Transporting a car home without plates
 

OK, so here's my conundrum:

I'm from Oklahoma and planning to fly out to Maryland to pick up my first Corvette next weekend. While trying to figure out the last few details, it seems that in Maryland, license plates stay with the owner whereas in Oklahoma they stay with the car. So that leaves me with the very real possibility of having to drive back without plates unless the previous owner lets me mail them back to him.

Of course the simple solution would be to get a temporary plate...but of course Oklahoma does not offer such a thing unless you're a used car dealer (I'm not). I don't think I'd be able to get one from another state being that I'm not a resident.

So any suggestions/ideas on what I could do? I will have insurance on the car for the drive back, so that will be covered. Maybe make a paper tag up and notate something on it?? I'm really struggling to come up with a good idea here, so I'm counting on you guys to help me out :)

Thanks!

DMV must have a solution for just this circumstance. Temp plates for the car with the seller keeping his plates or allowing the plates to go with the car due to it being registered next, in another state. Contact them and ask.

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/vehicles/registration/

I would do 2 things:

1) Check with the DMV in Oklahoma to see what the rules are for buying a car out of state and registering in Oklahoma.

2) Check with the DMV in Maryland to see if they offer a temporary plate for transit out of state.


When I bought my car in Ohio, I got a temporary 30 day plate for transit from Ohio DMV, and registered and paid taxes in my state (province)

Good Luck :cheers:

Ditto, most states have 30 day transport plates (paper) that you can buy for way on the cheap.

As long as you have paperwork that proves you just bought the car, I would think the worse thing that could happen would be a fixit ticket. Could you maybe be over-thinking it?

Here you go, and you can take the tag with you when you fly out.

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/about-mv.../27300-57T.htm

That is only for military with a signature of a commanding officer or Neither apply to the OP.

Oklahoma says They are essentially saying, buy the car and get the title, go to the DMV, then go get the car.

:withstupid: Drive reasonable and the odds of getting stopped will be very low. If you are stopped, an explanation of the situation should suffice. If you do get a ticket, go to court and I can't imagine any judge not throwing it out especially if you have it properly registered by the court date.

Just leave the tag on the car and mail it back.
Here in Alabama, when I bought my Corvette, the previous owner left the tag on the car. He never came back for it. The tag is supposed to stay with the owner here.

30 day temp tags are NOT the norm; many states offer weekly temps or daily/3-day tags. Driving without anything where the plates should be is not great either. A new car fr. CA actually comes w/ nothing, not even paper to put in rear glass---and will get you a ticket from a zealous officer. And it may require you show up to defend yourself---don't want to travel back to MD or any state in between?

So, if you can't get an MD temp tag* to take with you, I suggest going to any new car dealer and getting one of their cardboard/plastic plates w. their name on it and putting it on the rear plate area. Yes, it's no more legal than putting a picture of your dog on the car, but it does work for some states and some officers who would otherwise stop you---I know from talking with officers, plural, and doing it. That's AFTER getting a ticket for no plates of any kind.

And bring a full sales document with you, be it from an individual or car company. It won't work with some officers, but with others if you're stopped, it will suffice. I've had it both ways---worked and not worked.

*Contact MD DMV; they do offer 30 and 60 day temp tags, at least to dealers. I'm running on one right now and the car will be registerd in VA.

In the state I lived in at the time I sold a car and let the buyer take the plates to transport the car home....I should have kept them. Later I received a letter from the state where the buyer lived saying I owed around $80 in overtime parking tickets......so don't be surprised if your seller doesn't let you have the plate....I'd take a sheet of printer paper and write " IN TRANSIT" in large enough letters to be seen and tape to the back window. At least any LEO would see you weren't trying to hide the fact you didn't have a plate...and you could show them the purchase papers you have.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. If I can't borrow the plates I'm thinking I'll write "in transit" on an old Oklahoma dealer temporary plate from a previous car and carry all the sales paperwork with me. Still open to any better suggestions though!

I doubt Maryland will let me get a temporary since I'm not a resident. I am military, but not a Maryland resident for the military temp tag.

Agree with most saying that as long as the paperwork is in order demonstrating you just purchased and you are driving it home I believe things would work out fine. I might be naive but I would do that without batting an eye. I would confirm that insurance coverage on the car can be verified with my insurer. State Farm I believe automatically covers for 30 days (or used to...so much changes). A call or an email to your agent saying I just bought this car and am driving it home...provide the make/model/VIN. Just something to show if stopped for some reason. The plate issue just doesn't seem like a big deal in that circumstance. Mark

:iagree: that's what I do. Insurance Co e-mails proof insurance card that I print off and carry along with all paper work/bill of sale and obey all traffic laws. With that said, I have never been pulled over so I'm not sure what would happen next :lol: Mabey some LEO's will chime in with what normal protocol is.

take the tags from your car with you at least then at a glance you won't get pulled over.

In my opinion :hide: taking plates registered to another car and putting them on the transport car indicates and intent to deceive. IF pulled over THEN you have to explain, defend, etc. I'm not always a good two shoes but transporting a car does not seem to be high risk so, again, imo, no reason to hide anything. Obviously the odds are in favor of not being stopped, agree. But crazy things happen. Could be in an accident and not be at fault. I say play it straight.

just buy the car and have him send you the appropriate paper work, and register in your state. go pick up the car or trailer it

Google is your friend
 

Google Maryland DMV and see what requirements they have for a temp tag. Most states offer temp tags. I am sure sellers agreement and proof of your insurance are part of the requirements. Bought mine in NC and buyers agreement, proof of insurance and $15.00 for a 30 day temp tag. Bet Maryland is simular. Good Luck and enjoy the drive home.

+1 I have done this before, as long as you have the dated bill of sale and proof of insurance and are heading towards the address on your license you should not have a problem.

My buddy recently sold his C5 to a "non resident" and our DMV let him buy a Temporary (in transit) registration the same day for a small fee. He picked the car up, brought the title to DMV with the reciept of money transfer (check copy or such) and without incident they gave him a Temp plate. Keep in mind, here in NJ are the most stupid and corrupt politicians in the U.S. (at least according to our residents, alot of whom are still without houses after Sandy more then 2 yrs later) and yet the buyer of an "out of state" car and residence was able to get a plate to transport.

I had the same worry/problem when I bought a 09 2 yrs. ago from a guy in Omaha,(tag stays with owner in Nebraska). Okla. had no provisions for a temp. tag for an individual, tag agency said "you'll have to trailer it".Bull S**T, the seller let me mail his tags back to him. I'd bet yours will too. If not, take one off another of your cars & take it with you an get a bill
of sale from the seller.

You'll find a lot of unemployed lawers on this Forum.