Transporting M3

[Marleyone]

I just bought an M3 several states away. Does anyone know how I can legally drive the car home to Indiana with no license plates? The guy I bought it from has let the plates expire and has not yet received his renewal stickers. The BMV here will not issue a plate to me until they have the tittle in hand. This leaves me a bit screwed, I would have to make two trips to where the car is located. One to purchase the car and get the tittle, and then come home get plates, and return to drive the car home. Not to mention the fact I would have to find a place to store the car in between trips! Anyone who has any ideas please let me know! Thanks.

[montaillou]

Drive it with the old plates - at least that's what I'd do.

[Le Nitro]

dont get caught

[BrianBoy]

You could look into getting a "one day moving permit" but I think that is only good for the state you get it in, so you would have to get one for each state your going through. It also depends on the state I don't know if all states offer them. Just something you might want to look into. Best of luck man

[RabidChimp]

http://www.intercitylines.com/Default.cfm?code=bf&bannerID=84

[jibaholic101]

you have to ship it...and if you drive it, bring radar, and dont get caught. if you are doing the title transfer in that state, you will have to pay the taxes in that state (if you plan on driving out with the car) if you dont get the car transported (its that way with dealerships)

[Marleyone]

Well, thanks for all the advice. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I'll keep you all posted!! I am going to check with the BMV again tomorrow and hope I get a different person, maybe one who will understand the situation. I know, I know.......that will NOT happen! Thanks again.

[Bromaguire]

I just bought an M3 several states away. Does anyone know how I can legally drive the car home to Indiana with no license plates? The guy I bought it from has let the plates expire and has not yet received his renewal stickers. The BMV here will not issue a plate to me until they have the tittle in hand. This leaves me a bit screwed, I would have to make two trips to where the car is located. One to purchase the car and get the tittle, and then come home get plates, and return to drive the car home. Not to mention the fact I would have to find a place to store the car in between trips! Anyone who has any ideas please let me know! Thanks.

How about having the previous owner send you the title and all other paperwork first. Once you get that all squared away with the transfer of title and such, then go to the BMV and get the plates or a temp tag. Then once you have the plates go pick up the car?

[02325]

take an old tag or hard paper and write tag applied for on it and drive it home. if you get stopped so them you just purchased the car and you are driving it home. you will have title and bill of sale showing you bought it. they can't do a damn thing. I have done it with no problems.

[montaillou]

take an old tag or hard paper and write tag applied for on it and drive it home. if you get stopped so them you just purchased the car and you are driving it home. you will have title and bill of sale showing you bought it. they can't do a damn thing. I have done it with no problems.

Well, I think they could do a "damn thing" if they were so inclined, or you were being a Richard about it. However, if you took your paperwork with you, and in the event of getting pulled over (only for that reason) showed it to the cop he'd probably let you go. If you were speeding though, or did some other stupid thing to get pulled over, they'd probably slap that as well onto the fine.

Which is why I'd risk it.

[TunedReference]

I live in Rhode Island for school, but my license and legal address are still in New Hampshire. I bought my car here in RI, and drove it home the next day to get it registered and inspected, with the previous owner's plates still attached. I thought about applying for a 20 day temporary registration like I think you're supposed to do, but it would have required two separate trips to NH.

I just figured that since I had the Title and Bill of Sale with me I wouldn't have much of a problem explaining the situation to an officer if I had gotten pulled over.

[ak5]

rcgauto.com

[nosignal]

What state is the car you purchased in? Some states issue temporary "in-transit" plates (ranging from 1-60 days) that you can use to get the car home. You usually just need to pay a small fee and show proof of insurance and be on your way legally.

I just went through the same situation (live in NY, bought a car in NC) and here's the process I went through. NY is the same way as your state in that you need the title to register the car.


Added car to insurance policy (all you need is the VIN; no ownership documents needed).
Flew down, paid for car, had owner sign title over to me.
Drove on his old tags to the nearest DMV.
Showed proof of insurance and the signed-over title, they issued a 10 Day "Multi Use Tag" for $5.50. Took his tag off (mailing it back to him when I got back home) and put the temp one on.
Drove the car home, filled out the forms I needed in NY (New Car Registration and Declaration of Sales Tax) and brought everything to the DMV. They issued NY plates, and I was on my way.

Just call the DMV in the state you're purchasing the car in and see if they offer anything for in-transit vehicles. That's the easiest way to get accurate info.

[MatthewDFW]

...I just went through the same situation (live in NY, bought a car in NC) and here's the process I went through...

Absolute truth. My cousin did the exact same thing going from Nevada back to N. Carolina (actually bought a car - new - in Vegas to get home day after 9/11 - long story). He did get stopped - for speeding - but everything else re. title and insurance was completely cool, and he had no problem.

Short of having the car shipped to you, following nosignal's advice is the best way to go.

[Nomade30]

I got my m3 home without plates, got pulled over cop wrote me up. Judge dismissed it because there is no way to get a temporary tag/ticket on the weekend.

[MatthewDFW]

I got my m3 home without plates, got pulled over cop wrote me up. Judge dismissed it because there is no way to get a temporary tag/ticket on the weekend.

Lame cop. Should've know the rules before he hassled you.

[kitsuneM3]

Short of having the car shipped to you, following nosignal's advice is the best way to go.

+29734198731

If you go on a weekend or just have to do the stealth thing,
I've bought dozens of cars, and taken them across the entire country.

Never once had a problem. In fact, I've been pulled over weeks after I got the car back home for not having any plates.

Don't be a douche, don't street race on your way home, and be courteous if you're approached by an officer/SHP

[Phiberglass]

Isn't the ticket for running without any plates the same as a no front plate ticket. Just get it signed off and your good to go?

[MatthewDFW]

Isn't the ticket for running without any plates the same as a no front plate ticket. Just get it signed off and your good to go?

Depends on the state. Even within Texas (which, by the book, still "requires" front and back plates), a lot depends on the jurisdiction you're in. Cops in Baytown (near Houston) have a reputation for pulling cars over and ticketing (w/ mandatory fine) for missing front plate, while Dallas area cops tend to blow it off completely. But getting caught with NO plates on car... dang, I can't imagine getting let off on that.

[Phiberglass]

Depends on the state. Even within Texas (which, by the book, still "requires" front and back plates), a lot depends on the jurisdiction you're in. Cops in Baytown (near Houston) have a reputation for pulling cars over and ticketing (w/ mandatory fine) for missing front plate, while Dallas area cops tend to blow it off completely. But getting caught with NO plates on car... dang, I can't imagine getting let off on that.

Even if you got a ticket, all you would have to do is take your car in with proper plates mounted and you would pay the $10 right? I'm just curious cause I'm running without plates and have heard it's just a fix-it ticket and wanted to make sure.

[MatthewDFW]

Even if you got a ticket, all you would have to do is take your car in with proper plates mounted and you would pay the $10 right? I'm just curious cause I'm running without plates and have heard it's just a fix-it ticket and wanted to make sure.

I heard the $10 fix-it ticket applies if you have rear mounted but no front. According to most stories, this is tacked onto an existing violation (e.g., speeding), but isn't cause for being pulled over in and of itself (although I have heard exceptions where bare front gets you pulled over).

Hopefully, someone else might chime in re. experiences with no plates ticket.

[kitsuneM3]

I heard the $10 fix-it ticket applies if you have rear mounted but no front. According to most stories, this is tacked onto an existing violation (e.g., speeding), but isn't cause for being pulled over in and of itself (although I have heard exceptions where bare front gets you pulled over).

Hopefully, someone else might chime in re. experiences with no plates ticket.

At least that's my experience.

Pulled over...
Me: "Good afternoon!"
Officer: "You know why I pulled you over?"
Me: "... ah, no plates, right?"
Officer: "Yeah. You weren't speeding or anything, do you have a license, registration on you?"
Me: "I do have license and insurance... I just bought the car, and haven't made it into the inspection yet. Appointment is set for Thursday, but I just had to get to work until then. I do have a bill of sale and title?"
Officer: ...checks out the documents... "Alright, don't make a habit of it. I don't want to see you a week from now with no plates on."
Me: "Thank you very much!"

Lived in Florida at the time. Similar stories from Ohio. I wouldn't try that in NoVA/DC. :D

[Elvis T]

take an old tag or hard paper and write tag applied for on it and drive it home. if you get stopped so them you just purchased the car and you are driving it home. you will have title and bill of sale showing you bought it. they can't do a damn thing. I have done it with no problems.

This is 100% true.

I bought a car in Georgia and was driving it back to Virginia. I had just got back from a deployment and so I stopped by in Michigan to see my gf. I got pulled over in Michigan. The officer explained that I had to drive it directly home if I didn't have plates for it. He said if Michigan was only a little out of the way he would be able to let me go, but since it was hundreds of miles out of the way he wouldn't let me drive it off the private property (parking lot) I had conveniently pulled over into.

I went and applied for temporary tags using my gf's residence as an address and had temp tags for 30 days. In the meantime of those 30 days I registerred it in Wyoming and had the plates mailed to me in Virginia.

So yes, you can drive the car straight home if you have bill of sale and and insurance.

[Elvis T]

Depends on the state. Even within Texas (which, by the book, still "requires" front and back plates), a lot depends on the jurisdiction you're in. Cops in Baytown (near Houston) have a reputation for pulling cars over and ticketing (w/ mandatory fine) for missing front plate, while Dallas area cops tend to blow it off completely. But getting caught with NO plates on car... dang, I can't imagine getting let off on that.

I had an LEO pull me over when I had a plate from 6 years ago from a different car but the right color sticker, no registration or insurance in the car (had insurance, no registration though), and was speeding.

He even commented on how I had put a plate on with a sticker color that matched the new plate expiration color.

I drove off with a no registration and no insurance ticket. In total it was $70 ;)

[bigdog68]

Drove a Toyota LandCruiser from Washington State to Florida with the previous owners tags on, they were expired. In Georgia I get stopped 5 miles from the Florida border for the expired tag. I had Insurance, bill of sale, title in hand and the Trooper was very nice, he understood, he told me he used to have the same truck, and to make it home safe. Its not a big deal, but be nice and prepared if you do get stopped. Keep the expired plates on it though.

[Blau Blurr]

i drove mine home across two states(8+hrs) with no plates...just don't get caught.

[Phiberglass]

I heard the $10 fix-it ticket applies if you have rear mounted but no front. According to most stories, this is tacked onto an existing violation (e.g., speeding), but isn't cause for being pulled over in and of itself (although I have heard exceptions where bare front gets you pulled over).

Hopefully, someone else might chime in re. experiences with no plates ticket.

Ah ok, I was pulled over a few nights ago because I have no plates on front or back (currently europlate on the back). I just showed him registration, and that I purchased the car a month ago and he let me go. I'm just curious after the 90 days are up for the temp registration, what the circumstances are on running without front or back plates. Someone told me it was the same as a no front plate ticket, but I thought I've heard before that it is much worse. I can't seem to find the answer on the DMV site though.

[peter91118]

have the title shipped over night to you.

/thread

[kitsuneM3]

have the title shipped over night to you.

/thread

In the last 7 states I lived, they would not do a new registration on an out-of-state vehicle without the vehicle being there (physically)

Georgia excepted.

[That Fly 325i]

I just bought an M3 several states away. Does anyone know how I can legally drive the car home to Indiana with no license plates? The guy I bought it from has let the plates expire and has not yet received his renewal stickers. The BMV here will not issue a plate to me until they have the tittle in hand. This leaves me a bit screwed, I would have to make two trips to where the car is located. One to purchase the car and get the tittle, and then come home get plates, and return to drive the car home. Not to mention the fact I would have to find a place to store the car in between trips! Anyone who has any ideas please let me know! Thanks.

Cant you get temps?

[peter91118]

In the last 7 states I lived, they would not do a new registration on an out-of-state vehicle without the vehicle being there (physically)

Georgia excepted.

all i needed to get was the title to the regestry for both times i did it. did they walk out to the parking lot and look for it?

[Elvis T]

all i needed to get was the title to the regestry for both times i did it. did they walk out to the parking lot and look for it?

If the car was previously registered in the same state then they don't need to do a vin inspection. If it is from out of state then you need a vin inspection ;)

[peter91118]

both the cars i bought were from out of state! lol

[MatthewDFW]

Ah ok, I was pulled over a few nights ago because I have no plates on front or back (currently europlate on the back). I just showed him registration, and that I purchased the car a month ago and he let me go. I'm just curious after the 90 days are up for the temp registration, what the circumstances are on running without front or back plates. Someone told me it was the same as a no front plate ticket, but I thought I've heard before that it is much worse. I can't seem to find the answer on the DMV site though.

Each state is different. Oddly, the Texas DMV and Dept of Public Safety (highway patrol) is clear about the law about rear plates but no front plates - this comes from e-mail and live phone inquiries. But they are strangely evasive when asked about enforcement and penalties for no plates at all (including expiration of temp plate).

In retrospect, I think phoning BMW dealers in your home state (or states you'd pass through in an untitled car) would get better answers and real-life examples than anyone.

[oldymcoldington]

Insure it, for sure, some states have mandatory insurance policies, and you don't want to get caught without it, could be up to 3k$ in fines. Keep Bill of Sale / Title in your glove. Drive the speed limit. Good lucK!

False/old plates might not be a good idea, esp if they are out of state, expired. Local cops don't like this. Makes it look stolen, appearance wise.