Need LEO opinions
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 992
Likes: 3
From: Chesterfield Michigan
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Unfortunately, I don't have anything of not to add to this conversation. I am originally from Michigan and I can tell you that in Michigan you are just screwed and there are no such things as temporary tags for anyone except a registered dealer.
I would also like to use this time to say that every interaction I have ever had with a North Carolina State Highway Patrol has shown me that they are vile and disgusting human beings, both personally and professionally.
I would also like to use this time to say that every interaction I have ever had with a North Carolina State Highway Patrol has shown me that they are vile and disgusting human beings, both personally and professionally.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I've dealt with situations where a seller has left plates on a car used in armed robberies, thefts, hit and run accidents, etc. I'm in no way implying that the OP would do that, but I'd never sell someone a car and let them use my license plate(s) to drive the vehicle, regardless of the circumstances. What if the purchaser decides he doesn't want to send the plates back or throws them out and someone else finds them? Why put yourself through the possible aggravation when a signed, dated title, a bill of sale, and proof of insurance would suffice in most cases.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
In Wisconsin
I got the Vin number from the seller and got a temp plate from the DMV and flew out and got the car and drove it home with the temp paper tag bolted on the back. And I watched my speed very carefully. Registered the car in Wisconsin with out any problems. Got stopped on the way home from the DMV for no plates. 
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 693
Likes: 92
From: Savannah GA
If anyone buys a car from me they are more than welcome to keep my plates on the car. If they go on a crime spree on their way home I am not going to worry about it. Some folks here seem way too paranoid.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Thank you all for your opinions. However, I'm not sure which ones are LEOs and which ones are not. I'd feel most comfortable with actual LEO's telling me their experiences and encounters.
I will try to talk to the seller tomorrow to see what he has to say. In the mean time, I'll also do some reserach on my own as far as driving away with the seller's plates.
I wish the DMV's don't have these stupid rules. There should always be a grace period of a couple days to a week. It doesn't make sense to force you to register the car right away. What if the seller is a scammer and the car turns out to be a flood car? And you already registered it.
And don't worry, I drive safely. I don't speed and I don't run lights. I don't really see any potential problem with the police. I was just concerned that if a cop saw a young kid in a C5, he might check the plates to see if it's stolen or something.
I will try to talk to the seller tomorrow to see what he has to say. In the mean time, I'll also do some reserach on my own as far as driving away with the seller's plates.
I wish the DMV's don't have these stupid rules. There should always be a grace period of a couple days to a week. It doesn't make sense to force you to register the car right away. What if the seller is a scammer and the car turns out to be a flood car? And you already registered it.
And don't worry, I drive safely. I don't speed and I don't run lights. I don't really see any potential problem with the police. I was just concerned that if a cop saw a young kid in a C5, he might check the plates to see if it's stolen or something.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
From: North Port Florida
First off, I'm a LEO in Florida...and yes, our laws are different than other state's laws.
As for the seller, is this seller a private seller or a dealer? I admit I didn't read every detail through this thread, so I'm going to assume the seller is private.
With that said, you are required per Florida State Statute to obtain a Temporary Tag to facilitate transport home if driving. The seller, by law, is supposed to remove the existing plate before delivery of the car to you...and he/she is supposed to turn the plate back in to the DMV. The seller can get the temporary tag for you. It costs roughly $10.00. He/she will need your insurance information and you will be good to go.
If the seller is a dealer, then you can bring your own tag down with you and he/she can do a tag transfer. The seller would have to be a licensed dealer to perform this transaction, though.
Whatever you do, do NOT put your own plate on the car without proper documents showing a legal transfer!!! And do NOT put a written plate on the car the says: "tag applied for". These are misdemeanors and will at the minimum get you court appearances if stopped, and your car towed!
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me or drop me an e-mail. It's listed in my profile. Best of luck with your deal!
-TJ
As for the seller, is this seller a private seller or a dealer? I admit I didn't read every detail through this thread, so I'm going to assume the seller is private.
With that said, you are required per Florida State Statute to obtain a Temporary Tag to facilitate transport home if driving. The seller, by law, is supposed to remove the existing plate before delivery of the car to you...and he/she is supposed to turn the plate back in to the DMV. The seller can get the temporary tag for you. It costs roughly $10.00. He/she will need your insurance information and you will be good to go.
If the seller is a dealer, then you can bring your own tag down with you and he/she can do a tag transfer. The seller would have to be a licensed dealer to perform this transaction, though.
Whatever you do, do NOT put your own plate on the car without proper documents showing a legal transfer!!! And do NOT put a written plate on the car the says: "tag applied for". These are misdemeanors and will at the minimum get you court appearances if stopped, and your car towed!
If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me or drop me an e-mail. It's listed in my profile. Best of luck with your deal!
-TJ
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,007
Likes: 2
From: Manteo NC
Well didn't realize that stopping a vehicle to check on the registration and to make sure it isnt' stolen is "giving you trouble"!
Anyway, carry the title and bill of sale with you and just explained if stopped that you just purchased the car and are transporting it home. You may want to bring the paperwork with you to register the vehicle in what ever area you live in. As soon as you take possession of the vehilce fill out the registration form and have it with you, that way you can show whatever officer stops you that you are in the process of getting the vehicle registered.
Anyway, carry the title and bill of sale with you and just explained if stopped that you just purchased the car and are transporting it home. You may want to bring the paperwork with you to register the vehicle in what ever area you live in. As soon as you take possession of the vehilce fill out the registration form and have it with you, that way you can show whatever officer stops you that you are in the process of getting the vehicle registered.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 261
Likes: 4
From: NC
Never allow your current tag to accompany a sold vehicle regardless of how much you trust the buyer.
I did that 20 years ago with a serviceman that bought a car from me. He asked to "borrow" the tag over the weekend just to drive home. He promised he would mail the tag back to me that Monday. He totaled the car in an accident in Tenn. on his way home. I found out about it several days later when an insurance company called to get my side of the wreck story. It was not worth the insurance hassle I had to deal with for the next several weeks.
If it was me, and I couldn't get to the tag place to get the temp. over the weekend, I'd drive it home with my own tag from another car. Don't break the law and you'll never be stopped. I would carry every available piece of paper that proves I bought the car, and proof of insurance.
My agent always tells me, "If you have proof of insurance, ownership and identity when driving a newly purchased vehicle you can get by 99.9% of police officers that might stop you. They've all been in the same fix and understand the situation."
NOTE: I'm not an LEO, you have statements from them above, they will be more informed than the rest of us.
I did that 20 years ago with a serviceman that bought a car from me. He asked to "borrow" the tag over the weekend just to drive home. He promised he would mail the tag back to me that Monday. He totaled the car in an accident in Tenn. on his way home. I found out about it several days later when an insurance company called to get my side of the wreck story. It was not worth the insurance hassle I had to deal with for the next several weeks.
If it was me, and I couldn't get to the tag place to get the temp. over the weekend, I'd drive it home with my own tag from another car. Don't break the law and you'll never be stopped. I would carry every available piece of paper that proves I bought the car, and proof of insurance.
My agent always tells me, "If you have proof of insurance, ownership and identity when driving a newly purchased vehicle you can get by 99.9% of police officers that might stop you. They've all been in the same fix and understand the situation."
NOTE: I'm not an LEO, you have statements from them above, they will be more informed than the rest of us.
Last edited by serotta; Mar 1, 2009 at 09:10 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 33,047
Likes: 6,558
From: Rochester NY
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
The seller can get the temporary tag for you. It costs roughly $10.00. He/she will need your insurance information and you will be good to go.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
There is your answer if you are sincere about wanting one. The poster is an LEO in Florida so that is exactly the source you needed input from. His advice is simple to follow and will keep you clean. After hearing that, if you chose any of the half-azzed options of making up a sign etc you're just plain foolish and would deserve any consequences which might arise.
I can't possibly wire this guy all the money before I see the car. What are they expecting me to do? They might as well say "no selling cars on weekends in Florida".
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
Well didn't realize that stopping a vehicle to check on the registration and to make sure it isnt' stolen is "giving you trouble"!
Anyway, carry the title and bill of sale with you and just explained if stopped that you just purchased the car and are transporting it home. You may want to bring the paperwork with you to register the vehicle in what ever area you live in. As soon as you take possession of the vehilce fill out the registration form and have it with you, that way you can show whatever officer stops you that you are in the process of getting the vehicle registered.
Anyway, carry the title and bill of sale with you and just explained if stopped that you just purchased the car and are transporting it home. You may want to bring the paperwork with you to register the vehicle in what ever area you live in. As soon as you take possession of the vehilce fill out the registration form and have it with you, that way you can show whatever officer stops you that you are in the process of getting the vehicle registered.
I think that's a good idea. I'm going to get paper work and have them filled out so I can say "as soon as I get to IL on monday I'll take these to DMV".
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,822
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
I was recently in this very situation. I sold my son's car (title was in my name) and left the plates on for the buyer, I didn't want them. In my state, that's normally how it's done, as I believe it is in most states. I did immediately, as in the very same day, notify the DMV via its website that I had sold the car and who the buyer was, so that any activity related to the car from that point on, such as a parking ticket for example, would not be my responsibility. By the way, the buyer was in state, but I wouldn't have cared if the buyer was from out of state, I still would have left the plates on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
This is sounding like NOBODY ever bought a car in Florida and drove it home to another state. Thousands of cars I am sure come and go every day in of and out of the state.
I would give the guy his money, have all the signed paperwork, get in the car and come home. That easy.
If you DO get stopped you have virtually every reasonable piece of paper any other normal reasonable prudent person would have in terms of proving proof of ownership change.
All the paperwork is dated so you are going to take maybe a day or two max to get back home. And a LEO that would give you crap about tags on a routine stop would really have to being having a really bad day.
Pay the guy, get in the car and come home. Head to your local tax office when you get back. Pay the sales tax, registration, inspection, get your tags - done deal!
I would give the guy his money, have all the signed paperwork, get in the car and come home. That easy.
If you DO get stopped you have virtually every reasonable piece of paper any other normal reasonable prudent person would have in terms of proving proof of ownership change.
All the paperwork is dated so you are going to take maybe a day or two max to get back home. And a LEO that would give you crap about tags on a routine stop would really have to being having a really bad day.
Pay the guy, get in the car and come home. Head to your local tax office when you get back. Pay the sales tax, registration, inspection, get your tags - done deal!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,643
Likes: 167
This is sounding like NOBODY ever bought a car in Florida and drove it home to another state. Thousands of cars I am sure come and go every day in of and out of the state.
I would give the guy his money, have all the signed paperwork, get in the car and come home. That easy.
If you DO get stopped you have virtually every reasonable piece of paper any other normal reasonable prudent person would have in terms of proving proof of ownership change.
All the paperwork is dated so you are going to take maybe a day or two max to get back home. And a LEO that would give you crap about tags on a routine stop would really have to being having a really bad day.
Pay the guy, get in the car and come home. Head to your local tax office when you get back. Pay the sales tax, registration, inspection, get your tags - done deal!
I would give the guy his money, have all the signed paperwork, get in the car and come home. That easy.
If you DO get stopped you have virtually every reasonable piece of paper any other normal reasonable prudent person would have in terms of proving proof of ownership change.
All the paperwork is dated so you are going to take maybe a day or two max to get back home. And a LEO that would give you crap about tags on a routine stop would really have to being having a really bad day.
Pay the guy, get in the car and come home. Head to your local tax office when you get back. Pay the sales tax, registration, inspection, get your tags - done deal!
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
BTW: I did have the seller take the car to a local dealer to have it checked out before I flew down.
The OP. I know how you have agonized over buying a vette. Don't worry. This seller will probably take your money, knock you over the head and make a skin suit out of you. Worries over?
