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I've got new (actually, used) car fever, and while searching the internet classifieds back in December, I came across the perfect car at a good price and convenient to Raleigh. It was in Winston Salem and was registered in NC. Unfortunately, it was Christmas, and we were planning a trip to Arizona to visit my family, yadda, yadda, yadda. . . so I did not follow up on the car. After the holidays, I looked for the car and it was not for sale anymore.
Fast forward to this week. The same car shows up on the internet classifieds in Boston. It seems that a guy in Boston bought the car from the guy in Winston Salem and is now trying to flip it. The pictures on the classified ad do not show any plates on the car, and the Carfax does not yet show that he registered it in MA. I have contacted the seller and asked for the status of the car's registration, title, etc.
It seems like it would be beneficial to me if he has not gone through the process of registering the car in MA and getting new plates. If I was to fly up there to MA and buy the car, how would I get it back to NC with no plates? Would the DMV here in NC give me temporary ones, or would MA need to do that? I'm unfamiliar with this process. The last time I bought a used car it was at a dealer in the same state that I lived, and they took care of everything.
... If I was to fly up there to MA and buy the car, how would I get it back to NC with no plates?
This is what I would do... expedient but not completely legal.
Take the plates off any car which you now own and is insured. Fly to MA, buy the car (with valid NC title signed and notarized), slap your NC plates on the car, and drive it home.
My insurance agent says I am covered for any car I am driving, so the worst infraction in this scenario is "improper registration" which is not a moving violation.
Take the plates off any car which you now own and is insured. Fly to MA, buy the car (with valid NC title signed and notarized), slap your NC plates on the car, and drive it home.
I wondered if that was an option. Just need to make sure I don't arouse any attention when driving the 800 miles back from Boston. Thanks for the idea.
Any other recommendations? My next door neighbor is friends with a used car dealer. Maybe I'll ask him this question as well.
... so the worst infraction in this scenario is "improper registration" which is not a moving violation.
.
Not 100% true...could be charged with failure to register a vehicle, no insurance, fictitious tags (and have your tags taken away)...and probably a few more...
For some reason, buying a car and getting it back to be registered in NC is completely unfair for the buyer.
Not 100% true...could be charged with failure to register a vehicle, no insurance, fictitious tags (and have your tags taken away)...and probably a few more...
Seller says that he has not registered the car in MA yet. He paid in cash, so he has the clean title without any loans, in hand.
Is this person in MA an individual or a dealer? If he's a dealer then he should be able to provide you with a bill of sale and temporary tag to drive it home. You would only need to make sure the vehicle is insured before you start driving home.
If he's an individual then that is tricky. I'd probably take the risk with a plate from another car and just make sure you get an invoice or SOMETHING from the seller to take with you. Only a complete jerk cop will bust you if you explain the situation. Again, make sure the car is insured before you leave and if you want to take it to another level fill out a NC Title App and keep it with you. If the cop pulls you over just tell him "hey I just bought the car (show him paperwork) and will be transferring the tag immediately when I get to NC.
Lastly, if he is willing have your used car dealer friend buy it for you and use their dealer plate to transport the car. Then when you get home he can sell it to you (for a small fee) and you can use that paperwork/title reassignment to finish the process.
Is this person in MA an individual or a dealer? If he's a dealer then he should be able to provide you with a bill of sale and temporary tag to drive it home.
That's a good question. I have assumed that he's an individual because the pictures of the car were taken in his driveway, but I could be wrong. He's obviously bought the car for the purpose of flipping it. Maybe he only does this a few times a year. I'm not sure what the rules in MA are for having a car "dealer" license. I'll ask.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iamweasel
Lastly, if he is willing, have your used car dealer friend buy it for you and use their dealer plate to transport the car.
That's certainly another option. Unfortunately I have been unable to contact my neighbor to see what advice his car dealer friend has. He is an airline pilot and is often away for a few days at a time.
My other quandary is the pre-purchase inspection. If the car has no tags, how can I take it for a test drive, or how can I take it to a mechanic to look over?
That's a good question. I have assumed that he's an individual because the pictures of the car were taken in his driveway, but I could be wrong. He's obviously bought the car for the purpose of flipping it. Maybe he only does this a few times a year. I'm not sure what the rules in MA are for having a car "dealer" license. I'll ask.
That's certainly another option. Unfortunately I have been unable to contact my neighbor to see what advice his car dealer friend has. He is an airline pilot and is often away for a few days at a time.
My other quandary is the pre-purchase inspection. If the car has no tags, how can I take it for a test drive, or how can I take it to a mechanic to look over?
Well to test-drive it or take it to a mechanic you need to figure out the other stuff first. (Whether he's a dealer and has a tag, etc.) Also, does he have insurance on the car? Who's insurance is covering it when you would be test driving it and getting it checked out? How did he transport it back to MA if he is not a dealer and isn't registering it there?
Just seems like an awful lot of trouble to me for a car. There are thousands of used cars in our area where you don't have to deal with this stuff. This better be a special car......
The proper way to do this is to obtain a temporary transport tag from the state in which you purchase the vehicle. You should never take a plate off another vehicle--this will get you a ticket and a hefty fine if you're pulled over.
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