Anyone bought a car out of state?

[Nors]

Looking at some out of state cars and was wondering whats the exact procedure to be able to drive the car home legally. I am in PA and the car is in NY. Anyone have any idea? The PennDottwebsite has a section on it, but it isn't very clear cut and is full of legal jargon.

[igo4bmx]

you go pay for car- provide proof you have insurance for the car (if it's a replacement aka you traded in a car, you have 10 days with insurance on your new car, otherwise you pay more on your insurance premium and make sure the new car is covered.)
you pay taxes and tags and stuff at a local tax and tags place

[Nors]

Its a private seller, not sure if anything changes but wanted to add that. I am curious about the plate mostly, do I leave the NY tags on or what?

[Renegade_]

You can't go to an out of state DMV to get it registered in your state. I did this with my 240. I went down there, bought the car and drove it home with the plates of the car I sold the day before. When i was sure I was going to buy it I called up my insurance and told them to switch over the insurance to a 240sx before I drove it home and thats it.

Was it perfectly legal? I dont know, all I know is that I had insurance on the car and a bill of sale (which gives you the inspection leeway). Technically the legal thing you would do is pay for the car, get a bill of sale. Come back into the state, use the bill of sale at a DMV to register the car, get a plate and go and pick it up after. But who really wants to do that....

[Stillen GLE]

you can trailer it back.

[GmFwd]

Well, ive never bought a running car in my life, they've all been towed home. Just talk to the local tag place when you get the title transfered, they should have all the answers.

[pearl]

i bought my old integra from NY, i live in NJ. the only issue i had was that i didnt have the title my NJ title until after 2 weeks. i dont recall having any problems though, should be smooth sailing.

[Nors]

you can trailer it back.



Hmm...

Looking at some out of state cars and was wondering whats the exact procedure to be able to drive the car home legally. I am in PA and the car is in NY. Anyone have any idea? The PennDott website has a section on it, but it isn't very clear cut and is full of legal jargon.

[SovXietday]

I bought my Camaro in NJ. Got a temp tag and bill of sale and drove the car home. Registered it once I got in PA.

Just make sure you switch your insurance over to the car ASAP!

[pearl]

just put a set of plates on it and drive it home. i know its illegal but sometimes its the easiest way to do it.

[TrboChicsRock]

You can't legally drive a car that's not registered and you can't register it without the title. So the only way to legally drive it home would be to get the title beforehand so you can register it before you drive it home. Unless they have temporary registrations that you can get without having the title, I know my state doesn't offer that.

I have always purchased cars and illegally drove them home with plates from previous cars on them.

I highly doubt that the guy would let you drive it home with their tags on it, as you could easily run tolls or do a hit and run and he'd be the one to get in trouble.

[Nors]

Damn its about a 4 hour drive... not really looking to worry about being pulled over the whole time.

[Renegade_]

Damn its about a 4 hour drive... not really looking to worry about being pulled over the whole time.
What are the chances that you'll get pulled over though? I drove home from baltimore to my place in PA and no problems. Didn't even see a cop.

[DSMTJ]

i bought my corvette in maryland, i drove it home with insurance and the p/o's tags. i then mailed him his tags back.

i bought my first jetta in delaware, i just had the p/o deliver it to my house.

[pearl]

Damn its about a 4 hour drive... not really looking to worry about being pulled over the whole time.

i drove about 3.5 hours, just do the speed limit and have your friend ride your ass :)

[russiankid]

Not sure how it is with the tags, but my car is registered in Texas, has PA insurance, and is driven in LA. Not sure if its legal, but I don't have any issues.

[97TurboDSM]

uh i drove mine home with a plate that was registered to my Z. that was a 1200mile trip from florida. pretty illegal prolly but whatever.

[SovXietday]

Just make sure to get a bill of sale or some other form showing that you recently bought the vehicle.

I believe in PA you have a certain amount of time between purchasing the car and registering the car when bought out of state. Heck the people I bought the Camaro from sent my title out late and I drove around with expired temp tags for like a week because I had no other choice.

I'm sure just about any police officer would let you go if you showed proof of insurance and a bill of sale.

[kevin@dambrosio]

A. Trailer
B. drive it home with a noncorrect tag and just drive it straight to your house, then get it reg.
C. borrow a friends dealer tag
D. get the title, you will need a picture of the VIN on the car also, reg/ get insurance on it prior to you picking the car up.

personally. A or B. I usually do B unless the car does not run.

[TurboTagTeam]

My 240 came from florida. The guy I bought it from let me use his plate. I got insurance on the car BEFORE I picked it up. I wouldn't be too worried about driving with no registration. Inusrance is kind of a big deal though. Defiantly get that handled first. If you get pulled over, explain to the cop that you just bought the car. I cant see him giving you a really hard time.

[Nors]

A. Trailer
B. drive it home with a noncorrect tag and just drive it straight to your house, then get it reg.
C. borrow a friends dealer tag
D. get the title, you will need a picture of the VIN on the car also, reg/ get insurance on it prior to you picking the car up.

personally. A or B. I usually do B unless the car does not run.

Wanna be my friend? Haha jk.


I think I need to check the car out first before I start thinking about driving it home. Most likely I will bring a plate off my other car, and call insurance the day before. Unless he wants to leave his plates on, but I don't expect that since I sure as hell wouldn't.

[IdriveBad]

I bought my old 240 in PA. I went to a notary place with the seller and got the title notarized and got temp tags that were good for two months. I then drove the car right home. Cost like $50-55.

[marshallpre1]

I bought my Supra from Cali. I got insurance for it and drove with Cali plates (was still registered in Cali). Then, went to the DMV to register it. I think the cop would be fine with it as long as you have your bill of sale and the title signed over to you. Once it was registered, I sent the plates back to Cali (for some reason I guess they don't take plates back)

[92dxman]

One thing that I don't think anyone has mentioned is that if you buy a car out of state, you have 10 days to get it reinspected for PA.

[BlkWhtTSI]

One thing that I don't think anyone has mentioned is that if you buy a car out of state, you have 10 days to get it reinspected for PA.

yes this is true, every state has different emissions standards etc. so you must get it re-inspected. I wouldn't worry about driving it home just have the bill of sale and go to the first notary you find.

[Renegade_]

I'm sure just about any police officer would let you go if you showed proof of insurance and a bill of sale.
Bam. If you are in the 10 day inspection period and its insured, why would the cop care otherwise?

[BlkWhtTSI]

whats Bam have to do with this? just kidding. i dont think you have to worry about cops just get your inspection and stuff.

[tcturbo91]

New york actually has a program through the DMV which you get a temp tag/registration. you just bring your license, the title, and proof of insurance. they give you a tag to put in your back window which is good for 30 days and a little card that goes in your glove box as the registration.

I did it when bringing my mustang to Delaware (where my car is registered) from New York (where car was bought)

[Nors]

New york actually has a program through the DMV which you get a temp tag/registration. you just bring your license, the title, and proof of insurance. they give you a tag to put in your back window which is good for 30 days and a little card that goes in your glove box as the registration.

I did it when bringing my mustang to Delaware (where my car is registered) from New York (where car was bought)

Proof you have insurance, or proof you have insurance on the car you are buying? I have insurance and an insurance card, but to get a new card for the car I am buying might be hard (not hard, just takes time)

[tcturbo91]

i believe i put insurance on the car, but brought a fax from my insurance agent stating the car has insurance on it, etc.

[IdriveBad]

Proof you have insurance, or proof you have insurance on the car you are buying? I have insurance and an insurance card, but to get a new card for the car I am buying might be hard (not hard, just takes time)

Should just be proof of insurance in general. When I went to the notary all I did was call my insurance company and they faxed a paper over that showed I was covered and that was all the place needed from them. You could always stop by the DMV beforehand and check with them.

[gary]

ok lets end this thread and all the bad advice. There is something called a "ferry permit" that you get when doing the title and such at a notary in the state you buy the car. The PA one is 2 month temporary license plate. I am not sure on other states but it is enough to get you home and to the DMV. Its cardboard so don't think you can go driving through a monsoon. They are designed to get mounted in the plate area. The one from PA is $15, at least it was about 3 years ago. You will need insurance on the car before going to pick it up also. The insurance, ferry tag, and bill of sale will keep you out of trouble with any law enforcement person you may come across. When you get back to your home state, take the car, bill of sale, and title if you got one with you to a notary/DMV and they will do the rest. Be aware you may or may not have to pay taxes in both states.

I bought my parents car that was in PA and took it to FL. I had to pay FL sales tax on the car when I got there. I had no problems driving 1100 miles from PA to FL with the paper plate and the little driving I did here before I went back. Tell the notary what you are doing and they will get you the correct forms and things you need to do this safely and legally.

[Nors]

ok lets end this thread and all the bad advice. There is something called a "ferry permit" that you get when doing the title and such at a notary in the state you buy the car. The PA one is 2 month temporary license plate. I am not sure on other states but it is enough to get you home and to the DMV. Its cardboard so don't think you can go driving through a monsoon. They are designed to get mounted in the plate area. The one from PA is $15, at least it was about 3 years ago. You will need insurance on the car before going to pick it up also. The insurance, ferry tag, and bill of sale will keep you out of trouble with any law enforcement person you may come across. When you get back to your home state, take the car, bill of sale, and title if you got one with you to a notary/DMV and they will do the rest. Be aware you may or may not have to pay taxes in both states.

I bought my parents car that was in PA and took it to FL. I had to pay FL sales tax on the car when I got there. I had no problems driving 1100 miles from PA to FL with the paper plate and the little driving I did here before I went back. Tell the notary what you are doing and they will get you the correct forms and things you need to do this safely and legally.

Thanks, alot of good info, way better then risking anything.