How Many Vehicles Can You Have on Your Property Legally?
Looking at that one car in your garage, you might wonder what it would be like if you get another one. Or maybe two more. Owning more than one vehicle can be done as a hobby or out of necessity. But will that get you in trouble at some point? How many vehicles can you have on your property legally?
There is no limit to the number of vehicles you can own. You can have as many vehicles as you want as long as you have the space to hold them all. If you own or want to own multiple vehicles, then make sure your driveway or garage can accommodate them.
Other than budget and space, you also have to think about the legalities surrounding car ownership in your area. This article will discuss what the law says about owning many vehicles and just how many you can have on your property – whether unregistered or registered.
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Here’s a Quick Pro Tip!
One sneaky option that quickly deters neighbors from hogging the neighborhood street or parking in front of your house, is the use of traffic cones like the Sunnyglade Collapsible Traffic Cones on Amazon.
If your neighbor thinks their vehicle may get damaged in that spot, or the spot is occupied, they’ll usually avoid parking there (check with your city whether this is allowed).
How Many Cars Can A Household Have?
According to a survey found in Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the United States has the most extensive road network than any other country. The country was able to accommodate the 270 million vehicles on the streets in 2018.
On average, there is one vehicle per American household, which means, about 90 percent of households in the U.S. had at least one car. But even then, there are many families that do own more than one vehicle, especially if there are several adult members in the household.
A Personal Preference
For car owners, there’s no such thing as “too many.” You can say you have too many cars if you get routine court summons because you’ve forgotten to retax. When you can’t remember what cars you own, where each one was parked or which ones need repair and maintenance, then that would be the time you can say you have too many cars.
Whether you own one or two or even four – there is no law that prohibits car ownership. The decision to own many vehicles will depend on your personal preference and is influenced by your income and location.
A household that has an income of more than $250,000 is just as likely to go for only one vehicle as the family that has an income of $25,000. Would you want an all-purpose car you can take around or three cars that each serve a different purpose?
Budget is another thing to consider since you most likely will need to have the car registered under your name. More car means more to register – and more fees to pay for – not to mention, the insurance policy and the fact that you would want to spend paving a driveway or perhaps, pay for a parking lot.
How It Affects Neighbors
For a family who owns several cars, there is always the issue of the parking space and how it affects the neighbors. There is no limit to the number of cars a household can have as long as the cars have a place to park. But as seen in many forums, there are neighbors who do find it annoying to see one house with several cars that they might take it up to the homeowners’ association.
For one, having many cars means there is a need to park all of them. If the driveway and garage couldn’t fit all vehicles, the owner may resort to parking one or two in front of other people’s houses. While it isn’t illegal to park in front of somebody’s property, it is seen as un-neighborly and rude.
The unsightliness of having multiple cars parked outside your house is another problem your neighbor might have. Some people just think the view of many cars outside a home ruins the aesthetic appeal of the neighborhood. In addition, neighbors might also be concerned if the owner works too much on the cars, making noises with revving, or taking the car in and out of the property.
If one of your neighbors starts to complain about you having so many cars, this may be taken to your local council. To avoid issues, it’s best to keep the cars out of sight, hide them in the garage, put up a fence, or pay extra for storage units.
How Many Unregistered Vehicles Can You Have On Your Property?
Keeping unregistered vehicles without getting yourself in trouble will depend on your state’s laws. It is possible for you to keep your unregistered vehicle on your property until you can already get the registration and insurance.
It’s also likely that keeping an unregistered vehicle is illegal. Your car could be towed if it’s found to be unregistered or have an expired registration.
Depending on the law, it is generally allowed to keep no more than one unregistered vehicle in a residential area. There are also car owners who keep more than one unregistered vehicle on their property without trouble. It’s best to inform your local DMV about the situation and make sure you don’t drive that vehicle around.
Is It Illegal To Have An Unregistered Car On Your Property?
Generally, it is not illegal to have an unregistered car on your property. Depending on your state law, you can keep one; some have successfully kept more without problems. However, you need to keep in mind that the unregistered car in full view of the public should not be an eyesore. Therefore, you must have it in good condition.
What Is Good Condition?
Good condition means all tires are fully inflated, all doors are intact, and windows are complete – no missing or broken ones. Upon a motor vehicle inspection, this unregistered vehicle should be able to pass.
If it’s necessary to keep an unregistered vehicle for a time but this vehicle doesn’t meet the criteria for “good condition,” it can still be kept on your property, but make sure it doesn’t affect public health and safety. That said, you must have this unregistered vehicle covered with a tarp. You can also put up a fence just so no one can see the car.
Parking For Too Long
While keeping your unregistered car on your property is allowed, given it meets certain conditions mentioned above, doing so for a long time might not be a good idea. Neighbors may start to see it as annoying and worthy of reporting, especially when your car is parked in the same spot without moving.
The law, however, still allows unregistered vehicles to be displayed on the front yard of a residential area if the purpose is for advertising for sale. Your car can sit out front for 30 days, in this case.
The vehicle should also be in good condition, as described above and owned by you, the owner of the property on which you put the car up for display.
Depending on your local laws, you might need to obtain a permit from a Zoning Enforcement Officer to display your unregistered vehicle for sale on your front yard. You may also get an additional 30 days to display if there are no complaints from your neighbor.
How Many Cars Can Be Parked In A Driveway?
When it comes to parking cars in a legal driveway, there is no limit. You can park as many cars as you can on your driveway. For instance, if your driveway is capable of accommodating six cars, then you can park that many, as long as you stay off the lawn.
How Many Vehicles Can I Own?
You can buy as many cars as you want as long as your budget permits. If you have a limitless amount of money, why not splurge on cars? Many people do this as a hobby or because they have a large family.
If you can buy many vehicles at one time, it can be assumed that you also have the means to pay for tax and insurance and find a storage unit for them. For insurance, companies can insure four to five vehicles under one policy.
If that, along with paying extra for the creation or rental of a storage unit, is not a problem, then you can own as many vehicles as you want. The challenge comes when you decide to sell your cars. This is true for those who keep cars for their buy-and-sell business.
Conclusion: How Many Vehicles Can You Have On Your Property?
If you are a car enthusiast, a car collector, a buy-and-sell business owner, or a large family who wants to own many vehicles, know that you can keep as many vehicles as you want, so long as you meet certain conditions.
You can own many cars as long as you have the parking space for it. You can either park it on your driveway or build a garage big enough for all of them. If you’re concerned about your neighbors’ reaction, just keep your cars out of sight. This can be done by renting a storage unit, having a bigger garage, or putting up a fence high enough to block the view of your cars.
Just keep in mind that laws differ from state to state. That said, it’s best to do your homework to confirm if your area allows owning more than one vehicle.
