Advice purchasing a vehicle out of state ... (1 Viewer)

[cwmoser]

Was reading this thread "Buy damaged 100 ..."
Buy damaged 100.....
and found it very interesting. About a fellow member who flew from Atlanta to the Midwest to purchase a 100.

and wondered if I made a long haul trip like that to pick up a vehicle what about:
- License Plate
- Insurance Coverage
- What papers do I need to get Title in my name when I get back home

Got any advice?

 

[Spike555]

You have 3 days and 150 miles to get a used car home without a license plate or insurance. All you need is a proof of sale, "I sold cwmoser this 100 series..."
Longer distance and more time? Your state can issue you a temp plate (the paper kind that goes in the back window)and your insurance can sell you a "ryde policy" to cover the vehicle so you can get it home.
The ryder policy is going to be basic liability only unless you ask for more coverage.

Once you get it home you need the title and proof of purchase, which is a hand written recipet from the seller, they are also going to need the purchase price for taxes, it is also best to include on the proof of sale the sellers phone number and address.

 

[brando1]

Always check with the DMV for the state you are registering the car in.
Make sure you get a bill of sale, and check the title status.

 

[Aggie04]

I just did this. I bought a transit tag from the DMV online for 5-10 bucks and taped the paper plate to the back windshield. I called my insurance company before I left and had them add the new vehicle to my existing policy. I didn't have any issues getting the vehicle home, never got stopped or anything.

This was after a ton of pictures and a PPI before I flew out.

 

[REZARF]

I'd suggest dipping into the Mud network and get a cruiser head to go see it in person. Buy them a nice steak dinner when you come out to get the cruiser... make a friend, drive home the cruiser... win-win.

I would make the step BEFORE having a Toyota dealership inspect it.

FWIW, sight unseen would be my VERY last option.

 

[vman07]

I'm from CA and I flew to Iowa to buy my 07' LX. I'm not sure what your state requires with a used vehicle purchase but you should research that beyond Ih8mud. My insurance carrier covered any vehicle purchase for two weeks after date of sale. I had seven days to get it registered here in CA. I had no problems on the 1,800 mile drive home with the Iowa plates. As long as you have a signed bill of sale I can't imagine any LEO would give you a hard time.

Although I bought my LX sight unseen , there were many phone conversations with the PO, copies of maintenance receipts sent, many photos, and several calls to my local DMV about what I needed to do to register the vehicle here in CA.

Long story short, do your research and homework on the vehicle.

Lastly, do not be afraid to get back on an airplane and leave if you are not happy with the vehicle.

 

[cwmoser]

I'm glad I asked. Never heard of a "transit tag".
I now see that N.C. offers temporary tags for $18.
Course Dealers get them in packs of 25 for $25 - i.e. $1 each.

I had assumed that I could remove the license plate off one of my vehicles and slap it on the
vehicle I purchased out of state to drive back home and my Insurance would go with it.
Then run to the DMV office and get it registered and tagged.
In fact, I have done this twice - a purchase in S.C., and one in Virginia that I drove back to N.C.
I guess I would have ended up in the slammer if I was pulled over.

 

[Spike555]

They wouldnt take you to jail, you'd just get a big fine and maybe the truck impounded.

 

[Tummler]

I'm glad I asked. Never heard of a "transit tag".
I now see that N.C. offers temporary tags for $18.
Course Dealers get them in packs of 25 for $25 - i.e. $1 each.

I had assumed that I could remove the license plate off one of my vehicles and slap it on the
vehicle I purchased out of state to drive back home and my Insurance would go with it.
Then run to the DMV office and get it registered and tagged.
In fact, I have done this twice - a purchase in S.C., and one in Virginia that I drove back to N.C.
I guess I would have ended up in the slammer if I was pulled over.

This may be the worst possible approach for driving a newly acquired car home from out of state. Using tags from one car on another car is a somewhat serious criminal infraction, and there is no need for it. Driving a newly acquired car without tags is a non-issue as long as you are following the law.

As for the law, start with determing your home state's law on newly acquired cars and tags. Your DMV should have a webpage that details your state's applicable laws.

Next up is determining whether all of the state's provide for reciprocity with your state concerning the "rules of the road" and whether the scope of the reciprocity includes your situation. The closer the state(s) you will be driving through are to your state, the better the chance that you will be covered. If you can rely on reciprocity, print off your state's statute concerning tags and new cars as well as the other states' reciprocity law. Any police that you encounter likely won't be familiar with all of these laws.

As for insurance, READ YOUR POLICY! As a general proposition, your existing policies will provide coverage for a certain amount of time. Many policies provide this coverage is available only if you obtain all of your auto insurance from the same insurer. This coverage often is further limited to provide only the minimum liability coverage required by your state's financial liability law, and nothing else. Some policies don't provide any coverage of this type.

 

[nissanh]

Never put a plate from one vehicle to another. You will be in BIG trouble if you do that.
Also, have a valid insurance, at least a state minimum. Give the VIN to get the insurance and for few days of insurance I think it could run about $20 max. A guy in NV drove a camry just with a proof of purchase was pulled over and got a decent ticket + his insurance went up.

Best is to get a temporary permit from a local DMV and make 2 more copies: put one in front, back and one on a side window.

 

[cwmoser]

These comments are great advice.
I don't think this issue is well known. Couple years ago I put up for sale on Craigs List my Isuzu Trooper and our Sienna Van. Both sold and both purchasers slapped on a tag they took off another vehicle.
Individuals who purchase vehicles at a private sale are somewhat hampered ... they travel to look at a vehicle not knowing for sure if they like it or if they can come to a deal. They don't really want to go to the trouble to obtain a "transit tag" not knowing for sure they want the vehicle. This taking tags off of one vehicle and temporarily putting them on a newly purchased vehicle is pretty common practice whether legal or not.

 

[trailbound]

Laws definitely vary by state, so you would need to research that. in CT they will not even issue me a temp tag with out a title. SO I need to do the purchase before I could even pick up the vehicle. I have even been pulled over in the past for towing an unregistered vehicle on a dolly. I only got a warning, but was told by the state trooper, no tires are allowed to touch a public road with out being registered.

I ended up buying a full size trailer not to long after that, as I was buying and selling cars a bunch.

But my LX470 I just bought was from out of state, I did my research, lots of video, and very detailed pictures, and ended up having it shipped to me. It would have been a 6-7hr drive one way, and the cost of shipping was more worth it than my time and gas to drive out and back with a trailer.

Part of the fun would be to get out to the newly purchased vehicle and road trip back. But some state laws make it to much of a hassle. Basically research the laws for any state you need to drive through

 

[tacoduck]

be careful buying a truck out of state. Ive driven trucks that look great on the internet and in person drive like s***. I agree, send a mud member to check out the truck.
Im from NC and recently bought an lx470. we used the old plate off the minivan. had an issue with title transfer, and 2 months later my wife was pulled in central nc for having the wrong tag for her truck. they issued her a warning, and that was it. they didn't haul her to jail or assess a big fine. knowing what I know now, I would prob take delivery without the tag and drive it home with a bill of sale.

 

[cwmoser]

Tacoduck, you mean you would drive your purchase back to N.C. without a tag????

 

[ibrahim83]

I'm a dealer and do this for a living,

What you need before you leave with the car is,

-an original bill of sale showing both names and the vehicle info. You MUST have the VIN on there. a lot of states are giving people a hard time with copies, make sure you have the one with ink signatures.

-a lien free title signed off by the person who's name is printed on the front. If it isn't, make sure you have a notorized power of attorney.

-if you buy from a dealer, they MUST provide a temp tag. Texas gives you one good for 60 days. For private sales, i think most states give you a window of time to register the vehicle and obtain new plates. but for the time being, do not drive your car without copies of the bill of sale and signed title.

-Insurance. call them and have them enter the vehicle and VIN into the system but do not activate it. Once you buy, call them again to activate. Insurance companies always have a 24/7 number to call.

 

[tacoduck]

Tacoduck, you mean you would drive your purchase back to N.C. without a tag????

If I had a bill of sale and proof of insurance, then yes.

 

[Matserelli]

Sometimes past liens are still on the title, if the lien has been signed/stamped, proof it has been paid off then its still a lien free title.

 

[cwmoser]

Sometimes past liens are still on the title, if the lien has been signed/stamped, proof it has been paid off then its still a lien free title.

I thought the only way you took possession of the Title was when you had paid off the liens.

 

[Matserelli]

I thought the only way you took possession of the Title was when you had paid off the liens.

Yes, but if you lease a car and then decide to buy it? The bank or whomever could have put a lien on the title while in their possession. The lien is no longer active but its still written on it.

 

[DFXR]

I bought mine in NV, the seller kept his plates, and I drove it home to CA without tags but with a signed bill of sale and temporary insurance from my carrier, based on the VIN that the seller had provided me in advance. No issues - had I been pulled over, I would have provided the bill of sale and hoped for the best. Obviously not as complicated as driving thru multiple states but the same general idea.

When I registered it in CA a few days later, I had to bring it in to the DMV for a visual inspection/confirmation - not an emissions or safety thing but just a confirmation that it was what it was. Paid my registration fees and the sales tax, and they gave me new plates.