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

[ChemMan]

I will be going to South Carolina on Sunday. Only day there are flights from MI to SC. Obviously the DMV is closed on that day. I dont know if I should take my Michigan plates, slap it on the back of the car and drive back or wait until Monday and get in transit plates from the SC DMV. There is a brake light assembly that needs to be changed so my chances of getting pulled over is greater. Anyone know what the penalty would be for driving with plates from another vehicle? What would you do? Waiting till Monday changes things with babysitters, work etc, but I dont want to end up with some huge fine either.
Mike

[sprio]

Are you buying from a dealer, or is this a private sale? If dealer, they should be willing to put a temporary tag on it (I bought my 911 in South Carolina, and dealer had tags for me when I picked it up on a Saturday). If it is a private sale, perhaps the current owner would let you drive with his tags, with the agreement that you will ship them back when you arrive. I bought my 928 in Ohio through a private sale, but had it shipped. When I looked into it, before making the decision to ship, TN said I had to get temp tags from Ohio; their DMV had Saturday hours. Have you checked with SC DMV for hours?

[Noah930]

Would not drive with plates off another vehicle.

Laws vary state-by-state. And just because you're legal in your state (i.e. temporary tags) doesn't mean another state has to give you (and your state) the courtesy of honoring those temporary tags. Though, in general, you're unlikely to get hassled for running temporary New Hampshire paper tags while driving in Massachusetts, I've heard.

Check with your own DMV if there are temporary tags that you can get for "24 hrs" or "3 days" or "10 days." Various states offer this for just the situation you're describing. I knew guys who would get 3-day tags, slap them on their obviously non-street-legal racecar, and then drive their car to a race weekend at the track, instead of having to go buy a trailer and tow vehicle.

[jtfreels]

I'd like to know what people have done as well.
I'm guessing that taking plates from another car is going to be a big problem if problems occur and the plates get run.
I wonder what happens if you just go without and wave the title/bill of sale paper work at any officer?

Jay

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I assume this is to pick up a car you're buying, right?

Just leave the plates that are on the car on the car. . . At least if you get stopped you can (truthfully) tell them you just purchased the car and present a bill of sale or title substantiating your claim - and proof of insurance (yours) and a registration that matches the plates on the car. I'm not sure about the specific laws in your state or in SC, but I'd be seriously surprised if anyone gave you grief if you had all that paperwork - it clearly demonstrates a good faith effort to do everything "above board".

Assuming you ARE trying to bring this car back to MI, why not just go down to YOUR DMV and register it there ahead of time? Then bring the plates or whatever with you and put 'em on for the drive back. You could probably also verify the legal procedure with them just to be sure.

I absolutely wouldn't transfer plates from another vehicle (unless it's the same year, make & model as the one you're picking up. . . but you didn't hear that from me. . . ).

[Seahawk]

When I bought my car in North Carolina, the owner allowed me to drive the car home with his plates. As soon as arrived home, I had the car inspected and registered in Maryland. I then mailed his plates back.

Will that work in this case?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I just go to the DMV and get a 24 hour permit. You then place it in the back window

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by Seahawk
When I bought my car in North Carolina, the owner allowed me to drive the car home with his plates. As soon as arrived home, I had the car inspected and registered in Maryland. I then mailed his plates back.

A lot of sellers are not comfortable doing this, even after it's been signed over and you have proof of insurance. There is the perception that as long as their plates are on the car under their name, the are in a legal "grey area", and in some states they probably are.

[legion]

Originally posted by Jared Fenton
I just go to the DMV and get a 24 hour permit. You then place it in the back window

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.

[singpilot]

I have done the courtesy thing with allowing the buyer to use my plates. Never got them back. Had to report them as stolen. I waited 3 weeks, he was a six hour drive away. No returned phone calls, no return email.

He was pulled over for speeding, and the plates came back hot. He had not done anything with the transfer, so they assumed the car was stolen too. He went in for it. Car impounded. CHP called me 2 days later. Said I should come pick up my car. I explained the deal. He said I should come pick up my car. They kept the plates, car went to lien sale.

Nature weeding out the stupid. Don't be surprised if the seller does not want to let you use his plates. I know each state is different. Nevada plates belong to owner. California plates go with the car.

I have a funny story about driving my 24' Grumman Stepvan from Rhode Island to Nevada. With no plates. I'll tell it sometime.

[Phat Ham]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
Assuming you ARE trying to bring this car back to MI, why not just go down to YOUR DMV and register it there ahead of time? Then bring the plates or whatever with you and put 'em on for the drive back. You could probably also verify the legal procedure with them just to be sure.

You need the title in order to register the car.

[Jims5543]

The PO of my Porsche let me drive the car back with his plates. I had my insurance in order and a bill of sale in the glove box in case I got pulled over.

I drove from Kansas City to Florida and never got pulled over.

singpilot - that is poetic. Justice was served to a man that was not decent enough to follow through on a promise.

[Phat Ham]

I live in Virginia and bought my m3 in Colorado. I just drove it back without any plates. I had the title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance on me which is probably good enough for any reasonable cop. In the 1700 mile trip there were a good 10 cops who saw the back of my car with no plates and none of them pulled me over. I even went through a monster speed trap in Salina, Kansas where they pulled over the 18 wheeler in front of me but didn't even give me a second glance.

[singpilot]

Originally posted by Phat Ham
You need the title in order to register the car.

Every state is different. Some states have a seller's 'drive away' procedures, where you go in, show the proof of sale, and you'll get a plate (paper or real) good for some short period.

The buyers' state may have the same deal. You show proof of sale, they give you temp reg only to drive it home.

[jluetjen]

I bought my 911 in NH and I live in Mass. It was a bit of a hassle since MA doesn't do temp tags. The PO didn't have tags on the car so that wasn't an option (or else he was just being prudent). Either way, once you've paid for the car and taken delivery, you own it. So driving on the PO's tags may not be legit if you get pulled over.

In my case, I needed to pay for the car, take the documentation back to MA to transfer the plate from my previous vehicle to the Porsche from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (which also meant that I needed to show proof of insurance, which means that I had to show proof of ownership and stuff to the insurance Co.).

It was a bit of a hassle, but their no fighting city hall. Just follow the directions, dot your i's and cross all of your t's

[ChemMan]

It is from a private seller. I asked her if there were plates on the car. She has bought a new car and transfered the plate over. I cannot transfer my plate over because I do not have the title in hand. If I were flying in on a weekday, I would just go to the SC DMV. I am landing at 10:50am on Sunday. I did not want to wait until 8:30 am the next day to get on the road. I am still thinking about putting the plates from my car onto the new one. If I had the insurance slip and title, maybe I can get away with it........If you dont hear from me next week, I might have gotten into some trouble with the LAW!!!
Mike

[Jims5543]

Drive it without a plate and all your documents.

As long as it is insured and you have a bill of sale and signed title I cannot imagine a cop hassling you over the plate.

In Florida having a plate that does not belong is a felony and can land you in jail and your car in impound.

I got pulled over for this, the State Trooper told me I was better off driving without a plate at all.

[Hugh R]

DON'T PUT PLATES FROM ANOTHER CAR ON IT!!!

[Hugh R]

DON'T PUT PLATES FROM ANOTHER CAR ON IT!!! I don't know the laws in your state, but that has to be very, very illegal.

[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.