Transit plates.

fastfredracing · 04-18-2009, 07:12 PM

I am going to pick up our new ride in the morining . It is out of state, and only requires a bill of sale for me to bring back in this state. So at the time of purchase, I will not be going to a notary to get plates / title etc..
Do most states have some sort of transit plate to let you get home when you make an out of state purchase? I have always had dealer plates from my buisness , so this has never been an issue before, but I turned them in last year ( dont really need them anymore, and commercial insurance is hella expensive)
I have another car of the same year, and make as the one I am buying, so I am just going to "borrrow " that plate for the ride home, but I was just curious what the correct way would be to go about this .

VincentVega · 04-18-2009, 07:13 PM

Depends on the state. I got them easily from NY, but they dont exist in MD. Check the local DMV website.

stomachmonkey · 04-18-2009, 07:26 PM

Honestly, as long as it's insured and road worthy then just go get it.

Drive it like you stole it, as in carefully as to not attract attention v like an idiot with 20 pounds of weed in the trunk and an illegal handgun under the seat.

Will PO let you drive home with his plates and you overnight them back?

Have had PO's do that for me in the past.

billybek · billybek's Garage

I tried to get one in RI. Couldn't.
I took my truck plate, registration and insurance card with me in case I had a problem.
I drove through 8 states and one province with no problems.
Mind you, I never was pulled over!

slakjaw · 04-19-2009, 05:34 AM

When I was a kid my dad bought an XKE out on cali and we drove it back to NE. He got a "1 way permit" from NE

targa911S · 04-19-2009, 05:56 AM

AAA can issue you a transit plate.

lendaddy · 04-19-2009, 06:52 AM

I can't imagine worrying about this. Has anyone here ever even heard of someone driving home from purchase and getting in plate trouble with the police? I don't mean pulled over, I mean actual costs or fines?

I will consider myself educated if you have. Just go get it and carry the bill of sale and the previous owners contact info.

the · 04-19-2009, 07:25 AM

just leave the current plates on the car. a car without plates attracts attention.

If the owner for some reason wants the plates back, just mail them back to him when you get home.

I would not put plates on it from a different car.

targa911S · 04-19-2009, 07:36 AM

When Martin bought my car he had to drive it from PA to NJ. for shipping. He only had a Slovakian drivers license of course. We got him a transit plate and no worries. It was like $10.00 from AAA. Why risk the hassle for $10.00?

fastfredracing · 04-19-2009, 07:40 AM

It worked out, good, I already had put insurance on the car, and the po let me use his plates to get home. I was wondering the same thing as lendaddy, if you can really get in any trouble for not having it registered yet.

targa911S · 04-19-2009, 07:44 AM

If the LEO wants to be a dick,,,yes.