Steve Jobs drove a new Mercedes every six months to dodge license plates like it was a software update
Published on Jun 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 24, 2025 at 11:47 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Steve Jobs once drove a new Mercedes every month to avoid license plates, using the system like an Apple software update.
The man behind the success of the iPhone and associated devices found an interesting loophole in California that meant he could drive around without a license plate.
Jobs didn’t want to have plates on his car, and after finding the loophole, he was able to lease a new car every six months to avoid them.
It was an unusual loophole to exploit, and Jobs was able to do so for many years.
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How the license plate exploit worked on Job’s Mercedes
Jobs found the loophole back in 2007.
The loophole effectively said that any new car under six months old would not need a license plate on it until it had passed that threshold.
After discovering this, Jobs hatched a plan.
Every six months, he would lease a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, usually an SL55 AMG.
There are several theories as to why the Apple man decided to do this.
Walter Isaacson’s biography of Jobs suggested he may have done so to avoid being tracked.
But there are some other theories.
Others believe that Jobs did this to avoid toll fees.
Another suggestion was that he did so to dodge speeding tickets.
A less interesting idea was that he did so simply to make the Mercedes SL55 AMG look better.
California eventually closed the license plate loophole
Jobs, though, did still drive around with the license plate frame attached to the luxury cars.
However, despite what you could avoid with the loophole, California was slow to react to this.
Steve Jobs passed away in 2011; however, it wasn’t until 2019 that California closed the loophole.
Following this, all new cars would require temporary license plates at the point of sale.
Jobs also had a reputation for parking in disabled spots, although there was no specific reason for that.
It does sound like a crazy thing to do, just to avoid a few rules and regulations.
However, it certainly proved to be a talking point and one that he held on to for as long as possible.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
