Question for those of you who bought a car out of state

[DaveE]

Originally posted by singpilot
Better off with no plates and correct paperwork.

I agree. I bought my SC in Indiana and the owner gave me his plates. His registration expired 3 days after I took the car so he wasn't too concerned about the plate, told me to destroy it. I could see someone not feeling comfortable about that though and agree with the posters above. Have your paperwork in order and drive with no plate. I drove a new Chevy Blazer without plates from GA to PA without hassle before. You'll have no trouble.

[fireant911]

Originally posted by singpilot
Yeah Mike. Putting plates from your other car is an intentional act. I drove across the country with no plates of any kind, but had the signed off title, bill of sale, and insurance. Got stopped twice in two weeks, and no questions asked.

Better off with no plates and correct paperwork.

Almost the same experience as singpiolt. The laws will undoubtedly vary state by state; however, when I purchased my last used car I went to the State Trooper's Office and to the local police station in my town. Both places assured me that the title and bill of sale was all that was needed - no tags were needed. My insurance company (ALFA) was also contacted prior to picking up the Porsche and said that I was already covered (as I already had two vehicles and our home insured through them) but to come by once I had the car in my possession. I did not travel out of the state of Alabama for this transaction.

[Tervuren]

When I got my '86 944, I took the tags from my '85, and put it on to bring it home.

So long as it is of the same vehichle type, you can transfer a tag, just need to notify them in 45 days. I live in S.C., and thats the way it is. When my '85 was totaled, I kept the tag, and brought it with me when I picked up my '86. (Car was in Bosten when I bought it).

Do not drive without tags, you may meet a nice cop, or be able to arque with a middling one, but a stickler will get you. You or may not make it.

If you have a four door sedan, you can put your tag on another four door sedan, if you keep it that way, you have a grace period to notify them. Putting the tag from a four door sedan on a two door sports car, won't work in my state. I'd look up the relevant rules in YOUR state at minimum, and do what you need there, to beo n the safe side, the state where you are picking up at, and to be realy safe, but not realy neccesary, all the states in between. Most cops are fairly freindly when it comes to letting you go by your states rules, instead of theirs if you are from outside. If you realy want to be safe, print off your DMV's regs.

[onlycafe]

i bought a 911 weissach in nebraska and a replica 550 spyder in south carolina over the last few years and both of the previous owners allowed me to drive back under their plates. i guess i must have an honest face. i did have proper insurance.
the idea of driving with no plates at all seems daring. but i would have to agree that no plates at all are better than switched plates.

[epbrown]

Originally posted by legion
From your state's DMV...

When I picked up my 951 in Buffalo, I just slapped the plates from my 944S on it. I figured that any cop that could tell the difference between a Guards Red 1987 944S and a Guards Red 1986 944 Turbo had the right to pull me over.

Great minds... When i picked up my 944, I put my 911SC plates on it. When I got the 928, I used the 944 plates. I always planned to tell any troopers that the DMV messed up - who is going to believe I just happened to have another 1983 Porsche in Guards Red, let alone two?

I did the same thing when I bought the Z4 and drove it back from Iowa with my 325i (though explaining that would be trickier), and that was from a dealership. I think you're more likely to get stopped with temporary tags than you are plates anyway.

[ChemMan]

I tried calling the State polices in each State I will be travelling through. Ohio was the only one I could get a hold of. He said that I had to have a plate regardless of anything. But I am going to go with most of your advice. No plates, have the paperwork-AAA told me that in MI you can drive without plates for 2 days after a purchase. I will keep the plates from the other car with me. As soon as I enter MI, I will go to a secretary of state and do the transfer. I am a bit stressed out over this whole thing. Hopefully everything will go well.
Mike

[Big Ed]

Originally posted by Michael Pillay
I tried calling the State polices in each State I will be travelling through. Ohio was the only one I could get a hold of. He said that I had to have a plate regardless of anything. But I am going to go with most of your advice.

I'm not your attorney, but I would advise against doing what you have been specifically told is illegal. I see your car on a tow truck as a result. Either wait a day to register it or have the bad boy shipped, it is not worth the risk.

And, the last time I bought a car from long distance and drove it home, I registered it before I left. Was told that was the only way to satisfy my home state (MA). I DID get pulled over on the way home...had a headlight fail while on the way and the trooper I'm sure wanted to see if I was up to no good. No ticket, but I was legally registered. With no plates? I'd be nervous.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by Big Ed
I'm not your attorney, but I would advise against doing what you have been specifically told is illegal. I see your car on a tow truck as a result. Either wait a day to register it or have the bad boy shipped, it is not worth the risk.

And, the last time I bought a car from long distance and drove it home, I registered it before I left. Was told that was the only way to satisfy my home state (MA). I DID get pulled over on the way home...had a headlight fail while on the way and the trooper I'm sure wanted to see if I was up to no good. No ticket, but I was legally registered. With no plates? I'd be nervous.

If he has:

- Insurance card with vehicle vin# on it
- Bill of sale with vehicle vin # on it
- Signed title to the vehicle again with the vin# on it.
- Title is from state of sale and drivers license is from destination state and he is on a route between them.


Why should he worry and why would it appear he is up to no good?

Get the car insured and all you papers in order and have fun driving your new toy home.

[onlycafe]

michael, take a cellphone,aaa+ card, all your paperwork, and a lawyers telephone number, and have a great road trip. best way to bond with the new machine, take it easy, stop at some blue highway eateries, see the worlds largest ball of twine . have a good time.

p.s. take some pictures for us back at home.

[singpilot]

+1.

Have a good trip. The truth with no plates will set you free. Better than worry about getting stopped with something funky and wrrying about it the entire way.