New license plates in TN (Memphis, Bartlett: sales, insurance, buy)

[worried4kids]

We moved here from IL about 4 months ago. We just got a used car from my husband's coworker. Does anyone know how this will work when we go to get new plates? Will it be outrageous? We have to have new ones b/c our old ones are IL, and we're giving the other car to our niece. I'm going to call the dmv place on Monday, and found only a little info online. So I thought I'd ask you all how this works? Do you have to go to your own county?? Do you have to have the vehicle with you? Can you drive the car without any tags as long as you have insurance? Anyone know anything about this?? (sorry sooo many questions!)

[bjh]

I think it depends a lot on the vehicle and the county. Probably under $100.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by worried4kids

We moved here from IL about 4 months ago. We just got a used car from my husband's coworker. Does anyone know how this will work when we go to get new plates? Will it be outrageous? We have to have new ones b/c our old ones are IL, and we're giving the other car to our niece. I'm going to call the dmv place on Monday, and found only a little info online. So I thought I'd ask you all how this works? Do you have to go to your own county?? Do you have to have the vehicle with you? Can you drive the car without any tags as long as you have insurance? Anyone know anything about this?? (sorry sooo many questions!)

If you live in Memphis, you'll have to have the car inspected before you can get tags. You buy your tags in your county because the price per county varies due to city tag fees, wheel taxes and such. In Memphis, the tags are $104. If you drive without tags, you'll get a ticket with a steep fine for driving an unregistered car. You don't have to have the car with you to get the tags, but you do have to have it with you to get it inspected, of course.

[worried4kids]

We don't live in Memphis, we live in Fayette County in Oakland. So I guess my question is then if they allow you so many days to get the tags considering that the offices are closed over the weekend and on Monday? (MLK day) I know in IL they did allow you like 5 days or something, I can't remember exactly.

[JoeCartpath]

I'm assuming you haven't already titled the car in IL. If you live inside the Memphis city limits, you'll have to take it through inspection before you go to one of the County Clerk's offices to register the car. The inspection is free and is very basic (checking all lights, brakes, parking brake and emissions). If you live outside the Memphis city limits you can skip the inspection.

When you go to the County Clerk's office, you'll need to bring the original Certificate of Title that is properly assigned to you on the back. In addition to the annual license fee of about $100 (it varies a few bucks depending on whether you live in Memphis, Bartlett, just in the county, etc.), you'll pay a small title fee (about $15 as I recall), and you'll also have to pay sales tax. Sales tax on vehicles is different from that on other items. The regular tax rate is paid on part of the price, and a lower tax on the excess over that amount. I believe you can calculate the tax (or at least get close) by taking 6% of the purchase price + $35. You'll also need to show proof of your TN address (driver's license, personal check, utility bill, etc.).

No, you can't drive the car without tags - that'll get you noticed real quick by the police...and you'll be fined. If you just leave your IL tags on the car until you get it registered you'll probably be OK as long as they're not expired.

[JoeCartpath]

Originally Posted by worried4kids

We don't live in Memphis, we live in Fayette County in Oakland. So I guess my question is then if they allow you so many days to get the tags considering that the offices are closed over the weekend and on Monday? (MLK day) I know in IL they did allow you like 5 days or something, I can't remember exactly.

Sorry, I type slowly...so most of my previous won't apply to you in Fayette County.

I believe the law allows you 30 days to title the car in TN when you move here, but it does NOT allow you to drive it without any tags at all during that period. The law assumes that it'll have tags from your previous state.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by worried4kids

We don't live in Memphis, we live in Fayette County in Oakland. So I guess my question is then if they allow you so many days to get the tags considering that the offices are closed over the weekend and on Monday? (MLK day) I know in IL they did allow you like 5 days or something, I can't remember exactly.

You can get a temporary tag from the Highway Patrol Office to cover you until you can get real tags. That office is typically open on weekends as it's the State Troopers office.

[Pearlbob]

You will definitely get pulled over driving on expired tags. I wouldn't risk it. For some reason, the cops notice that more than anything around here. (Which is odd, given how small the little tag is...)

[worried4kids]

We decided not to even drive the car until we go to the clerk's office. Nothing's expired. We have IL plates, but they don't go to the car we bought from his coworker. I called the police dept. in Oakland to ask them about it. He said it's "officer discretion" but we could still possibly get a ticket. We just don't want the hassle. My neice will have to wait. (sh'e 20 and in college so you know that's hard for her but oh well)

On the tax thing, if we paid very little or nothing for the car, do you still have to pay taxes on it???

[JoeCartpath]

You'll have to pay tax on the purchase price. If the purchase price was little or nothing, you'll have to pay very little - or no - tax. I believe the standard sales tax rate applies to the first $1500 or so. Your tax should be minimal.