Buying a car out of state

[Sho Amo]

I'm sure some of you have bought cars out of state before. I'm in MD looking at a car in Florida, it's privately owned. Will a Florida dmv allow me to get temporary tags through them?

[ncaudio]

Not sure about FL DMV. but I've bought out of state cars and driven them home without plates or temp tags. just have a very recent bill of sale and the just notarized (if they do that in Fl) title. I don't think the cops are going to bother with you and if you do get stopped it shouldn't be a problem. In NC it is a big deal if you put plates on from another car, you can get a ticket for that, probably the same in other states. Normally insurance companies will cover you for up to 30 days automatically for a new car, but you could have them send you a proof of insurance card electronically as soon as you purchase it. I bought some parts off a local guy that totaled out his FD on the exit ramp of the highway, on this first drive as the new owner on the way home, he contacted the insurance company and they covered it.

[digitalsolo]

I always call my insurance when I buy the car.   If they aren't there, I leave a message with the VIN, etc. and what coverage I want.   Per my guy, that's all they need, a dated request, and it's automagically covered.

As far as legalities, I always just take a plate with me and put my plate on the car, then have the bill of sale/title with me.  Never had any trouble.

[piglet]

The handful of cars I've bought out of state, I was able to get a temp tag from that state. I would google search a tag and title company in FL near where the car is and tell them what you're trying to do and see what they say.
there's no way I would try to drive up the whole east coast without some type of tag on the car.

[Sho Amo]

The insurance would be no problem I can do that online instantly. Ive done the same as you guys for an hour or even up to a 3 hour drive but not 1k miles. I feel like that's pushing it a bit. I might have to just pass on it.

[scuter83]

My buddy bought a car from FL and the dealer hooked him up with 1 day FL temp tag for $8.  He is asking another buddy that bought car from private seller what he did.

[twokrx7]

When I flew to Florida to buy a Lightning truck I drove home with the orig owner's plates and then mailed it back to him when I got to Texas.  Lots of trust needed to do an out of state purchase, I flew in and he picked me up from the airport, we hit it off well and the truck was immaculate, he trusted I would mail the plate back as they needed it to get a refund from the state(?).

[Spec C]

The insurance would be no problem I can do that online instantly. Ive done the same as you guys for an hour or even up to a 3 hour drive but not 1k miles. I feel like that's pushing it a bit. I might have to just pass on it.

As stated all you typically need is proof of INS and a Bill of sale and you can transport it home no problem. I have bought cars all over the damn place, as far as 2k+ miles away and never had an issue.

I bought a car for my brother in Arkansas and was driving it back to AZ and got pulled over by some cops that swore I was running drugs or something.  Even despite their persistence to find something in the car, they were fine with the bill of sale/insurance.

I wouldn't worry about it honestly.

[digitalsolo]

I know in Indiana you can drive with your old plates (or plates off your other car if you're "planning" to replace it with the new one) for 30 days.   Discussed it with the BMV myself.    Like I said, I'd just go down with the plates off another car you own and drive home on those.   Keep the bill of sale in the car so you have proof of ownership and take the title for the car that the plates belong on with you.   It's really not a big deal.

[wickedrx7]

I sold a truck once in IL and while guy was driving home he got pulled over. He had bill of sale with my number and cop actually called me to verify that he just bought it. Cop let him go with no issue.

[uummm]

I know in Indiana you can drive with your old plates (or plates off your other car if you're "planning" to replace it with the new one) for 30 days.   Discussed it with the BMV myself.    Like I said, I'd just go down with the plates off another car you own and drive home on those.   Keep the bill of sale in the car so you have proof of ownership and take the title for the car that the plates belong on with you.   It's really not a big deal.

Same in Ohio.  This is what I would do.

[Sho Amo]

  Thanks guys. Im actually really surprised at how many of you have confirmed driving without registration. Im going to have to look into it more before I do it.

Cop pulls me over and says what the hell are you doing driving with no registration.

But, all the guys on norotors said I could do it!


Anywho, the car in FL I was looking at got sold already. I still think Ill end up buying something out of state anyways.