Temporary Registration/Tags
#1
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Temporary Registration/Tags
I am looking to buy a used c6 from a private individual and want to drive the car home.
It seems most states do not have provisions for temporary tags through private party transactions.
The states I will be traveling through are Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.
I have spent quite a bit of time searching on the internet and still cannot find much info regarding this.
I have learned either by phone conversations or via websites that some of these states allow car to be driven to the new owners home without any license plate or temporary tag(because they don't issue them) as long as the newly transferred title (title with seller and buyer signatures) and a signed receipt both showing the sale had been completed very recently, is in possession of the new owner while he/she is driving home.
It is difficult to find written documentation on this, so my question is this;
Has anyone out there purchased a car out of state from a private individual and driven off with the car title in hand like this. And if so did you get stopped anywhere, and if so how did that work out?
I would appreciate anyone's input who has factual and useful info regarding this.
For those of you who want to just throw out your speculative opinions Go right ahead cause you all will anyway.
I'm just hoping I can get some useful info and advise on this situation.
Thanks to all in advance!
It seems most states do not have provisions for temporary tags through private party transactions.
The states I will be traveling through are Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia.
I have spent quite a bit of time searching on the internet and still cannot find much info regarding this.
I have learned either by phone conversations or via websites that some of these states allow car to be driven to the new owners home without any license plate or temporary tag(because they don't issue them) as long as the newly transferred title (title with seller and buyer signatures) and a signed receipt both showing the sale had been completed very recently, is in possession of the new owner while he/she is driving home.
It is difficult to find written documentation on this, so my question is this;
Has anyone out there purchased a car out of state from a private individual and driven off with the car title in hand like this. And if so did you get stopped anywhere, and if so how did that work out?
I would appreciate anyone's input who has factual and useful info regarding this.
For those of you who want to just throw out your speculative opinions Go right ahead cause you all will anyway.
I'm just hoping I can get some useful info and advise on this situation.
Thanks to all in advance!
#2
Team Owner
Call your local DMV and see what rules apply to your state.Here in NY,If a guy in MASS.buys a car here that state gives him 1 week to get the car registered.In the meantime,he takes his current plates assuming he has them and puts them on the new car.Your local DMV should have temp tags if nothing else.I think GEORGIA is fine with you putting your plates on,with insurance,and driving home.Maybe that was south Carolina.I sold a car to somebody down that way a while back.Get insurance,if you have plates use them,and you should be fine.But in the end it's your state rules that apply here. Worse case,ask the seller to let you keep his plates on till you get home.
#3
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '06
I did something similar many years ago and drove from the Midwest to Alaska. I had all the documentation with me and never got a second look (amazingly). If when I entered a new state there was a State Patrol office (which there often is) I would stop in and explain the situation and ask if I needed to do anything special. I never did.
I forget what I did to get through Canada, but I did go through.
I forget what I did to get through Canada, but I did go through.
#4
Melting Slicks
According to this information at the Michigan Secretary of State's website...
The only problem with that is, what happens when you get pulled over in Ohio with no tags? They might let you off if you have the title and a bill of sale...then again, we're talking about Ohio.
You do not need a license plate to drive a newly purchased vehicle directly home.
Last edited by Top_Fuel; 03-02-2011 at 03:57 PM.
#6
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Whenever I bought a car from a private seller or sold my car to a private seller I just used a old license plate and brought with him or let the new buyer use my old tag. In most states you get up to 30 days to get the car registered even in Ohio, where I am from.
#7
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I've always just thrown on a tag, made sure the car was insured, and then drove it home. I flew into NY a few years ago and drove the car I bought down to MD using this method. Technically not legal, however. In MD, I think they want you to drag your *** to the DMV waste half your day, and buy a set of temp. tags.
#8
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Thread Starter
Call your local DMV and see what rules apply to your state.Here in NY,If a guy in MASS.buys a car here that state gives him 1 week to get the car registered.In the meantime,he takes his current plates assuming he has them and puts them on the new car.Your local DMV should have temp tags if nothing else.I think GEORGIA is fine with you putting your plates on,with insurance,and driving home.Maybe that was south Carolina.I sold a car to somebody down that way a while back.Get insurance,if you have plates use them,and you should be fine.But in the end it's your state rules that apply here. Worse case,ask the seller to let you keep his plates on till you get home.
Oh, of course no matter what I would certainly have insurance or I would not be driving it. But thanks for that tip.
#9
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Thread Starter
I did something similar many years ago and drove from the Midwest to Alaska. I had all the documentation with me and never got a second look (amazingly). If when I entered a new state there was a State Patrol office (which there often is) I would stop in and explain the situation and ask if I needed to do anything special. I never did.
I forget what I did to get through Canada, but I did go through.
I forget what I did to get through Canada, but I did go through.
#10
Advanced
Thread Starter
According to this information at the Michigan Secretary of State's website...
The only problem with that is, what happens when you get pulled over in Ohio with no tags? They might let you off if you have the title and a bill of sale...then again, we're talking about Ohio.
The only problem with that is, what happens when you get pulled over in Ohio with no tags? They might let you off if you have the title and a bill of sale...then again, we're talking about Ohio.
#11
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#12
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Thread Starter
Yes, Georgia used to be 30 days until the beginning of this year, now its only 7 days. Either way just using an old plate is not legal and if stopped I'm thinking it might get you a longer delay and possible more trouble than no tag at all.
#13
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I've always just thrown on a tag, made sure the car was insured, and then drove it home. I flew into NY a few years ago and drove the car I bought down to MD using this method. Technically not legal, however. In MD, I think they want you to drag your *** to the DMV waste half your day, and buy a set of temp. tags.
#14
Team Owner
The dealer that I bought mine from put a 14 day temp tag in the windshield and I drove it home. But if they had not, or if it had been a private party sale, I could have gone to my DMV here in Utah and gotten a 14 day temp permit for $4.00 or so and taken it with me to drive home. The states in between are inconsequential...just make sure you have a temp tag from either his state or yours.
#15
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The dealer that I bought mine from put a 14 day temp tag in the windshield and I drove it home. But if they had not, or if it had been a private party sale, I could have gone to my DMV here in Utah and gotten a 14 day temp permit for $4.00 or so and taken it with me to drive home. The states in between are inconsequential...just make sure you have a temp tag from either his state or yours.
#16
Burning Brakes
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I have done this before and had no tag only the bill of sale and title. I was not bothered. I think you have to abide by the laws of the state in which the car will be registered. (i.e. the state of your D.L.) I definitely wouldn't put just any tag on the car as that may cause more problems.
#17
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FL gave me a temp tag to take to NJ with me to drive my 82 Vette home. I had the title as I had prepaid. Some local DMV's will give you a temp tag from the state of purchase if you show bill of sale and title and won't charge tax just a small processing fee. FL was $7 when I did mine last year. I see you have a dilemma with neither state providing a temp tag. If you have title and BOS you could always do it the way it's done in Alabama. Put a piece of paper in the tag slot that says, TAG APPLIED FOR.
Last edited by Tally Ho; 03-02-2011 at 10:38 PM.
#18
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St. Jude Donor '06
I suppose the police figure that if it was stolen it would have come with a plate on it so without a plate it must be legal.
Last edited by C-INRED; 03-02-2011 at 10:56 PM.
#19
My suggestion is to contact your own states department of motor-vehicle, or whatever agency is in charge of vehicle registrations. Inquire what they require for this type of transaction, and follow that. Document who you talked with and who they're with, and follow that through all states.
If stopped by any law enforcement, provide them with all your vehicle documents/proof of purchase, and explain to them what you were instructed to do by your home state.
I know this would suffice here in Kansas if you were stopped. Good luck on your trip and enjoy the new car!!!