buying out of state
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vintageracer
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If buying from a licensed dealer, the selling dealer will issue a "temporary" tag that will typically last from 7 to 30 days depending on the state where you buy the car. This is one of the advantages of buying from a licensed dealer.
If buying from an individual you can try to talk the seller into letting you use his tag to drive the car home. Smart seller's will not do this since they would then be liable for your stupid driving habits should you cause/have an accident.
You could bring a tag from home off another vehicle and attach it to the car. If you get stopped by the cops just say I just bought the car and will be registering this tag to the car upon my return home. A lie but none the less an out. Be sure you have some form of proof of insurance from your insurer so you will not get an citation for this government money maker if you get stopped.
Last but not least you can try to obtain a "legal" temporay operators license tag from the state/local government where you buy the car. This is a big pain in the ass and I personally would not go this route. This is generally the same temporary operators tag issued by a licensed dealer but is issued by the local government when associated with a private, individual to individual automobile sale. This will require you go the local motor vehicle registration office and we all know how much fun that is!!!
Your best option if buying from an individual is to just bring a tag with you off of one of your other cars. Illegal yes, but still the best option.
If buying from an individual you can try to talk the seller into letting you use his tag to drive the car home. Smart seller's will not do this since they would then be liable for your stupid driving habits should you cause/have an accident.
You could bring a tag from home off another vehicle and attach it to the car. If you get stopped by the cops just say I just bought the car and will be registering this tag to the car upon my return home. A lie but none the less an out. Be sure you have some form of proof of insurance from your insurer so you will not get an citation for this government money maker if you get stopped.
Last but not least you can try to obtain a "legal" temporay operators license tag from the state/local government where you buy the car. This is a big pain in the ass and I personally would not go this route. This is generally the same temporary operators tag issued by a licensed dealer but is issued by the local government when associated with a private, individual to individual automobile sale. This will require you go the local motor vehicle registration office and we all know how much fun that is!!!
Your best option if buying from an individual is to just bring a tag with you off of one of your other cars. Illegal yes, but still the best option.
ChrisCairns
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tntdiablo said:
Some years back I bought a GN from a private individual in PA. I flew back WITH a Washington State 3 day temporary permit. (One of those cardboard thingys placed in the back window.)
I stuck it in place and drove off. BTW, these permits are only good within the state it's issued. I didn't care at the time...lol.
In Utah I was going pretty fast and I assume someone phoned in to the state police because some cop came up behind me much faster than I was going. He sat on my now legal speed azz for a couple of minutes...then slowly passed me on the left and pulled in front of me. He sat there for another few minutes, then pulled over to the right lane and allowed me to pass him. He never did pull me over. The permit was kinda hard to read since the back window had old crappy purple window tint on it.
I'd do it that same way if I had to do it again and if pulled over I'd just plead ignorance. That permit cost $15 at the time.
I bought a GN in Texas and drove it back to Mississippi. I got stop just inside Louisanna. He said it was cause tint was too dark and no tag. He gave me a "courtesy ticket" which was good for La. only. I had proof of insurance, title, and a bill of sale from the seller. Courtesy ticket has no dollar amount, just a way of showing the community that the officers are doing a good job. Officer was nice about it.
Just hhave all your paper work handy and I think you'll be Okay.
James L..
Just hhave all your paper work handy and I think you'll be Okay.
James L..
Gary Wells
White turbo Buick trailer park trash
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---------------------------------------------------vintageracer said:
2, 3, & 5 are definitely not good ideas. Some states arrest & jail for those offenses. This is not the '60's, sir.
vintageracer
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I believe your perspective depends on where you live. In Tennessee there is no safety inspection and there was no insurance requirement until 2005. As long as you got the money they will issue a title and a license plate. You do not even have to be a "legal" USA citizen/guest. We also give Tennessee driver's licenses to wetbacks with no documentation.
I can go to Alabama I can get a registration to anyone's 1975 and earlier car just by presenting a bill of sale that I own the car! They will issue a "license receipt that can be brought back to Tennessee and turned into a title! Now I do understand that this is felony fraud so we do not need to go there.
Life in the south "may" not be wound up as tight as it must be on the West Coast, East Coast or Northeast. Installing one of your own tags on a car you just bought from an individual is done all the time down here and has been for many years. Legal no, however I have never met anyone in 25 years in this hobby who was ever stopped by the police or had a problem. Does this statement justify this action? No! It's just the reality of the situation.
As I said earlier, I do understand this is illegal! I also realize that to get caught you have to be stopped by the police for a violation. I have not been stopped in 15 years for anything so using myself as an example I say go ahead. When a buyer has requested the use of a Tennessee temporary tag for buying a car from me I always tell the buyer to put the tag in location made for a license plate and not in the window. You will get stopped for what appears to be "no tag" since the cop may not see the temporary tag in the window especially if there is darker tint.
The original poster asked for suggestions. I gave him my suggestions with the plus/minus's per my opinion just as each of you presented yours. He now has lot's of information to make an informed decision to fit his comfort level.
Is that not what this forum is all about?
I can go to Alabama I can get a registration to anyone's 1975 and earlier car just by presenting a bill of sale that I own the car! They will issue a "license receipt that can be brought back to Tennessee and turned into a title! Now I do understand that this is felony fraud so we do not need to go there.
Life in the south "may" not be wound up as tight as it must be on the West Coast, East Coast or Northeast. Installing one of your own tags on a car you just bought from an individual is done all the time down here and has been for many years. Legal no, however I have never met anyone in 25 years in this hobby who was ever stopped by the police or had a problem. Does this statement justify this action? No! It's just the reality of the situation.
As I said earlier, I do understand this is illegal! I also realize that to get caught you have to be stopped by the police for a violation. I have not been stopped in 15 years for anything so using myself as an example I say go ahead. When a buyer has requested the use of a Tennessee temporary tag for buying a car from me I always tell the buyer to put the tag in location made for a license plate and not in the window. You will get stopped for what appears to be "no tag" since the cop may not see the temporary tag in the window especially if there is darker tint.
The original poster asked for suggestions. I gave him my suggestions with the plus/minus's per my opinion just as each of you presented yours. He now has lot's of information to make an informed decision to fit his comfort level.
Is that not what this forum is all about?
SouthernCal GN
I come in peace....AK AK
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Purchased my latest car in Texas. Had all the paperwork with me, and had zero problems on the drive west.
Generally speaking, the police won't give you grief if you're transporting the car from one state to another. The grief is usually a result of your right foot contacting the carpet.......................
Generally speaking, the police won't give you grief if you're transporting the car from one state to another. The grief is usually a result of your right foot contacting the carpet.......................
BLACK6PACK
1 sec reaction King
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My brother bought a buick in NY and took his florida tags to NY. He had proof of insurance and a bill of sale. Once he got to indiana (final destination) he had it plated there. He spoke with a couple of cops in town and they said that he would have been better off not putting the florida plates off his camaro on the buick. It could have got him in serious trouble. Although... Driving from NY to Indiana with no tags would have definately got him pulled over.
turbofish38
Le Pétomane
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BLACK6PACK said:
I can ad a amen to that. Down here in FLA it is better to run around without a plate and insurance than to have a plate from another car on it. I learned that lesson the hard way. I've more than a couple of cars and every once in awhile I'll swap plates so I can drive one to work or to the track or something else. I got nabbed a block from the house. Got my plate conviscated and a slap on the hand plus court costs when I had to show up before the judge with proof of insurance. The cop could have been a prick and had the car towed but since I wasn't a hardened criminal I got to drive the car back home and park it until I got the paperwork on it. What pissed me off was I lost a plate worth $22.00!
Have you checked with your states requirements? Just about every state that I know of will let you have a 30 day plate just for this purpose.
Little6pack
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why not ask the seller if you can use his plate & mail it back to him. OFFER an extra $100- to him.
It's not that big of a deal to go to the state you buy the car in's DMV office and get a temporary permit. I've bought cars in Indiana, Alabama, and Michigan respectively and drove the back to Florida following this method. Michigan required the prior owner to be with me at the time, and Indiana didn't. However, Indiana's permit was so small I still got pulled over in TN buy an officer who loved the car. As long as you have your proper paperwork and the temp tag you should be fine.
As others stated, you're better off driving it w/o a plate than putting one from another vehicle on there. In Alabama you just put a sign in the window that says tag applied for, and that's about it.
As others stated, you're better off driving it w/o a plate than putting one from another vehicle on there. In Alabama you just put a sign in the window that says tag applied for, and that's about it.
I bought a black 96 Impala SS from Vegas. Drove it back to Birmingham without a tag and didn't have any problems. I bought my TR from Denver. Drove it back without a tag. No issues there either. I brought a dealer drive out tag with me but I wanted to see if I would get hassled for not having a tag.
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