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How do I get a Camaro across the country??

Old Apr 6, 2004 | 07:03 PM
  #1  
Tom 400 CFI's Avatar
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From: Park City, UT
Car: '92 Corvette, '89 1/2-a-'Vette
Engine: LT1, L400
Transmission: ZF6, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.31
How do I get a Camaro across the country?? Edit: DID IT.

With no registration??

It's in MA, and I want to drive it to Utah, where I live. It is unregistered because it won't pass emissions in MA, which is not an issue here in Park City (Summit County), UT.

*Should I get a Temp registration in MA and drive it to UT w/ that?

*Should I get a temp in UT and drive it like that?

*Does it matter and I should get a temp where it's cheaper?

*Can you drive state to state w/temp registration??

I can't get a perminent reg in UT until I get the car here, because it needs to pass safety inspection before it gets registered.

Can anyone give me some insight as to what the legal way to do this is? Thanks.

-Tom

Last edited by Tom 400 CFI; Jul 14, 2004 at 02:55 PM.
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 07:59 PM
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From: Winston salem, NC
Car: 1987 1SICIROC.....1999 TransAm
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Just drive it and obey the speed limits and driving laws and you should be ok! Unless you got thru a license check th cops have to have a reason to pull you...so if you are legal as far as lights and turn signals and stuff I would think it should be a piece of cake.....The tag is OK right?
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 08:02 PM
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going cross country

I'm guessing putting it on a trailer isn't an option. if it was me I'd register it temp in either state. just my opinion though.
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 08:41 PM
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register it temp in Utah and drive it out. That's how it works here in NJ, I think.
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 11:02 PM
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knock getting temporary plates in mass off your list. we don't do those kind of convenient things here. it's either real registration or nothing.
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 11:08 PM
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well there ya go, UT temp reg and have insurance on it and you should be good to go.
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Old Apr 6, 2004 | 11:13 PM
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I bought my car out of state and could not get temp tags because of crossing the states. I took plates off of my old car and was aweful careful until I got home.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 02:50 AM
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From: Colorado
cross-country camaro

I bought my 87 off e-bay in Florida. And drove it cross-country to Colorado. I took the registration and title to the FLA DMV and got temps and had no problems.

#1/ do NOT borrow plates from another vehicle, even if they are your own that can get you arrested/jailed/fined.
#2/ Call the DMV in MA and ask about temps. I've never been in a state that didn't have some kind of temporary tags.
#3/ I think you might have a problem getting temp UT tags as the title ( I assume) is MA. Colorado wouldn't give me temp tags without going thru the registration process, and I couldn't do THAT without the car! (VIN verification, emissions, safetly inspection etc)
#4/ If the car has plates, at least make sure you have a valid title/bill of sale. You might still get a ticket (in MA) but you won't get arrested.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 05:11 AM
  #9  
ede's Avatar
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have the title notorized in your name, insure it, get temp plates and go. might want to check with the dmv in your state.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 08:20 AM
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MA DOES NOT have temp tags as previously stated (unless you have a commercial vehicle and an IRP account). BUT, what you could do is go to an insurance co. here in MA, get an RMV-1 filled out and title it and insure it. MA wants your money! I'd look into what you could do in UT or just rent a bloody sling from uhaul and tow the bitch back.
As far as notorizing the title, we have no provision for it. You sign the back and go. Any problems and the RMV requires affidavits from both parties. AND we now have newer and more stringent notary laws and it probably wouldn't be easy to get notarized w/o a good reason. I completely stopped b/c of the new laws, I won't notarize a bloody thing anymore.
My best suggestion is to sling tow it or have the PO register it (you then have 7 days in MA to have an inspection) and drive it home and send him back the plate. That would also be the cheapest way.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 09:39 AM
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From: Park City, UT
Car: '92 Corvette, '89 1/2-a-'Vette
Engine: LT1, L400
Transmission: ZF6, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.31
Thanks!

Thanks for the replies folks.

I'm going to insure it here, and get a temp reg here (which I CAN do I found out). All I need is the VIN and I can get a temp Reg in UT. I'll probably keep the old plates on it until I get out here and then send them back.

Having grown up in MA, I hate that place and want to avoid contributing MY money to that state in anyway possible. No offense to anyone that lives there, it's the focked up gov't that "runs" that place. LOL about no temp reg available in MA! That right there is why I hate that place. That's SO typical. They make everything as difficult as possible, IMO.

NO WAY would I drive that thing 2800 miles with no registration!! Those of you that suggested that, thanks for the input but I don't need that trouble.

I'm not going to tow it. I'm flying out there, and driving it back, not driving my truck out there so I can tow it back. That'll be 3-4 times more gasoline! (my plane ticket was $180).

Last edited by Tom 400 CFI; Apr 7, 2004 at 09:42 AM.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 01:53 PM
  #12  
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From: winthrop harbor, il & plymouth, il
Car: 1986 camaro
Engine: 383 sbc
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my old man use to be a cop and now is a law enforcement professor and he said that as long as you have documentation of when you bought it you can legally drive it unliscensed for 24 to 48 hours but you must get it liscensed and insured immediately. i cant remember which one exactly. then again that was for the state of illinois.


you can always rent a uhauler and tow it back to utah and return the uhauler to uhaul in utah
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 02:05 PM
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Just out of curiosity - What's so special about the car that is worth all that hassle/cost? Third gens are still plentiful - especially ones that have been beat on (assuming it's not a garage queen since it won't pass inspection).

You figure at 2800 miles, it'll take you 4 to 5 days, plus the air fare, tolls, gas, etc. It may be more cost effective to ship it - typically about 50 - 60 cents a mile. You may want to balance the $1500 vs the cost of travel - figure it would cost $300 in gas, $180 for your air fare, $350 for lodging and food, throw another $100 for tolls - you're looking almost a grand. So is saving about $500 worth your time (4 to 5 days) as well as the additional wear and tear on the car and risk of break down.

If it's really that special of a car, I would just ship it.

Just my 2 cents.

Good luck with either way you go!
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 02:21 PM
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Tom 400 CFI's Avatar
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From: Park City, UT
Car: '92 Corvette, '89 1/2-a-'Vette
Engine: LT1, L400
Transmission: ZF6, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.31
Read this thread and you'll see "what's so special".

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=199928

Also, as you read above, my plane ticket back there only cost $180. Gas to DRIVE the car back here will run about $250. That's a grand total of $430.00 -or about 15 cents a mile. That's a far cry from the price of having the car shipped.

Further more, I bought the plane tix to fly back to visit friends and Fam, and thought about the car later, so the plane ticket was already bought for other purposes.

Lastly, I work at a ski resort in PC, UT, and time off in the spring (to drive the car) is of no concern to me; I have vacation time to burn. The trip will take me about 35 hours, not 4-5 days. I've done this same trip in my Trans Am numerous times.

$100 for tolls!? WTF? I plan on driving through New York ONCE not 8 times! There are no tolls once you beat your way out of those wacky eastern states. IIRC tolls add up to about $20, and there will be no lodging. 35 hours.

Last edited by Tom 400 CFI; Apr 7, 2004 at 02:24 PM.
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Old Apr 7, 2004 | 02:34 PM
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Car: 88 Iroc Convertible
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That's pretty impressive car.

I guess it would take something like that to go 2800 miles in only 35 hours - that's averaging 80 MPH without stopping for any gas or breaks. Factor in a 5 minute break every 300 miles just to get gas means you would actually have to average well over 80 MPH.

I can see why you wouldn't want to drive it without legal tags or insurance.

Good luck with your trip. It looks like a really nice car. It sounds like your are going to drive the 35 hours staight without sleep or food. Hope you make it back safe.
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Old Apr 8, 2004 | 12:31 PM
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Originally posted by spartyon
my old man use to be a cop and now is a law enforcement professor and he said that as long as you have documentation of when you bought it you can legally drive it unliscensed for 24 to 48 hours but you must get it liscensed and insured immediately. i cant remember which one exactly. then again that was for the state of illinois.


you can always rent a uhauler and tow it back to utah and return the uhauler to uhaul in utah


Only problem with that is, unless the title has been transfered by the DMV, or notorized some other way the previous owner is still responciple for any damage caused the the car until the title has been leagly transfered (re-registered). Just signing it over isnt legal. They do give you a certain grace period if you just purchased the car where they might not ticket you for no plates but if you get in an accident they go after the previous owner and you as well.

The Uhaul idea is probably what I would do personally since the condition of the car is really unknown and **** happens.
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Old Apr 8, 2004 | 01:21 PM
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From: Park City, UT
Car: '92 Corvette, '89 1/2-a-'Vette
Engine: LT1, L400
Transmission: ZF6, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.31
The condition of the car is not "unknown". I know the exact condition of the car. I'm not going to uhaul it. I already have a plane ticket.

-Tom
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Old Apr 8, 2004 | 06:53 PM
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Tom,

You still looking at that "dog" of an '86?

Sorry, I can't help much with your registration questions since regulations vary so much between states. It seems like you have that settled, anyway. I wanted to remind you that there are tolls all the way through Illinois, depending on the route you take. I-90 in Illinois is a toll, as is I-80. I-74 is a freeway, but isn't a very direct route to anywhere. I-90 will only cost you about three bucks through Illinois, and I-80 is about five bucks. I-70 through St. Louis is a freeway as well. On the surface, it appears that 84/78/70 is your best route, anyway.

If you get this far, and finally get tired of being beat up at the gas pump and tolls, are tired of sitting on those ragged old seats, and just want to get home, look me up. I'll take it off your hands for a couple hundred bucks AND buy you a plane ticket home. I might even buy you lunch if you're desperate. See how nice a guy I am?
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Old Apr 8, 2004 | 06:57 PM
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At second glance, you might also take:

84/80/90/80/76/70.

If you've already done the trip, you probably already have a good route picked out. If you happen to be going along through the northern half of Illinois, lemme know. I'd like a peek at the car.
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Old Apr 9, 2004 | 10:31 AM
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From: Park City, UT
Car: '92 Corvette, '89 1/2-a-'Vette
Engine: LT1, L400
Transmission: ZF6, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.31
Originally posted by Vader
....I'll take it off your hands for a couple hundred bucks AND buy you a plane ticket home. I might even buy you lunch if you're desperate. See how nice a guy I am?
That made me chuckle out loud at my desk here! Thanks.

I am interested in stopping by. I'll let you know about my plans as they near. As for the route, yes, I have done that drive, probably about 10 times by now, so I have that pretty much sorted out. I'll keep you updated on the status of my plans.

-Tom
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Old Apr 10, 2004 | 01:45 AM
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When you do go get it and have it insured for the trip, get STATED VALUE INSURANCE on it for $6K, at least for 1 month. If you do get into an accident and it's totalled while transporting it, the insurance people may not give you the $4K you have invested in it.

That is what I would do.
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Old Jul 14, 2004 | 02:38 PM
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From: Park City, UT
Car: '92 Corvette, '89 1/2-a-'Vette
Engine: LT1, L400
Transmission: ZF6, T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.31
For anyone that's interested...

Trip is complete.

Made it in 38 hours, including all stops and sleep. Left a humid, traffic jammed, Sterling, Mass-hole on Monday the 5th at about 1:00 PM, and rolled into sweet Park City at about 11:30 PM Tuesday (the 6th) evening. Boy, was it good to be back!

2330 miles and I burned 124 gallons of gas for an average of 18.79 mpg. Not bad. I was getting 20 until I gained elevation (WY and UT) and the milage dropped severely due to the engine running richer and richer.

Anyway, I did get a UT temp, got insurance, and had a written and signed bill of sale, along w/the signed title. Worked great. I never got pulled over, but was tailed by "the man" several times across the country, at all hours. They would drop in right behind me, and follow. I'd think that "this is it...my trip is about to end", and then they'd pull out and pass me. So for anyone interested, I would say that the Temp reg is completely legit.

Keep in mind that Mass-hole doesn't offer any type of temp reg, or any type of option similar to that, so you need one from another state, and Mass will honor it.

P.S. I can say "Mass-hole" cause sorry to say, but I'm originally from that dump.

Last edited by Tom 400 CFI; Jul 14, 2004 at 02:48 PM.
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Old Jul 14, 2004 | 03:33 PM
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Congrats! And even we call it m*******. It sucks.
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Old Jul 14, 2004 | 03:49 PM
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Great job. I also hate this state and plan to move out into either Rhode Island for college or up to New Hampshire/Vermont after College, depends on jobs and what not really. Oh well, I'm definately getting the heck outta this state asap!(being 18 and going into college hurts the options though)
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Old Jul 14, 2004 | 04:48 PM
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I was going to say watch "Two Lane Blacktop" and put the pedal to the medal.



Glad all went well.

I would think you got tailed because you had a Saphire Blue z28. The only thing that's more of a cop magnet is probably a Red z28...

And they do come out of no where don't they. I can nailed in New Mexico, 2 pm, middle of no where. Not a car in sight. All of a sudden this mustang is pulling up behind me and the light bar goes off.
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