Question About Getting A Newly Bought Used Car Home

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
06/15/2014 at 13:27 • Filed to: help, question, oppo, used car, craigslist

Well Oppo, you may soon be looking at (well looking at the typed words of) the owner of a 740 Turbo wagon. There is just one question that I'm hoping you can help with. Currently, the seller doesn't have the car registered. It has no plates or anything since he transferred them to his new car. So, how do I get this wagon home if I buy it? Am I better off putting an old Florida plate that I have lying around on, or do I go to the DMV and try and get a temporary or risk driving without one? Thanks for the help since I've never done this before.

DISCUSSION (31)

jkm7680 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:30

I wouldn't stick an old Florida plate on. Nowadays Police cars have licence plate scanners, which notify the officers that the plates are not worky.

STREPITUS > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:30

Depends on the state. In MA for instance, you're shit out of luck because the DMV doesn't acknowledge temp tags or anything like that. In MI, as long as you have the title on you and its signed and dated, thats good enough for X number of days until you get a plate. Check your local DMV site FAQ section for buying a used car from a private party.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:31

Roadkill does nothing so do nothing.

Big Bubba Ray > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:31

Try to get a temporary tag if possible. If you can't, just go plateless. If you happen to get pulled over, show the officer the bill of sale, title, and anything else that states that you've just purchased it and say you're on your way home. You should be fine.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > jkm7680
06/15/2014 at 13:31

Thats what I figured, but I thought maybe it'd look better than going with no plate at all. But I know they do scan everything.

So, is the DMV the right choice then? Try and get a temp tag

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:32

You should be able to drive it home just on a signed title, but I'm not sure of Florida's laws, so you might be able to use roadside assistance and have it towed home.

jkm7680 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:33

Well, does he have a title?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Big Bubba Ray
06/15/2014 at 13:34

That's what I figured. I wanted to get custom plates for it, so I may just go right to the DMV and leave the car with the seller for the 30 minutes I'll be there.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H!
06/15/2014 at 13:34

Thats actually not a bad idea. Can call Allstate and have them tow it back to my house...

But I don't know if our policy lets us do that yet since the wagon itself isn't covered.

I think i will try going to the DMV

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > jkm7680
06/15/2014 at 13:36

Yeah, its in his name and all. He just transferred his plates over to his new car.

Normally, I'd take the plates that were on it, drive it home, and surrender those plates at the DMV, but I cant here.

jkm7680 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:36

Sounds like a tow is the best plan, then DMV and see how that goes.

PS9 > Big Bubba Ray
06/15/2014 at 13:39

temp tags are only available to dealers in this state. Not possible unless JQ knows someone who knows someone.

PS9 > TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H!
06/15/2014 at 13:42

Florida, a state that has no income tax, features laws designed to nickle and dime the fuck out of everyone. Signed title or not, driving it around with no plate even for a moment is 100% police bait. No plate + no insurance = no license for JQ until the state gets it's $200-300 reinstatement fee. This all assumes the thing doesn't get towed/impounded.

PS9 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:46

Here are your options.

1) Leave the car where it is until EVERYTHING (plates, insurance and title) is in order, then drive it home.

2) Tow it.

3) Drive it home with no insurance, no plate, get stopped by fee collect-...err 'law enforcement' and pay everything you would have had to pay to legally drive it around + license reinstatement and impound fees.

#FellowFloridaResidentWhoHasSeenSomeShit

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > PS9
06/15/2014 at 13:47

Option 3 is my biggest fear! I think I'm going to try option 1.. he lives close to the tax collectors office (who handles all of this shit) so I will buy it, leave it there, and go to the DMV and get a temporary tag (I plan on getting a custom plate for it)

Squid > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:55

Make him sign a bill of sale along with the title of the car and go straight to the DMV, or better yet make him go to the DMV with you to complete the transaction so there is no confusion with the title or registration. If you are heading to the DMV with no plates but have the title in hand and bill of sale the cops shouldn't harass you if they do pull you over. The correct thing to do is to call the DMV and see what they advise you to do before you waste a day sitting in line to find out you can't get it registered.

Big Bubba Ray > PS9
06/15/2014 at 13:55

Ya, I wasn't sure. I'm in Missouri and I think they're available if you really wanted them. He should be ok just driving plateless with a signed title, though I'm not entirely sure of the laws in Florida.

Big Bubba Ray > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 13:56

I say just get it and drive it home. It will be a hell of a lot easier and that way you don't have to leave it with the seller.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Squid
06/15/2014 at 13:58

The seller seems reasonable enough that Im sure he would go along with me to fill out paperwork in front of the dmv... besides the office is not too far from where he lives.

I never thought of this being such a pain before!

PS9 > Big Bubba Ray
06/15/2014 at 14:03

Our laws (especially traffic laws) are designed around making money for the state. The laws here are absolute about cars with no plates, and make no provision for when the car was purchased. JQ driving around with no plate = free licence suspension money for Florida.

Squid > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 14:07

I find it best to cover your ass when dealing with buying an unregistered car, plus if he is there he can pay any unpaid fines if there are any associated with the vehicle. It would be his quickest way of getting the car out of his life if it all is legit.

Big Bubba Ray > PS9
06/15/2014 at 14:20

Well damn. That sounds like a massive pain in the ass.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 14:55

When my girlfriend's dad bought his BMW, he just drove it home without a tag. He said if he got pulled over he'd just show the cop the bill of sale and he shouldn't have a problem.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/15/2014 at 14:58

That seems to be the general consensus. I mean its not too far of a drive and as long as I dont do anything stupid...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 15:00

He had to drive well over an hour to get home and didn't have a problem. If it's only like 15 or so minutes away from your house, you really shouldn't have a problem.

But we are talking about Florida here...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/15/2014 at 15:49

just drive home. if you get pulled over just tell the po-po you just picked it up.

SantaRita > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/16/2014 at 11:58

make your own temp plate.

noringnocare > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/16/2014 at 13:07

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=temporary+p…

Paul E misplaced his star > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/16/2014 at 15:36

From Florida's DMV site: http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/buying_sel…

Short answer—go to county tax collector's office in FL, bring seller (ideally-handy to have them along), completed title, bring proof of insurance, buy temp tag, drive home relatively unhassled. Enjoy your Brick!

tomcat1967 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/16/2014 at 16:43

Drive it home, all states have DMV laws that give 'x' number of days in which to get the vehicle registered in your name after purchasing it; your bill of sale and completed title transfer are all you will have to show anyone who pulls you over, should that happen. Also, if you currently have an insured vehicle, that insurance will likely cover you on the way home from buying your wagon (mine does for me), but a quick call to your agent will answer that question for you.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > tomcat1967
06/16/2014 at 19:38

I looked into it more and have 72 hours to get it registered. And yes, insurance would cover it for the short drive!