MD Residents: ? about transporting unregistered vehicle

[Jabberwocky]

I figured asking this was a long shot but what the hell, doesn't hurt to try...

I am a Maryland resident and just bought a 350Z from a private seller about 2 hours south in Virginia. I am going down Friday afternoon to exchange money/title and bring the car home with me. The seller will not let go of the title until I give him the cash (understandable) and I am not willing to send the money without having the title immediately hit my hands (duh). Since he is located so far away I would rather take care of everything in one shot and not have to run back and forth, but I have no way to transport the car home (legally).

No trailer, must have title in hand for MD to issue a temp tag, VA will give in-state residents a transport permit but has no love for out of state buyers. I am at a loss as to what I could do to get one...like I said no truck or trailer, don't have any car dealing friends to borrow a dealer tag from, and would rather not take the chance of putting my Sentra tags on the Z for the drive home (but it's looking like this may be my only option.)

Has anyone from my area been in this situation before? What did you do?

[Jesda]

In Missouri you're allowed to use your own plate to transport a vehicle if you intend on transferring it to that car or plan on buying new plates for it.

Most states will give you a 15, 30, or 90-day temp tag for the sole purpose of transporting the car out of state. You will have to go to the DMV counter with the seller and pick it up.


Honestly, cops don't care as long as you have all your paperwork with a bill of sale. You'll get pulled over but they'll let you go.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Most states will give you a 15, 30, or 90-day temp tag for the sole purpose of transporting the car out of state. You will have to go to the DMV counter with the seller and pick it up.

They're usually DIRT cheap, too. I've done this for transporting cars to/from a few different states. Most states require some sort of proof of insurance even for a temp plate, but not all (I didn't have to show it in Idaho, for instance). This is the route I'd go if possible. Simple, cheap, and you've got a solid paper trail like Jesda mentioned.

EDIT:
Argh, nevermind, I realized you don't have access to the title. That complicates things a bit. I was lucky enough to have title in hand before I went to pick up my last out-of-state car, so I just bought the Utah temp plate and took it with me.
I guess the real question is: will VA let you register the car without having a VA address?

[Rager]

well this thread some what relates to what ive got going on. im going to go look at a boat/trailer on sunday. im going to be registering in VT but im here in CT and thats where im buying the boat from. i currently have a VT trailer plate for my trailer (and truck) and i was thinking of using that just to get the boat home and of the road here in CT til i get up to VT and register it.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/3727620059.html hes letting it go for 500 bucks, he just wants it gone!

im going to go look it up now but does anyone have any input on hand writin bill of sales?

if i buy it i can just call my insurance company, insure it, slap the current trailer plate on and hope for the best?

any thoughts?

thanks

andrew

[Bubba1]

The last time my friend in Maryland bought a used car from up here in PA, I flatbedded it home for him.(legal, and simple) Without a friend who owns a flatbed or trailer, I see two other options. First is to contact to your local DMV and apply for a transfer plate. they'll explain everything you'll need instead of us guessing (individual state requirements could vary) Besides the v.i.n. (serial number), make, model, color,mileage, I'm sure you'll need proof of insurance and perhaps a copy of the bill of sale + the title. The other option is to do it the illegal stealth way, using an old tag taken off another car you own, and sneaking it home with the signed title and bill of sale. I recommend doing it the legal way, of course, but if you do it the illegal/stealth way, you do not want to roll without it being insured under your name (not the seller's). the downside to the illegal way is the unpredictible outcome if you get caught. Depends on the cop.

Good luck

[Bubba1]

well this thread some what relates to what ive got going on. im going to go look at a boat/trailer on sunday. im going to be registering in VT but im here in CT and thats where im buying the boat from. i currently have a VT trailer plate for my trailer (and truck) and i was thinking of using that just to get the boat home and of the road here in CT til i get up to VT and register it.

http://hartford.craigslist.org/boa/3727620059.html hes letting it go for 500 bucks, he just wants it gone!

im going to go look it up now but does anyone have any input on hand writin bill of sales?

if i buy it i can just call my insurance company, insure it, slap the current trailer plate on and hope for the best?

any thoughts?

thanks

andrew

Rager, unless the seller is willing to let you "borrow" his valid trailer tag for your ride home (which some motivated sellers are willing to do), and you would offer to send it back to him immediately upon arrival, I'm guessing you have the exact same situation as if it was a car.

[krash]

yea, in MD, the right way to do it is to get temp tags, but you need the title. My friends and I have always done the 'ol tag swap and then have someone follow behind and have someone in front of the car that we're transporting.

Maybe ask the guy if you can pay half now for the title and then half on pick up of the car? Thats probably your best legal option.

[hannibal]

I lived in MD a few years ago. I can say without question that I drove the vehicle home without any tags but the car was purchased in MD. Once I bought the car, I called insurance to add the car to my policy. Then I just kept the newly signed title with me as I drove home. And went to the DMW to transfer the title and get a tag. They'll give you a tag valid for 30 (60?) days but you have to pass emissions and safety inspection before they extend the registration for the full term and send the appropriate expiration stickers.

I cant imagine VA giving you a tag to drive home to MD.

I'm much more risk averse now so I would talk to the DMV to find the correct way to do this.

[Dattebayo]

I am a little confused. You say you just bought it but you haven't handed the seller the money yet? Maybe you should pay and have the guy send the title first so you can get a temp tag?

I recently drove home a vehicle without any tags on it from VA to MD, but I had the luxury of the title. If you have a tail car and the title, then everything should be fine. If you get pulled over, you need to have some documentation of your ownership of the vehicle or else you're out of luck. If you don't, I'd say your options are to flatbed it or nothing. Otherwise the seller could screw you real bad and/or you could end up with a costly court visit and possible some jail time (absolute worst-case scenario).

[Jabberwocky]

I am a little confused. You say you just bought it but you haven't handed the seller the money yet? Maybe you should pay and have the guy send the title first so you can get a temp tag?

Technically I haven't bought it, but the agreement has been made and I just need to get down there and make the exchange. I'm not sending money and trusting that I get the title in return, and he's not giving up the title without the money. Sounds like a good way to end up on People's Court.

However, I just called VA DMV (30 min wait for a 2 min conversation) and they told me if I come to a DMV with the title and bill of sale they will issue me a 3 day temp tag...problem solved. I was starting to think dead of night, no headlights, night vision goggles, 6th gear the whole way back

Thanks everyone for chiming in...

[Dattebayo]

However, I just called VA DMV (30 min wait for a 2 min conversation) and they told me if I come to a DMV with the title and bill of sale they will issue me a 3 day temp tag...problem solved.

Did you tell them you're a MD resident?

[Jabberwocky]

Yes.

[Dattebayo]

According to the Virginia DMV website:

"Applying For a Standard Trip Permit

If you are the vehicle owner and want to move your unregistered vehicle, you are required to apply for a trip permit. You will need:

proof of ownership such as a valid assignable title, valid assigned title, registration card, bill of sale, or other documents showing ownership;
point of origin and point of destination;
dates of travel;
$5 permit fee;
insurance certification or payment of 1/12 of the uninsured motor vehicle fee for motorized vehicles ONLY."

I guess they were partially right. Make sure you get it insured before you head off though or be prepared to pay a bunch of $$$ for it...

[Jabberwocky]

I got it added to my policy this atternoon. Surprised me, with the cheapest coverage on my Sentra I paid $60 a month, full coverage for the Z is only $80 a month. Hell yeah State Farm!

[Jesda]

3 days? If you had to drive to California I guess you wouldn't have time for a whole lot of sightseeing.