Out of State Private Purchase

Has anyone driven home an out of state purchased used car from a private seller? Trying to determine how i handle license plates since I believe seller is supposed to keep them. 750 mile drive through several states. NJ DMV website not helpful though my wife will attempt to reach a human by phone today. Thanks

Yes, several times. Most states I've bought in don't have temp tags for private sale. I've done plate/tag transfers, which (in my state) give you some time. I've done multiple trips, one to buy, come home, get new plates and return to pick up the vehicle. I've also towed - I had a car trailer for a while, which was great, but before that, I rented a UHaul car trailer. I've had three sellers deliver a car to my home (despite being many hours away). Some people will let you use their plates and send them back after. I am not a fan of this personally, since it seems illegal. I prefer to trailer the vehicle home. Trailering is nice so you don't have to stress about driving a car with unknown history before baselining it. Then you can take the time to do a detailed inspection, change fluids/filters, etc, before driving.

I have done it twice. Check the state you are buying from to see if they offer a temp plate, for example here is the link to the NYS ( https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/how-...-registrations ). Check in the state you are buying from. You may be able to drive home with the previous owner's plates make sure they don't cancel the registration until you get home and mail the plates back to them. In both cases get insurance on the car in your name or make sure that you are covered under your existing policy. Hope this helps.

Illinois doesnt appear to offer a temp plate since they allow you to drive for 24 hours with no plates at all in order to get to a DMV office and do paperwork. I will def insure it under my policy before driving it home. Thanks again.

It is actually crazy to me how most places don't offer temp tags for exactly this situation. It seems like an easy way to make a few extra bucks charging a nominal fee. Personally, I've always just kept or given the plates to the new owner and then send them back once I get home. I have done this probably 10 times with no issues. The car is still registered and you can insure it yourself before pick up.

I bought mine out of state in Tennessee then proceeded to drive across the country for 3 weeks straight, all with temp tags. The only two issues were finding the right people at the DMV (and the right DMV, went to three total) and some ******* cop in MA threatening to impound (civil forfeiture?) my car, despite legal tags.

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I expect this will be the route i go, keep the plates, insure it under my policy, and return the plates after registering/getting new plates.

Call your insurance company to verify, but most automatically cover any vehicle you purchase for 30 days without needing to notify them. Regarding the plates, I've always just put plates from another one of my cars on. Surely not proper protocol, but never had a problem. Steve Jobs drove his cars for years without any license plate. I can't imagine you'd get any worse than a ticket, I'd say the risk is worth it to avoid the hassle of a trailer and get to drive your new car. To each his own though.

I’ve driven across multiple states after a purchase with no tags. I usually have the title and always have a copy of a bill of sale, my insurance card, etc. with me. In most states you have 30 days to get a tag. i have never been pulled or had an issue. Of course, I don’t live in the NE so YMMV.

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putting plates on from another car is a is a big no-no. I would rather drive without plates and plead ignorance than put plates on from another car. I think that is asking for trouble.

5 minutes on phone with my insurance company and i now have an insurance card to show if i get pulled over, will also have the bill of sale with me. I'm not comfortable using plates off another one of my cars, will just use the existing plates or go naked. I am bringing a portable K40 radar detector for some protection, but plan on taking an easy drive home...within reason....

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Swapping plates is frowned on in most jurisdictions. If the state of purchase doesn't have temporary plates to get you home I think you would be good on the bill of sale and or title. Might get stopped but you should be good after showing bill of sale/title. NE has temporary plates good for 30 days for @ $20 for these types of occurrences. Surprised Ill. doesn't. To be sure I would check the laws in the states you will be driving through. Good Luck. What are you buying?

Get a clean signed title and insurance.

Bought from FL and drove home to MA. I took the plates, reg and proof of insurance off my daily and put them on the 911 for ride home. Added the title, bill of sale and proof of insurance for the 911 to the pile after transaction. in the event I got pulled over I would explain, hand over the pile of paperwork and hope I got a reasonable PO.

A Google search found the following from the Corvette forums: "FYI, here is the response from the state since I won't have any bill of sale or title until I actually pick up the car: Illinois will not issue any type of temporary permit when it is a private party transaction. You will need to check with the state of Massachusetts to see if they off a drive away permit for out of state buyers." Check with NJ DMV to see if they issue a transport temp plate. NH does this. I wouldn't recommend putting plates from another car on the 911. One police stop for anything and you'll likely have a tow bill on your hand along with a hefty fine. If the PO let's you keep the tags on the car, then the correct response to the cop is, "I am taking the car for an extended test drive." If you tell the cop you bought the car then you have a "Misuse of plates" situation, which could result in a tow and a hefty fine.

I bought my car in California and drove it to NJ. The Cali plates stayed on the car, but I signed a 'waiver of responsibility' so the seller was covered if I got in a wreck or whatever. I insured it under my policy and had the seller sign a receipt, and of course I had the bill of sale. I got stopped (for guess what) in Oklahoma and the Sheriff had no issues with my plates or my paperwork and thought the receipt was a good idea. My son has the Cali plate hanging on his wall, as long as its not on a car I don't know if anyone cares about sending them back. You need to check with Illinois DMV. There has to be a solution they offer. I would imagine that driving with no plates or plates that belong on a different care would both be non-starters, at least for me. I knew I was already drawing attention to myself, no plates just adds to it. EDIT:: NOPE. What I found was for dealers only it seemed.

I ended up just paying $300 bucks to have the car shipped to me on a trailer. Far less headache than driving and stressing out about being pulled over. Montway is a pretty cheap option, my car showed up from VA to Atlanta in about a week (open trailer). When I got it to Atlanta, I had a signed title with no date. Technically you have 7 days to have emissions and registration, in the meantime no temp tag would be issued simply drive without a plate.

I'm not sure what everyone's personal experience with law enforcement has been in the past, but I would be absolutely shocked if anyone gave you a hard time about driving a car you just bought home regardless of whether you have a plate from another car or no plate at all. Assuming you're respectful, have documentation proving you bought the car, and insurance, the most I would expect would be a written warning. I guess you could always catch someone on a bad day, but I'd think that would be a very rare exception.

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Oh, you�d be surprised, especially if you don�t fit the idea of who should own a Porsche.

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Or if you use a plate from a few states away. I got pulled over once in Wisconsin with a PA plate, did nothing wrong, people were passing me on the highway. Guy just wanted to check me out, his reasoning was "exhaust was loud" it was just a cat-back.

I purchased my last Targa from out of state. Kept the owners plates on the car and mailed them back when I got home. I also purchased another car out of state, and the prior owner just wanted a picture of the destroyed plates.

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It's all about having the right window tint. Seriously though, like charlieaf92 , I've found being polite and courteous can be a big help when getting pulled over. Not always, because there are arsehole cops and then there are some regular cops who are just having a bad day.

Huh, never heard of giving plates back. In WA state, you have time to get new registration (I think 2 weeks from purchase is the law), they give you new plates and you throw the others away or I post on my shop wall for souvenir. Then again, we don't have to do 'inspection' stickers and that kind of stuff. I would just drive with Bill of Sale, insurance and call it good, and obviously don't attract attention to myself, lol. I guess East Coast is a whole different world from us Western Cowboyz...…. I just bought a vehicle in CA , drove it for a month in WA, got new tags/license plate and our Dep't of Lic didn't bat an eyelash. *and was checked twice with CA plates going into Canada from Washington before doing the new reg/plates, but had BOS and told them I haven't been home-I travel a lot and it was fine Oh well, either way, drive safe

Bought my 996 in VA and drove it to FL. Kept the sellers plate and registration for the drive down and mailed it back to him when I got home and registered the car under my name. I did called the insurance while at the seller and got a policy issued for the car. Also had a bill of sale. Figure if I got stopped this should be sufficient, fortunately I did not got a chance to prove this.

Bought a 996TT last week in IL. Debating driving it to CA, but decided it was a wash with airfare, gas, hotel, and miles incurred on the car versus enclosed shipping. So plates NA. Seller kept them. I put the car under my State Farm policy immediately.

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I used to think like you. I used to even thank them for their service when I randomly saw them when i was out-and-about. I then realized over a decade ago that ANY interaction with the police has a real possibility of affecting your life forever. Yes, there are good ones out there, but the fact that there are "bad" ones is enough to seriously reconsider how you interact with them. I strongly advise people to do everything you can to decrease the amount of time you interact with the police. Things can escalate quickly, even from a simple traffic stop. Just remember, they aren't your friends. They work for the state and have an incentive to generate as much revenue for the state as possible. Most people don't even realize that speed limits are a guise for generating funds for the state. They aren't meant to keep us safe. Cops ultimately are cashiers with guns.

I've done it. The sellers and I usually agree to "loan" me the current plate for the car, for the trip. I then fedex the plate back to them, the day after my return, or the first business day after. Theres usually a certain amount of bonding and trust built up between individuals, when exchanging large sums of cash. Communication and negotiations, is the key.

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I disagree with this jaundiced perspective. While I've racked up plenty of speeding tickets, and generated revenue for countless jurisdictions, I believe the majority of LLE put their lives on the line because they: (1) hate bad guys, and always have; (2) have an innate desire to protect the public, and believe our country is better for all of us with clear, predictable lawfulness/justice; and/or both (1) and (2). Is every cop perfect? Clearly not. But you paint a very negative picture with a very broad brush. [/off soapbox]

I just bought my 996 last week in Philadelphia and drove it home to Illinois. The seller left his PA plate on the car, but I brought with an IL plate (from one of my other vehicles, so it's in my name) just in case I didn't have the seller's plate to leave on the car. This would be legally a gray area (pretty sure it's not legal to put a different car's plates on a car, even temporarily), but I'd rather explain that to a cop and hope for leniency rather than drive home with no plates and potentially get pulled over multiple times.

90% i'm making the chicago to NJ drive this weekend, sans plates, but with all other documentation. I hope to not have any interaction with law enforcement but not worried if i do. I treat everyone with respect and have politely talked my way out of tickets in the past. (best was when i got pulled over with 3 corporate lawyers as my passengers coming back from a business lunch).

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If this was the case, then you�d see every investigative effort into wrongful arrests, corruption and death at the hands of police officers welcomed. Which is clearly not the case. Which leads to one conclusion, really: they generally are okay with holding themselves to a different standard, ie outside the laws they are sworn in to protect. As the saying goes: a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. We�ve got some reforming to do on that front. Better training, more transparency, better funding, and stronger investigative bodies to restore the public�s trust.

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And more dashcams and body cams!

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^^^ With no plates at all, you're asking to be pulled over...

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Isn't it strange how often there are cases where a dash cam or body cam was "turned off" before something bad happened? What's up with that? Solid state storage is cheap and plentiful. It should be the law that the cams should be turned on at the start of the shift and shouldn't be turned off 'til the end. Upon the end of the shift the data/footage should be downloaded to a server, and treated as evidence for anything that happened during the shift.

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If your choice was no plates vs seller's expired plates, would you choose the expired plates? (i have a feeling this is my option)

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The whole thing is illegal in most states. Its technically illegal for the seller to let you borrow the plate (even though its registered to the car), its illegal for you to be in possession and displaying of a plate that isn't yours, it's very very illegal to swap a plate (even if registered to you) of another vehicle, onto a different vehicle. Driving a car with no plate or a hand written note (especially across multiple states) is not only illegal, but also draws alot of unwanted attention. The only "legal" way is to have the vehicle shipped, or some how have the vehicles title and registry changed into your name, and have a new plate issued to you, prior to picking up the vehicle. This can be difficult/inconvenient to do, but can be done, and I've done this, myself, but you have to know a notary that's willing. Even that option is technically illegal as most states require the both parties be present when having a title notarized/transferred. Shipment is the easiest legal method. let's face it it's easier to ask the seller to borrow the plate and mail it back. As long as you dont drive like a ****, or drive through Virginia, you should be okay

I would think having no plate is an invitation to be pulled over. Even with the proper paperwork, except no registration papers, you would have a hassle. And while you are stopped what other issues might they find, like maybe a.burned out.bulb, to add to the hassle. I would think a plate from another car with your name on the registration card, would minimize the risk of being pulled over and cited. Of course, no one in a new Porsche would exceed the speed limit that might result in being pulled over.

Have it shipped or rent a trailer. Avoid all the hassle.

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Pretty sure it varies state by state. In Vermont you are legally required to return the plates to the department of motor vehicles. Not that most people do, but it's still the law.

In CO the DMV will give you one week temporary plates with title & bill of sale for $5. I don't know the exact situation in your state but it's worth looking in to if you've already sent the funds to the seller.

I can go to the DMV in Oregon if I have the VIN number and buy a trip permit good for 30 days to take with me.. 35 bucks.

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I don't know about "most" states but I drove my car to NJ from California with the seller's plates on it. He and I signed a California "release of liability." I was stopped in Oklahoma for speeding and the sheriff didn't look at the documentation twice.

I would think the expired plate is much less risky than no plate at all. No plate at all is easy to spot from a distance. The fact that we are even having this conversation is insane, it really shouldn't be this difficult.

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100%! The answer is at DMV for the selling state...Not RL! Have the seller update his registration! We have a kiosk in every Safeway for convenience and I find it hard to believe other states don't do this as we're usually last to catch up with the rest of the country.

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That would probably be the easiest and least risky option, just pay the cost for the seller to register the car. Unless its a big hassle in the owners state. I get states rights and all but we are a pretty connected country you would think there would be some sort of universal temporary tag.

Cannonball Run II commences Saturday: "There's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark out, and we're wearing sunglasses" Elwood Blues

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It's funny you say that about Virginia. I purchased my car from Maryland. Maryland requires you to surrender the plate after selling, so the guy wasn't willing to let me keep the plate even to mail it back. I contemplated driving it home without a plate and the guy said if I drove it home that there was no chance I would get through Virginia. He said the Virginia cops/highway patrol is the worst. This convinced me enough to just put it on a trailer for $300 bucks.

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Good luck! Its just too bad your car wasn't further west because driving these cars at speed is really a lot of fun. We drive to my MIL's out in Iowa every couple of years and the Route 80 drive is kinda boring outside of the Poconos "narrow road, lots of trucks" challenge.

My Chicago-to-SF cannonball run is taking shape. After getting quotes to ship in the mid $2k range, I revisited driving the car out. Three plus days away from work and family doesn't pencil, financially and politically with my domestic CFO. A great Indy shop that did my PPI, just west of Chicago, has put me in touch with a driving instructor associated with their shop. I am paying him to have intimate relations with my new 996TT for the two day run from IL to CO, where I fly in, he flies out, and I ski Vail with my daughter for a weekend, then drive the car to Vegas, where I consult every week, then probably a week or two later, make the Vegas to SF run in a day (versus my weekly 70min flight). Don't know yet which plate strategy I will employ, but I can guarantee you it won't be: (1) no plates; (2) plates from another CA car I own. So likely temp plates from IL or CA. CA DMV is so horribly bureaucratic, that I am hoping IL is the answer. Any IL residents have any insight on getting new temp plates for an out-of-state buyer? PS: slightly off topic, but the magic car in which I've gotten off with a warning on three successive speeding occasions is my ~200,000 mile 2005 F150 crew cab with lumber rack and tool box. Clearly a work truck. Apparently LLE figure a hard-working stiff in his work truck deserves a break. And FWIW, I've never been pulled over or cited in 20 years and 35,000 miles of owning an "Arrest Me Red" 996.

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I can confirm this, VA cops are a pain to deal with. I had a 300SRT with a target on my back. This one cop would wait for me on my way to work daily, pull me over. and pick out every little mod he could find. He was pissed when I beat him in court!

Virginia is the worst....with every trip I make from CT to NC and back, I never see highway cops in qty like I do in VA.

VA is ONLY state than outlaws radar detectors. Big No No to get caught with one active. That�s a strong clue they�re serious. I took my 996 to visit my daughter in VA last summer and saw an 👮‍♀️ on 25 mph road step out from behind a tree and point radar gun at oncoming traffic, namely me. Waze had already given him away thankfully. Must be a huge money maker.

Here’s what I found. Sounds like your best option is use the sellers plates til you get back to NJ. is there any possibility of “ passing the sale “ through a new or used car dealer in IL so you could get a temporary tag and not have to worry about it. You may offer a car dealer some cash to pass the sale though and get the temp tag. https://legalbeagle.com/13709883-how...-used-car.html VA will also send you to jail,for speeding. https://wtop.com/virginia/2018/01/va...t-interstates/ Good luck on the trip.

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Where in CT are you starting that trek from?

Are we there yet? Wait till you guys here what he's driving back!

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A 1925 model T touring?

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That would be an adventure for sure, but...Ain't no "Fanboi's" driving that back!

I�m home. 8:30 am flight to chicago. Seller picked me up at O�hare in my new 09 997.2 4s F6I Stage 2 track performer, 4 months and 4k miles post build. Took a test drive, signed papers, handed over my $, and did 800 miles home in 11 hours. I ended up leaving sellers rear plate on car. Passed several Indiana and Ohio state troopers without incident.(radar detector helped) I90 in Indiana and Ohio is terrible road but I76 in PA is awesome. Drove entire 800 miles with no radio on or music playing so i could hear just the car. PDK with PASM and Sport/Sport + will take some time to get used too, as will paddle shifters, but the power and torque in F6I�s 4.0L 9A1 is hard to describe. Once i take this new ride on the same backroads that ive been driving my 996.2 4s MT, i will try to write up my perceptions. First impression: I think the 996 4s� steering feels more precise than this new to me 997.2 4s

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absolutely awesome !!!!!!! looking forward to seeing more pics and hearing about the details of the car. I�d def love to hear / see a video as well.

Congrats, she's a beauty!

Congrats looks great. Glad everything worked out.

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Oh HELL YEAH!!!

Funniest/Saddest part of the Cannonball II run: PDK allowed me to keep both arms extended, with both hands on the wheel, for 11+ hours. At 59 both my shoulders are sore today, but it was worth it!

Sounds like a big time problem. You are going to have to get those shoulders in 💪 shape by driving that car s lot. Congrats!

Nice! I love that color. Can't wait for your report back.

Congrats, nice car! Did I read you say that I76 in PA is an "awesome road", though? ... I think our taste in cars is similar, but I dont think we're on the same page about quality highways.

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In Indiana and Ohio the interstate had patches it felt like every 100 ft, thump thump thump, and with PASM on you fell everything. I was trying to learn the car so i was turning it on and off along the trip. By contrast, once dark came and i hit far western PA you got better pavement, twisty roads, hills, even a few tunnels to amplify the cars awesome aftermarket exhaust. Got to let the car have some fun along the 300 miles i traveled within PA, plus traffic in general moved much faster.

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Okay, that I'll agree with!

Close out this thread with some new photos. No signs of the bugs acquired during the 800 mile dash. Almost to pretty to drive......almost!

Gorgeous.