Car title transfer and registration questions (sale, insurance, buying)

[rabbitsong]

Are there any users on here who either work for the DMV or know enough about the car buying/selling process that can answer some questions? I'm seeing contradictory information all over the place, and even some on the DMV websites! My head is spinning!!

Here are the basic details.

Car A (Nissan) tags expired the end of one month. First week of the next month, the car was rear-ended. (No ticket issued for the expired tags, just a verbal notice to get it done. It was still within that 15 day "grace period".) Because of the damage and the age of Car A, it was considered a total loss. The title was signed over to insurance and settled. Plate has not been turned in.

Car B (Saturn) belongs to a relative who is not currently driving it. Tags are expired, but I'm not sure how long they've been expired. The car has been offered at a very low price. Title transfer, registration, taxes, etc. will be the buyer's responsibility.

My questions are related to the order of events that need to happen.

1. Can tag from Car A be transferred to Car B? Or could Car B keep it's tag? Or does buyer need a new tag?

2. What is the first thing that needs to happen? Title Transfer? Inspection? Registration?

It looks like Title & Registration can happen at the same time, but where does the Inspection come in? It doesn't need an emissions test because it's a 1995 year.

Help!! It shouldn't be this complicated!!

[twingles]

We transferred plates from one car to another this past year, however, the plate was still valid. If you have the plate from car A, that was totaled, and never re-registered that car, that plate is not currently valid, so I'm not sure how that would be handled.

The title issue is totally separate from the registration issue. Personally, if it were me, I'd take the whole thing down to the DMV agency, since you'll want to handle the title thing there in person, and ask them what to do about all the tags. It's all handled out of the same office anyway.

[wombeatz]

I'm going through a similar situation and hope you could shed some light on this.

What was the outcome of this? Were you able to transfer the plates from Car A to Car B?

Thanks!!!

[Supernc42]

Originally Posted by wombeatz

I'm going through a similar situation and hope you could shed some light on this.

What was the outcome of this? Were you able to transfer the plates from Car A to Car B?

Thanks!!!

Handle the two issues sepRATELY. Turn in the car A plate and the the insurance on the same day. On that phone call add car B to your insurance. Then take the title, proof of insurance to the DMV with a hand written Bill of sale to DMV.

I just registed a car and a trailor from Mass. They were owned by my Dad who past. I carried the registration from Mass. They took everything and put it in the package. A walk in the park. They love to see past proof of oqnershipm that makes them bullet proof.

[Willow_Spring_NC]

New buyer will need a new tag regardless. Unless its a personalized tag why even bother. you arent saving anything by transferring versus new anyway even if you could with an expired tag.