Driving your new car from out of state - tags?

[rmconner80]

I should be purchasing a 944 this Friday. I live in Virginia but the car is out of state.

I've only bought one car before, but my father has done quite a few... Every time we do this, it seems like the hardest part is working out tags, which are requisite in order to actually drive the car home and drive to the inspection station. The seller never wants to loan the tags on the car for a week while we get inspected and registered, but the DMV never seems to be capable of issuing temporary or transport tags either. An obviously I'm not driving 300 miles in my new 944 without tags . What's a guy to do?

Anybody have any advice or experience on this? Can you pay a dealer to cut some temporary tags for a car they didn't sell?

[Jsilverman]

Best thing to do is to go to the DMV website and get a trip/transport permit. Its $5 and allows any VA resident thats purchasing an out of state car to drive it for 3 days IIRC. Just tape it to the hatch glass. Have the seller give you a bill of sale, and keep that and the title handy in case you do get pulled over on the way home. I drove a 924 from KY to VA with the trip permit, no problem. Also drove my 924 from FL to VA with the trip permit. You can also get a second trip permit as you run around getting inspected etc.

Most sellers Ive dealt with have been fine with letting me borrow tags, so it doesnt hurt to ask if you havent already!

[parish8]

dang, you guys have it tuff. in nebraska we have 30days to work things out. they do want you to have an insurance card and a bill of sale and if you have that you can drive it as much as you want for 30days without any plates.

[EMBPilot]

i had to go from Michigan to New Jersey

you can do what i did...
- plates from my Explorer
- Had a bill of sale
- a title (that was signed in the wrong spot) hence it technically wasnt valid
- Maps for the 700 mile drive
Hop in, and start driving.

this is a great way to get:
-arrested
-the car impounded and
- heavily fined

however, i made it home in just shy of 12 hours.

there was a pucker factor upon seeing every cop but it saved me a great deal of headache. ballsy move, and i'll never do it again

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by EMBPilot

i had to go from Michigan to New Jersey

you can do what i did...
- plates from my Explorer
- Had a bill of sale
- a title (that was signed in the wrong spot) hence it technically wasnt valid
- Maps for the 700 mile drive
Hop in, and start driving.

this is a great way to get:
-arrested
-the car impounded and
- heavily fined

however, i made it home in just shy of 12 hours.

there was a pucker factor upon seeing every cop but it saved me a great deal of headache. ballsy move, and i'll never do it again

I have done that as well but admittedly it was more like a 1 hour drive but was done with a plate that didnt belong to me and no insurance. The car died on the way with a bad DME relay and I was paranoid the entire way. I really wouldnt recommend it, and dont think I would ever do it again.

I have transported cars 2 ways in the past, borrowed a dealer plate from my mechanic, Sent a guy home with my plate on a car and a UPS envelope to send it back.

[jcommin]

Use the DMV of the state you bought the car from. They will give you a temp plate that will allow you to transport the car interstate. I believe the plate is good for 30 days. My son and I bought a car in CT and drove it back to IL. The CT DMV processed all of the paperwork. You will need valid (proof) of insurance for the car before they will issue you the permit. Have all of your paperwork in order. The process goes much faster and you won't waste a day(s) gathering paperwork if it isn't right.

[rmconner80]

Thanks for all the replies. Good advice here.

That VA transport permit is EXACTLY what I need. Thanks Jsilverman! I'll see if I can borrow the tags but if not, I'll at least be legal even if it looks a bit funny with no tags on it.

[phoenix_iii]

I even got one from NJ to go to PA...

I could have used my existing PA tag and whatnot, but why bother? For $5, I don't have to worry about my first 944 experience being 'ruined' by my own laziness and the LEO doing his/her job...

=)

[TNT25169]

I'm about to buy a car in PA to move to OH and I can't find the temp tags for moving the car anywhere on the site. I'd feel more comfortable buying the $5 tags than risking the drive back "naked". Help?

[phoenix_iii]

Originally Posted by TNT25169

I'm about to buy a car in PA to move to OH and I can't find the temp tags for moving the car anywhere on the site. I'd feel more comfortable buying the $5 tags than risking the drive back "naked". Help?

PennDOT
Driver and Vehicle Services Customer Call Center

If you are calling from...
Phone

within state
1-800-932-4600

out of state
1-717-412-5300



"Hi, my name is X. I am an Ohio resident and I am thinking of buying a vehicle from a private seller in PA. What do I need to bring to a nearby PennDOT station in order to get temporary tags to drive it home?"

(Guarentee they will say the signed title, proof of current car insurance, and a drivers license (with picture). However, they may want the title Notorized when signed, or signed in their presence (same thing). CALL BEFORE PUTTING INK TO THE TITLE, PA can be very specific about having things signed...)