We moved to PA because my husband got a job here. We still have our house and his business in another state. I was stopped by the police and told we have to put PA license plates on our vehicles and get PA driver license. Can we keep our license plate and drivers license from our previous state? And what do we tell the police if we get stopped? He said if we don't get them immediately he will ticket us. And by the way he had no other reason of stopping me except I had a license plate from another state on my vehicle.

Are you still non-residents of Pennsylvania?


"§ 1303. Vehicles of nonresidents exempt from registration.

(a) General rule.--A nonresident owner of any foreign vehicle may operate or permit the operation of the vehicle within this Commonwealth without registering the vehicle in this Commonwealth or paying any fees to the Commonwealth, provided the vehicle at all times when operated in this Commonwealth is duly registered and in full compliance with the registration requirements of the place of residence of the owner and further provided the vehicle is not:

(1) used for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation or profit;

(2) regularly operated in carrying on business within this Commonwealth;

(3) designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property for hire, compensation or profit and not subject to reciprocity under section 6144 (relating to vehicle registration and licensing) or 6149 (relating to automatic reciprocity); or

(4) special mobile equipment if not also required to be and actually registered under the laws of the place of residence of the owner
..." Section 1303 - Title 75 - VEHICLES (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.013.003.000..HTM)

" 'Foreign vehicle.' A vehicle of a type required to be registered under this title brought into this Commonwealth from another state, territory or country other than in the ordinary course of business by or through a manufacturer or dealer and not registered in this Commonwealth." Section 102 - Title 75 - VEHICLES (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/75/00.001.002.000..HTM)

" 'Nonresident.' A person who is not a resident of this Commonwealth."

" 'Resident.' A person dwelling permanently or continuously for a period exceeding 60 consecutive days within this Commonwealth, except that a person who regularly dwells in two or more states shall declare residence to be in any one of the states."



If you have your home and business in the other state, it looks to me that you very well might qualify to retain your previous place of residence.

"We moved to PA " You may own property in another state but it sounds like you truly are a resident of PA now and must follow their laws.Are you leasing, renting or own property in PA?