Obtaining in-transit tags to move auto from PA to VA (sales, transfer) - Pennsylvania - City-Data Forum

jenniferprestia · 08-14-2009, 07:00 PM

If anyone has any experience doing this I would appreciate the input. This is the situation. I am about to purchase a "new" car for my daughter. I live in PA, she lives (and has a license for) VA. Now I have in the past transferred the title, retagged etc a car from PA with little problem (if you discount the amount of time it took explaining to VA DMV that it was possible). However I think I may have reached a brick wall with regard to doing what I want to do, which is obtain a 30 day in-transit tag from PA, and then register etc the car in VA. The specific problem appears to be that PA will not issue such a tag unless confronted with a purchaser who lives in another state (and has a driving license etc to prove it). This is not the case here.

I am beginning (reluctantly) to think that I will have to title and tag the car in PA and then redo the whole thing in VA. This is more than a little irritating, not just because of the additional fees, but because I will then have to pay the PA 7% sales tax rather than the VA 3%. I wouldn't mind, but the car will be leaving the state within a few days. A couple of dealers told me they could do this, no problem, but having done my own research I can't see how (since the only documentation I can find from PA DMV is for agents that tell them they MUST see and outside PA license to issue one of these tags). I suspect they were telling me what I wanted to hear. Now, however, I am likely to be purchasing from a private party so I have to sort this out on my own.

The DMV site is useless and the only way to get a look at the form (MV-120) is to actually go to an agent and ask to see it (come to think of it, I might just do that tomorrow). Why they guard them so closely is anyone's guess - fraud I suppose. Still, they could at least show what documentation you need.

So, if anyone has any insight about the PA side (I'm OK with the VA side) I would be grateful.

pcity · 08-15-2009, 07:35 PM

I didn't have any problem with this when I moved PA to VA a few years back.

The dealership set me up with temporary PA tags, but charged me VA tax. I still had a PA license at the time and it wasn't a problem. I just transferred everything to VA after I moved.

Katie1 · 08-15-2009, 07:40 PM

Send title to daughter have her reg & buy tags in VA... She can them mail them to you!! & reg & ins cards too!! O she will have to check VA laws about how long she has to get insp!! Then do all this just before she gets the car so she will not get a ticket for non inspection.

jenniferprestia · 08-16-2009, 05:05 PM

Pcity: thanks. Unfortunately I believe the rules changed in last couple of years so it may no longer be possible - however, what you say gives me hope.

Katie1 - interesting idea. The other option is for her to get a VA temp tag (which is possible), and then for her to drive up here in her old car and drive back in her new). I was sort of thinking that the car HAD to be tagged etc, but I suppose if it was parked in my garage it doesn't have to be.

Hmm - DH has told me I have to have a special tag to do this: yet more expense I suppose.

Katie1 · 08-16-2009, 07:12 PM

Most cities wont let a car set without it being legal in some way. Good luck!

jenniferprestia · 08-16-2009, 07:53 PM

Yes - you'd think there would be something on the DMV site but that would be too easy. There's stuff about being on the public highway, by nada about being on your own property. Oh well - another question on my list.

Thanks

Boompa · 08-16-2009, 07:56 PM

I bought a new car in Arizona then technically bought back the trade in from the dealer. He put an Arizona Temp Tag on it so my daughter could drive it back to the state she lives in

jenniferprestia · 08-17-2009, 12:12 PM

Having consulted with AAA this morning, I can theoretically do the following: get the seller to leave the car on my property, remove the tags, go to AAA and they sign the title to indicate it's been sold and fill out a MV-3 (Price sold for form). Then, when DD is next in town, we can go to AAA and get a 30 day temp tag (as she has an out of state license) drive it to VA and do the tags there. This way I avoid paying PA the sales tax and just pay it to VA. Another option would be for her to get a "trip permit" from VA but that only works if you can move the car within 3 days of purchasing it, and I don't think that will be possible.

That's the theory, anyway - if it doen't work no doubt I'll post again.

jenniferprestia · 08-18-2009, 04:18 PM

Final update for anyone trying to do this in the future. Sadly, I managed to shoot myself in the foot by allowing the notary to enter my address on the title, which means I will be unable to get in-transit tags for it. I just wasn't thinking, so it was my own fault. Theoretically, I could take the title back to the same notary when my daughter is in town and have the address changed - problem with that is the notary is unavailable on Thursday and Friday, which is when DD is in town. Sigh. This means I go to plan B - I drive to VA with all the paperwork, but in another vehicle, title the new vehicle, transfer the plates from the old vehicle and dispose of it (it's going to charity anyway) drive back here with DD, put the plates on the new vehicle then all that has to be done is the safety inspection when she gets back to VA.

Note to other people - do not try to buy a vehicle in PA intending to title and tag it outside of PA unless you have someone with an out of state license with you or you are happy to pay the PA tax (honestly, I'm at the point now where I would consider it).