can just be forgotten because the factory wrapped wiring harness to the lights in the rear includes the leads for that light.

You are still responsible for the ticket (likely a fix-it ticket), as it is the responsibility of every driver to walk around the car, and check for the operation of all lights.  That is driver's ed 101