Question about buying a car without plates

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
06/21/2014 at 19:24 • Filed to: None

I'm buying a car and plan to drive it home tomorrow. I've already insured it over the phone but obviously haven't registered it yet. I have a few random license plates around the house. Should I hang one on the car to minimize police action or just drive home without plates?

DISCUSSION (16)

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 19:25

Without.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 19:26

Drive home without the plates. If just bought the car, you have a 30-60 day window to get the car plated. If you have the wrong plates on the car, that is a crime, and will likely get your car towed.

Louros > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/21/2014 at 19:30

Depends on the state... In NJ you cannot drive without plates

Louros > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 19:31

I always just toss an old plate on and drive extra cautiously

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/21/2014 at 19:31

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic
06/21/2014 at 19:31

Thanks!

Hi there > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 20:04

Drive it home without tags with the bill of sale and proof of insurance on you. If it's an appreciable distance the odds are pretty good that you'll get stopped, just tell them you just bought it and are driving it home and then offer up the bill of sale and proof of insurance along with your driver's license.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 22:11

You can normally drive it straight home without plates if you have the title with you, but then you're not supposed to drive it again until you get plates. I think it varies by state, some states will let you get temporary paper plates.

shop-teacher > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 22:20

Definitely without plates. A bill of sale is sufficient for 30 days. You're one step up on the game by having it insured already. You have 30 days to do that too.

joey-taps > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 22:35

I had a friend who bought a car in a southern state where no front license plate is required. He figured out that he could use the Texas license plate from his apartment wall on his newly purchased car to avoid cop hassles. He put the plate on the back and proceeded to get the biggest ticket ever, I think it was close to 700 dollars. The Arkansas cop knew that Texas has both front and back license plates.

Murphie > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/21/2014 at 22:42

Totally depends on the law in your state...check it out. Some states have temporary plates and if you don't have one its a big ticket.

Zoom > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/22/2014 at 00:14

Depends on the state, in the US.

Michigan allows you the most direct route home, if you have the title in your hand. That's it.

treesmakewater > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/22/2014 at 12:59

it depends entirely on the state. I bought an Audi a few months ago and drove it 200ish miles home without a plate. Never got pulled over (lucky?).

Stef Schrader > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/22/2014 at 15:14

Kinja'd!!!

OMG PLEASE BE ONE OF THESE!

I love these Roadsters. Love love love.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/25/2014 at 00:02

Highly depends on the state.

Serry Morgan > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
06/26/2014 at 01:34

It will be better to drive the car after getting actual licensed plates. It's not right to use random license plates on your car. It leads to criminal offense and punishable according to law. By Serry Morgan, Working At : Prestige Of Avenel