License plates when buying car out of state
 

I am buying a car out east and driving it back this weekend from a private individual and the law in my home state of MI is that if you have the title, bill of sale and proof of insurance you have 30 days to register the car and can drive without plates. What are the chances that I will get into trouble in MD, PA, OH on my way back? I thought of taking the plate of my car with me there, but I think I could possibly get in more trouble for 'misrepresenting.' Any tips?

Bill of sale, title, etc. Ask if you can keep the owners plate and then send it back, or stop by the local DMV and ask for a temp\transit tag (here in FL they are $4.50)

How is RO? I grew up in Sterling Heights.

AFJ

Bizarre- someone posted the same question on a different forum today. Might help you a little bit, here's the link: http://forums.thecarlounge.net/zerothread?id=2187228

Re: License plates when buying car out of state
 

No worries...you probably have 30 days in all those states, in fact a police agency would have to prove you have been in their particular state for those, or greater, days to convict you of the infraction...During the Gray Davis days (registration rape) in California I had my car registered in Washington and kept it that way for years.

I'm sure it varies from state to state, but I contacted my insurance agent before purchasing my car, and he instructed me to take a plate off of one of my cars, and use it while driving the new car home. You'd also be OK with no plate, but I didn't want to make a 500 mile drive in a 911 without plates...I mean, that's just asking to be pulled over :)!

Also, some states allow you to get a temp tag over the internet. Print is out and tape it inside the rear window. I have done this several time and no hassle. Usually costs less than $3.

As far as pulling the tag off of another car I owned... not sure about the legality of doing this and would call the DMV on this.

JoeA

I just went through this exact scenerio. I was told to get a temp tag in the state I was picking up the car. I talked with the seller who agreed to let me take the car with his plate on it and send back the plate, this way I did not have to go to the local DMV.

It worked out fine for me, I even 2nd day aired the plate back to the seller. Its good to know there are still good people that will trust you to do the right thing.

I just took my plate from my old car and put it on the new car. Then again, I was replacing a Guard Red '87 944S with a Guard Red '86 944 Turbo. Close enough that any cop probably wouldn't notice the difference. I went to the DMV when I got back.

Its a felony in Florida, I know that for sure. I got pulled over transporting a car with a "borrowed" tag off another car I owned. The cop informed me I was better off driving wihtout a plate and he could arrest me for what I was doing.

He wrote me a fix it ticket for a burnt out tail light, had me pull the plate and continue to drive the car home.

Be very careful...an unregistered car is subject to an insurance company denying any claim should something happen. IIRC...you cannot insure an unregistered car.

Check with the DMV to cover yourself. Do it right and have no worries.

Re: License plates when buying car out of state
 

The correct way to do this is to get a "drive-out" plate. They're paper, they cost $5, they're easy to get, and they're legal. Borrowing another plate or driving with the old-owner's plate could cost you a night in jail. For states that don't issue a drive-out plate, I THINK you only need the bill of sale and signed title. Travelling through an intermediate state in this manner should not be a problem. If in doubt, call the intermediate state's highway patrol. That's what I did.

As long as I have a signed title and/or bill of sale, I am legal to drive any car I have purchased using my existing insurance for 30 days. I assume that this is to get it home when purchased out of state.

After that its illegal. Am with Farmers.

Joe A

That's also the way my insurance agent explained it to me... According to him, you're 'legal' with or without a plate, but he suggested using one (from one of my cars) to avoid being pulled unnecessarily. (If you get pulled, you produce the title, bill of sale, and the registration card (that matches the borrowed plate #) that's in your name, and you should be OK).

My only heartburn with this is if any LE runs your plate and its not the same type of car and approx year, then they will pull you over thinking that its stolen. This is usually done with lights, siren AND a large caliber weapon pointed in your direction. Things usually settle down later but its a bit more excitement than what I want.

A paper temp license for a buck or two makes it a lot easier, but then I am an old fart and the most excitement I need in life is jumping out of an airplane with a parachute. Am not paid to confront guns anymore!

JoeA

A few weekends ago I drove a car from Colorado to DC with no plates and didn't get pulled over once. I must've passed 15 cops in Kansas alone (there was a major speed trap in Salina) and even had an 18 wheeler pulled over right in front of me. I had a transit permit from the Colorado DMV, but I didn't have it up in the rear window because I didn't want to tape it to the tint film.

So how fast were you going? Just kidding...when I drove my initial 500 mile journey home, I was conscious of the fact I was in a car that 'might' attract attention, so I took it easy. I mean, if a cop HAD pulled me over, he'd have taken one look at my big 'ole $hit eating grin, and immediately assume that no sober person could be that happy :)!