With so much to stay on top of as a car owner, it can sometimes be easy to let certain things slip your mind, such as renewing your registration and license plate. Even though it might not seem like a big deal to drive around with a car that has expired plates, this is something that you should avoid. These are a few reasons why.

You Could Get a Ticket

Perhaps the main reason why you should avoid driving around on a car with an expired license plate is the fact that you could get a ticket. Not only can this result in you having to pay a fine—which can be steep, depending on where you live—it can also take time out of your busy day, such as when you're on the way to work in the morning.

Your Car Could Be Towed

There is the possibility that your car could be towed if you get pulled over for driving with an expired license plate. However, this is not the only situation in which this can happen. In some neighborhoods and apartment complexes, for example, there are rules that require all cars to have up-to-date license plates. If your car violates that rule, then it could be towed. Then you have to worry about paying a possibly high amount in order to get your car back.

You Could Get a Parking Ticket

Many people assume that officers only issue parking tickets for those who park illegally. However, in some cities, you might get a ticket for parking a car that has an expired license plate in a city parking lot or on a city street.

It Might Cost More to Get it Renewed

When you do finally go and renew your license plate, you should know that you might actually have to pay more money than you would have if you had gotten your license plate renewed on time. You could be charged a penalty and even interest on the fees that you did not pay when you were supposed to, for example. This can drive up the cost of keeping your car registered even more.

As you can see, even though it might not seem like a big deal, it's generally best not to drive a car with an expired license plate. Instead, before your plates expire, make sure that you head to a local title and registration office to handle the problem.