Gummie

First off: I realize that this might not be the best place for this thread, but it was the best I could think of. Feel free to move it to the right location if I'm way off.

I'm in the process of buying a car (waiting for a check to clear so I can pull out $3,000 in cash). This will be the first time that I will have to drive the car home myself because all the other times I've had the previous owner drive it because I was close or it got towed here. There it would sit until it got registered in my name and was added to my insurance policy. This time I have to drive the car home myself I need to know what I need to do so I can drive it home. Can I bring my current plates off my current car with me, bolt them on, give him the money, and drive away with plates from another car on, no insurance (I would be insured, but not for that car – insurance would be for the car the plates came off), and nothing more than a signed title with me?

I know that people do drive their new car home, but I don't know exactly how it's done.

If it matters: I live in NJ and insurance is required by law.

red90bird

how do you drive a car home? well first you turn the key (that starts the engine) then put it in "D" then theres an accelerator and a brake and...well you get the picture

seriously though, have the owner send you the title, goto the dmv and register it in your name (they should give you plates), call your ins agent and get insurance started (if anything just get a copy of the application for ins). take the title with your name in it, the new plates, and somthing to prove insurance to pick up the car (obvioulsly put on the plates before you take it anywhere). good luck

ohh by the way...DO NOT take the plates off of your current car unless you want the cops to think the car you put them on is stolen.

Gummie

That's what I was thinking, but you know friends and some of the weird ideas they get sometimes. His logic was if I do get pulled over for a 'stolen car' it's not like I wont have all the paperwork for my current car + the GTA with me. I'm going to stop by the dmv tomorrow on the way to work just to check since I would love to get the car here as fast as possible.

I wish I could correct you and include come clutch action to drive it here, but sadly it's an auto. On the bright side, it is coming with a really clean L98 that will be going under the wrench shortly for a t56

intruder

iTrader: (1)

i dont know about all states but in il you can get a temp plate to drive it to where ever you need to get it home.

novadk13

Well for every car I bought you get the seller to make a reciept, you make 2 copies one for you and one for the seller. On BOTH copies (one for you and one for seller) you write the

(1) the date of sale

(2) in the amount of _____

(3) Vehical make, model, color

(4) Vin #########

(5) vehical has been sold by _________ to ________

(6) With xxxxxxxx miles on it

(7) you both sign each copy and write down your home phone so IF you get pulled over can conferm the sale and your only driving it home.


Also I always throw my plate on, cops for the most part will not run them, also doesnt look as bad with no plats at all. Plus you will have the title in hand showing you own the vehical so they should understand, most people do not carry the title in the car all the time.

86z/92rs

You are getting the pink slip for the car right? Will have all the info needed to drive the car home.

Gummie

novadk13 and 86z/92rs are both correct for your average state. Just make sure you have proof that you own the car and you can drive it home. The only problem with Jersey is that insurance is required by law. To drive a car anywhere, it needs to be insured. I went to the DMV about a week ago and they told me that the seller's insurance would carry over if I drove it home with their plate. Since it's currently resting, it's not insured and it doesn’t have plates.

It's not that big of a deal, it just means a little more driving for me and a friend. I will pick up the title Wensday night and hopefully I will get a chance to go back for it Friday night. Be on the lookout for a pictures thread

novadk13

Oh I didnt noticed your in the state called **** Germany, now I know what you have to do, thanks

Gummie

Welcome to Jersey

Oh well, worse has happened.

John in AZ

Probably old news now but AZ ia also a Insurance by law state. I was pulled ouve bu a cop & was told that I just needed a copy of my current insurance on one of my other cars. Most ins cos don't tell you but they have to automaticly cover any car you buy for a period of 8 days so as long as you have goood ins on current car just bring your proof wioth you.
John

thedogs

Are your buying it from a dealer/trader? The last car I bought here in jersey I got that silly little peice of paper you stick in the windows to say "just bought it don't hassle me Mr policeman".
I'd rather be pulled over and shot in texas by some mirror shaded dude than a dunkin donut strung out NJ trooper/state/local/sheriff/ranger/DOT/mall cop.

HEY HOW YA DOIN"

Gummie

Since this thread keeps coming back from the dead, I will post what I learned:

You can drive the car home if you don’t transfer the title ahead of time. The car must be registered in the previous owner's name, his/her plates must be on it, and it must be insured by him/her. If you get pulled over, show the cop everything (including the signed title) and tell him the story. At least that’s what the DMV lady said. You would probably have to go to court after everything was squared away to show that you were actually buying the car if you were to get pulled over.

or

You can have the owner mail you the signed title. Once you get the title, go to your insurance company and they will give you a temp card. Go to the DMV, register the car, get a new title. Go back to the insurance company and show them the new title (printed in your name) so they can make a copy of it for their records or whatever it is they do. Have a friend drive you to the car, put your plates on it, and drive the car home.

I ended up doing the second since the car had sat uninsured for the past year.

92lpeb4c

FYI: I know in Texas, you can apply for a One Trip Temporary Registration available from the Motor Vehicle Division (Tax Office). It comes in form of a paper license plate you display on the vehicle.

Vehicles needing to move temporarily on Texas highways are eligible for one-trip registration. The route must either begin or end in Texas. These permits only allow the vehicle to travel from point of origin to a point of destination and are valid for 15 days.

Other states should have something similar. It's also a good idea to ask for which forms and/or signatures they need to do the title transfer, the last thing you want is to have to track down the original owner that doesn't live close to you just to have them sign a form.

Gummie

The biggest problem in NJ isn't proof of ownership, it's proof of insurance (as weird as that may sound).

92lpeb4c

If a police officer stops you the officer must determine some of these conditions:

1. If the vehicle is stolen
2. If you and that vehicle should be on the road
3. If you should receive a citation based on the reason
for him stopping you
4. If you are operating the vehicle within the law

Many officers do not have the training to discuss each state’s titling requirements, it is not their job. Many times if the officer can determine that the vehicle is not stolen, and doesn't have a major condition where it shouldn't be on the road, they will simply issue a citation based on the violation they can prove.

I'm sure they wouldn't just say they just pulled you over because you looked suspicious.

thedogs

In Nj they can only pull you over if they have grounds. But once they pull you over they can search you and you car. Anyone hear about that dude who got pulled over for a bad brake light or speeding and he was doing a cross country drug run. THe cop who pulled him called a sniffer dog and they found a huge stash. The dudes been inside for a few years but now they saying it was unlawfull of them to search his car with a dog. unconstitunional. Whats amazing is the guy may get released. this was in the news a few months ago and I've been to busy to look into what the outcome was.

moral of the story??????

but they need grounds to pull you over first is a fact in NJ

bitchin85camaro

its not worth the trouble you'd get into. if by chance a cop got behind you, they love putting your license plate number in there computer when they follow you, and it wouldnt match up, you would deff get into some trouble. i would just get insurance and plates for it. get a title/reciept and everything faxed over to you so you can take care of everything. then drive down there with the plates ready to go on the car. the slap on the wrists youd get for driving a un-registered and un insured vehicle is outragous. its not worth the chance. oh, but if you can get your hands on a dealer plate, with proof of insurance for the plate, go that way. but dont throw plates on it that dont belong on the car, you'l get into far more trouble.

PhantomFE3

when we drove my camaro home my dad was driving it and i was behind him driving the truck, we took the front license plate off since you dont need it here and alot of people take them off and then we smeared mud all over the back license plate so noone could read it, especially get where the tags are so if a cops sees you he cant see the tags..

we drove home about 20 miles, just going a little under the speed limit, in the flow of traffic, keeping in the slow lane. but after we got off the main high wand we took the last 5 miles to my house on the back roads it didnt really matter since they were gravel country roads that the only people that drive on them are the people that live there, barely any cops

Rabbitt

Here in WI, i was told (by a cop) that you have two business days to get the vehicle registered (from the date of purchase). If you have the signed title with a date of purchase written on it, then you dont have a problem (here in WI anyway). Thats what a state-boy told me when one mile of driving after i bought my IROC (i live a couple blocks from the kid i bought it from... hehe). Sooo.. i preceded in driving around with no License plates for two more days.. got pulled over once by a city cop the next day, too.. showed him the title, "Oh, ok, just get it registered by tomorrow then".. lol, gotta love bum-fu<k WI sometimes... now if all the hillbillies would leave..... lol

Rabbitt

Kevin84Z28

iTrader: (3)

Making too much of this,

1.If you have to have insurance call your agent, give him/her the vin# and plate # put the car on your insurance and have him fax or mail you proof. Do it ahead of time so you have physical proof.

2. Get the title, a bill of sale and the release of liability (for the seller). The title should have a place for the seller as well as the buyer to sign.

3. You Sign it, the seller signs it. Keep the title.

4. Drive home.

5. Register vehicle within 10 days of purchase.

2kflhr

iTrader: (1)

I've driven them home with out tags before here in North Carolina. BUT, NC law states all vehicles must be registered and tagged with insurance. It used to be that yout insurance company automatically covered a recently purchased vehicle. As far as the tag and reg. you have to have it, but some (aws I have before) take the chance. If I would have got caught I would have just showed up in court explained that I just bought the car and claimed ignorance of the law. In which the charges probably would be dropped.

cyber_1

yeah nice post. were also looking price quotes for our lexus check this site http://www.insurance-quote-free.com glad to see how all insurance companies are pricing

5.7tpiroc

i bought my car in chicago, and i live in amarillo,tx. i bought the car, and since i live out of state he had to take the plates off of it. i drove it all the way from chicago to amarillo w/ no insurance, registration, or inspection. i did get pulled over too, but for not wearing my seat belt. i told the cop that i was taking the car to st. louis to have it sent back to texas for me. after showing him all the proof that i was the owner of the car, he slapped me w/ only an $80 seat belt ticket for my friend and myself! but id recommend not taking the same route as me. or just drive it only at night !!