Help - selling a vehicle - what to do about plates?

[Ducman]

I'm selling a car that might go to an out of state buyer. Buyer is looking at an 8+ hour drive home. What does he do for plates? Do I let him keep mine? Is that legal? Can that come back to bite me?

Guess I just realized I've never bought or sold a vehicle that wasn't either local or taking the trip on a trailer.

Thanks,
Don

[TerryH]

I left the back one on for the guy that bought my car that went to Georgia. In california we can send a form to the DMV that relinquishes responsibility for the auto. The plates really mean nothing one way or the other.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by Ducman

I'm selling a car that might go to an out of state buyer. Buyer is looking at an 8+ hour drive home. What does he do for plates?

It's up to him to provide legal transport once he takes ownership.

Originally Posted by Ducman

Do I let him keep mine?

Absolutely NOT!

Originally Posted by Ducman

Is that legal?

NO

Originally Posted by Ducman

Can that come back to bite me?

YES

[TechnoViking]

I believe the buyer can make a brief stop at the local DMV in your area to pick up a temporary tag to get home.

[frogger]

+1

Many states offer temporary transit tags to the prosepctive buyer. He/She should make those arrangements. Do not leave your tags on the car when the seller drives off, even within your state.

[TerryH]

bah.. paranoia. Better remove the VIN too while you're at it.

You have a bill of sale. It proves you no longer own the car. Who removes plates unless their personalized? Never heard of it before now. Suppose times are changing.

[Highlander179]

In NJ and NY, the plates stay with the person.

Check with a local lawman.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

In NJ and NY, the plates stay with the person.

Check with a local lawman.

Do you then put the old mangled faded plates on the new car? You could have the same plate number your entire life?

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by TerryH

Do you then put the old mangled faded plates on the new car? You could have the same plate number your entire life?

Its depends on if its in the same class of vehicle. But yes, you could. You can't change them from a sedan to and SUV though as the annual registration fees are different. In that situation, you return the plates to the DMV/MVC and they issue you a new one.

I have motorcycle plates that have been on at least 6 differnent bikes. They are about 17 years old.

[TerryH]

Originally Posted by Highlander179

Its depends on if its in the same class of vehicle. But yes, you could. You can't change them from a sedan to and SUV though as the annual registration fees are different. In that situation, you return the plates to the DMV/MVC and they issue you a new one.

I have motorcycle plates that have been on at least 6 differnent bikes. They are about 17 years old.

sheesh.. I need to get out of my cave more often. Always thought the plates just stayed with the car. I've bought cars from Arizona with their plates on them.

But can you get a duplicate or a new plate if you desire? You buy a new car or bike and your plate looks like hell, who wants it on their shiny new vehicle.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by TerryH

But can you get a duplicate or a new plate if you desire? You buy a new car or bike and your plate looks like hell, who wants it on their shiny new vehicle.

Yes, just bring it in and they will issue you a new one.

But like Wayne said, your states laws may vary. If I was Ducman, I would ask locals.

[Rick Lee]

Read some horror stories about what happens when you let someone drive off with your plates and they park the car somewhere illegally on the way home, leave the car there a few mos., rack up thousands in parking tickets, towing and sotrage fees and then you try to explain that you had already sold the car, but the buyer never got around to registering it. DMV has temp tags. I rode 300 miles with one taped to my motorcycle and it was no problem.

[TerryH]

I bet most states DMV's have this form available. I make time to send it in. This way you are not relying on the other party to register the vehicle.

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by TerryH

sheesh.. I need to get out of my cave more often. Always thought the plates just stayed with the car. I've bought cars from Arizona with their plates on them.

AZ plate used to stay with the car. A few years ago they changed to plate stay with the person. A lot of people didn't get the memo... I still see ads where the seller uses a recently renewed plate as a selling feature.

[jtfreels]

I had the opposite problem when I bought my car, owner took the plates of course. I just drove home with out any 5 states about 1100 miles no problems.

Jay

[Seahawk]

It really depends on the state. I have bought a few cars out of state in the last couple of years . I must preface my remarks by saying Maryland is as stolid and backwards a DMV when it comes to bringing a car back from "out of town" as exists in the contiguous 48 states..

The first car I bought in NC. In NC tags do not follow the car so I could drive the car home with the existing tags. But he wanted them back. So would I.

No issues. I got the BoS, signed a document to return the tags soonest, and had the car title signed over to me and insurance documents in my possession for the drive home.

The owner of the car informed the NC DMV that a week from the date I bought the car the tags would be invalid. He also spent $15 dollars on an overnight sleeve for the plates with a self addressed stamp. He also photocopied my insurance info and MD license. I asked for a copy of his license should any issues arise.

We both did this with complete confidence that the deal was square but our personal equities needed attention.

Next car was from Kansas, tags follow the car. Also fairly easy. We went to the KS DMV, where the details of title and tags was attended to. He signed over the title and I was handed a temp title from KS in my name and also received a temp cardboard plate. I also asked for a BoS and, of course, had all the insurance docs. This cost me $10 dollars.

The problem occurred after I got home. KS is an, "either or" state, meaning any one individual on the title can release the car to the buyer. MD does not recognize, "either or" states so all parties on the title must sign the title release. We did not do that so some gymnastics were needed.

My advice? Call both state DMVs in advance and find out what the details are.

Have fun...it is imperative that, should you get pulled over for any reason, the right docs are in place in your possession.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

What Wayne said. Here in CA, they go with the car and it's the seller's responsibility for making sure the buyer is getting a vehicle with an up-to-date registration and smog certificate, not the buyer.

Then again, CA is weird. We all knew that.

[Ducman]

thanks everyone, more response than I expected - I tried to search for an answer on my states DMV site - didn't find it. I'll suggest that the buyer contact his DMV for a temporary reg.

Thanks,
Don

[KFC911]

As noted, it varies from state to state. For NC (after checking), I took the plate off of one of my cars and used it on the 911 when I drove her 500 miles home. I don't think it's that big of a deal as it happens all the time...you've got a "proper" plate registered in your name, matching your driver's license info, and the bill of sale, title, etc. for the newly purchased car. If you're not comfortable doing that, go the temp tag route imo.

[Highlander179]

Originally Posted by Ducman

thanks everyone, more response than I expected - I tried to search for an answer on my states DMV site - didn't find it. I'll suggest that the buyer contact his DMV for a temporary reg.

Thanks,
Don

wise decision