I can confirm NC tag offices are a cluster berkeley, most of us either try to camp out and be first in line, take the day off work or drive an hour to the closest virtually uninhabited county and visit their office which is hopefully less busy. It is a lose-lose.
congrats! I think it will be a solid van for you, and exactly what you were looking for.
I did a fly-and-drive from AL to PA. If you can get the signed title and get the VIN verified, then you can register, insure and show up with a PA plate to drive it home with.
I was fortunate in that I had local (to AL) family to help me out. They found an Alabama cop to sign PA form MV-41 verifying the VIN, and mailed that and the signed title from the seller to me. I went to notary service (Brimmer's in York) because when I called and asked about doing this, they had a clue.
This only works if you can/are willing to pay for it in advance, however.
https://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dvspubsforms/BMV/BMV%20Fact%20Sheets/fs-vinverif.pdf
In reply to alphahotel :
I don't have any issues getting the VIN verified, the van I'm buying isn't currently registered, so I would have to drive it home with no registration. Not really keen on driving 400 miles asking for trouble. My problem is I'm in PA, buying the van in NC. NC is making it impossible for me to get a temp registration so I can get it home to PA.
I thought about just taking a trailer, but published curb weight on the van is 5800 lbs or so. I have a 7000lb trailer, but it weighs around 2000 itself. If I had brand new tires on the trailer, I'd consider pushing the limits.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
I'd bet that if you got pulled over and showed them the bill of sale and such they would be ok.
I drove the rampage like 2000 miles without it signed over to my name with just the bill of sale
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
If it were me...
I would follow the rules that NC has for what needs to happen to a title. As an example, here in Ohio, an Ohio title has to be notarized. If NC has similar then get it done in NC.
If you as a PA resident were buying a Ohio vehicle from me, the title would have my name typed on the front and your name hand written and signed on the back next to a Ohio Notary stamp. With that done to an Ohio title you are set to take that title to PA to have it assigned to you. If I were you, I would then drive from Ohio to PA with no license plate but inside the vehicle you would have with you the notarized title. Also have with you a copy (or at least a phone ap version) of proof that you are carrying insurance on the vehicle.
In these covid times, things seem to have gotten pretty lax in the needs for timely registration. But, even pre-covid, the above method would be fine.
I guess I'm more willing to push the limits of stuff like this but then again Lil Stampie and I had a discussion tonight that he shouldn't have as many conversations with police as I've had.
North Carolina: according to the dmv here, selling an nc title out of state still requires the title to be notarized on signing.
Banks here have notaries, as well as some insurance agencies.
You HAVE TO have it notarized. Seller signature, no open titles.
Also, nc cops don't give a rats ass about the plate for 30 days from purchase as long as proof of insurance, title, and dated bill of sale are present.
Normally, I would take the tags from my truck along with me and slap them on the van. I've done all kinds of dumb stuff like that.
Buuut... for reasons I won't disclose, let's just say I don't want to have any encounters with the law types during this specific 6-12 month period of my life. Doing this one by the book.
Dad is looking at the title and the GVW plate on the trailer tomorrow. I was thinking it was two 3500# axles and a 7000# trailer. He thinks its two 5000# axles and 7600# GVW. He also said he doesn't mind taking the brand new tires/wheels off the 5th wheel and slapping them on the flatbed. Fortunately they're both 6 lug axles. If it looks like we'll be close, we're just going to trailer it back.
Proof of insurance will cause an officer to overlook other issues.
In my state they will not pull you over for tags (COVID).
I overheard one of my customers on hold for over an hour waiting for DMV to answer the phone. I haven't bothered to try and make an appointment.
And don't worry, guys... we have the title part figured out. I confirmed with NC and PA. He notarizes and signs the title and I bring it back to PA. That part is handled.
But if I follow NC's rules for getting a temp tag, I'll be living in NC until April when I can get an appointment with the DMV.
bentwrench said:Proof of insurance will cause an officer to overlook other issues.
In my state they will not pull you over for tags (COVID).
I overheard one of my customers on hold for over an hour waiting for DMV to answer the phone. I haven't bothered to try and make an appointment.
I've heard that about NC, but I'm worried about VA, WV, MD, and PA. I have been pulled over for expired tags in PA, and it wasn't like plates and a taillight, or plates and a funky load... just plates.
It's not that I want to show paperwork and get waived on, I don't want to be pulled over in the first place. Encounters with blue lights = not good for Curtis right now.
Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to alphahotel :
I don't have any issues getting the VIN verified, the van I'm buying isn't currently registered, so I would have to drive it home with no registration. Not really keen on driving 400 miles asking for trouble. My problem is I'm in PA, buying the van in NC. NC is making it impossible for me to get a temp registration so I can get it home to PA.
If you present yourself at Brimmers (or equivalent) with the signed NC title, bill of sale, and a PA form MV-41(the VIN verification form, signed by a cop or a VIN plate tracing), they will give a valid PA registration and plate on the spot. Take it with you to NC and you can put it on the van and drive back. It does require that the seller is willing to mail you the signed title ahead of time.
I will look into that. It would require some shady paperwork. The MV-41 is supposed to be signed by someone authorized by PA and uses a county code. I suppose we could lie if he found someone to do it, but if I was handed a legal document from 4 states away that said "I hereby certify that I'm authorized... falsifying information... $2500 fine and up to 1 year in jail" I might not want to put my name on it.
Also.... not sure I want a title in the mail right now. It might be quicker to wait until April and do it in NC. 
I would never suggest ignoring the law, or anything, but if you have proof of insurance, and a current tag from a current truck, that would cover an accident, and also a casual glance at it while driving. Would not be a good time to speed....
On a public forum, I can't say if I've ever done that, and of course I would never say I'd do it again...
Insurance is the easy part. My PA coverage on other vehicles gives me 30 days to add the van to my policy.
But here in PA, registration is tied to the plate and the plate is tied to both the title number and VIN. Putting a plate from another vehicle on this van (at least in PA) is asking for impoundment and a $500 fine. Cop drives by, the camera picks up the plate number, and a big red chevy van comes up on their screen as a tan Mazda.
VA's tight azz rules and fines and taxes were one of the reasons I left so many years ago. Always heard PA was even worse, but there was never a chance of me moving farther N of Richmond, so I didn't know for sure.
Roadtrip commences tomorrow.
Yay fly'n drive. (actually a drive and tow, but you get the idea)
Good luck!
Go, Dog. Go!
I just want you both to know: Good luck and we're all counting on you.
Awesome!
Hoping you made it there and back safely...
Here's to wishing you the best of luck. Safe travels, and waiting for the update. I have a pretty good feeling about this.
Hopefully, he's too busy doing donuts with the van in a snowy parking lot to respond right now.
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