Buying a car without a licence plate ...

[dud]

All,

I haven't bought a used car since the very early '90s but I may be this weekend. My question is ...

I show up, look the car over , but it ... how do I get it home? Assuming the seller has a plate do I drive it home with his plate and then mail it back (if he allows that)? If he has transferred his plate how do I drive it home? it's an hour drive and I wish to minimise the number of trips.


Thanks ...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If you have a bill of sale dated on that day, it's not likely that cops will give you a hassle. Just don't go driving it around for a month before getting a sticker from the DMV.

Around here, the sticker has the number of the month and you write on the info for the car. It's a temporary registration. But people drive around with dealer plates all the time, they just tape the registration slip with just the registration number showing to the windshield. It usually takes a few months to get the plate.

 

[zig3695]

lots of people will just leave the plates on for you and theyll buy new when they get their new car because they got dealer plates to use. that still means you should go to a licensing service and get your stickers asap.

 

[Thump553]

Check your state's DMV website for info. When I lived in Wisconsin you could drive the car for a limited number of days (10?) without plates, but that's probably changed now. I know in my current state you can't.

No way I would let a buyer keep my plates on the car after it's sold. Liability and legal considerations aside, in my state you get charged personal property tax on cars and the only way to stop the clock on that is to turn in the plates to the DMV.

 

[DOTC]

In Texas the plates stay with the car. When you register the car at the DMV, they will issue new plates right there. It used to be different years ago, but I was told the law changed about 10 years back.

 

[nakedfrog]

It depends on the state.
Here in Nebraska, you have 30 days to get it registered. If it's from a private owner, you're not supposed to put up any temporary tags (and the owners are supposed to have taken the old plates off). When you register the car, they give you your plates.

 

[DonaldC]

Every State has their own rules. Some places the tag belongs to the person, some to the car. Call you local DMV and they'll have the factual info you need.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I always just take an old plate, have several hanging in the garage, and throw it on the car. Its not legal but as long as you don't get pulled over its all good. Just don't drive like an idiot on the way home.

 

[jagec]

If you stop at the DOL/DMV, they are often able to issue a temporary (a few days to a few weeks) registration which allows you to drive the car.