NEWSCHANNEL 5 Undercover Investigation: Fake Car Documents Being Sold

Smugglers using paper license plates to fly under the radar

WESLACO - They may seem insignificant, but the paper license plates some cars can provide easy access to dangerous smugglers.

They're supposed to be issued by car dealers to vehicle buyers. But some Valley car lots are selling them to anyone with the right money.

The plates can help hide stolen cars and are even being used by smugglers to fly under the radar.

NEWSCHANNEL 5 went undercover and found how easy it is to buy the paperwork.

A payment of $40, and we got sales receipts and paper plates for a car listed to Misael Auto Sales in Pharr.

The problem is the car lot didn't exist.

We talked to the owner of the lot where we got the plates, and he denied doing any wrong.

The plates are regulated by both the county and state and can only be issued by licensed car dealers. The plates we got not only came from a fictitious car lot, but they also contained a fictitious dealer identification number.

Police say dealers caught selling plates can face a license suspension, a hefty fine, and even jail time.