Driving unlicensed vehicle across multiple states?

OK anyone done this? Its titled, but seller does not want to deal with getting plates. In WA you can buy a "trip permit" but I believe its only good in WA. How does one drive across multiple states?

Anyone have any experience to share?

Never had an issue. I drove my temp plate car across 4 states and never got a second look. I just drove and had all of my paperwork in the car with me.

See Toyman's Bus adventure. I think he drove the whole way with no tags.

When I bought one of my many GLC's I went to DMV here, got a tag for it and took it with me on the plane for the drive home.

Take a few boxes, just in case?

I kid. I've had previous owners let me take current plates and then mail them back once I got home - done this twice so far, once for a trailer and once for a truck.

Hmmm OK thanks guys. Its not exactly and 'under the radar' car.... I like the mailing plates idea. but a $20 trip permit, and previous owners plates plus doughnuts sounds like a good plan Its 8 or 9 states....

I have done the temp tag thing with a buddy, and other than waiting in that state's DMV, it was fine.

I have done the "let's just use this plate and hope nobody notices" and would never ever do that again after seeing a car impounded that way.

Basically, the risk of running into Cletus or Roscoe and the power they can wield is too high and I'd do the DMV temp tag thing even if it means a delay.

In reply to tuna55:

Did you stop at the DMV in each state for a temp tag? that 8-9 hours of waiting if its anything like the WA DOL's

If it's possible, get someone on the ground for you to pay the man and mail you the paperwork ahead of time. I've done it a few times, since up here you don't need to have the vehicle physically present to register. Then just show up with your plates and paperwork.

Of course, I've also never been pulled over road tripping home, so as long as you're careful, you hsould be fine.

"Should" being the operative word here.

Do you have any plates? Then great.

Get WA plates to get you out of state, then call it good. With the $20 permit you should be fine. Only WA should mess with you. If you get stopped in another state, they may ask but if you have your paperwork in order, then you should be let go without much issue.

Only problem I have seen is when you travel BACK to the state that you may have let inspection and registration lapse on. They really don't look at you

tuna55 wrote: I have done the temp tag thing with a buddy, and other than waiting in that state's DMV, it was fine. I have done the "let's just use this plate and hope nobody notices" and would never ever do that again after seeing a car impounded that way. Basically, the risk of running into Cletus or Roscoe and the power they can wield is too high and I'd do the DMV temp tag thing even if it means a delay.

No plate is better than the wrong plate....also, some states(mine included) give you up to 30 days from purchase to title & register. Just make sure to have insurance paperwork.

java230 wrote: In reply to tuna55: Did you stop at the DMV in each state for a temp tag? that 8-9 hours of waiting if its anything like the WA DOL's

Nope, just the state in which it was purchased

I like the idea of getting your tags beforehand and taking them with you to pick up the car. You may have to have the seller mail you the notarized title and BOS first (at least in Oklahoma you have to bring them with you to a tag office before they will register the car). This seems like the safest way to avoid having a bored and overzealous LEO choose you to enliven his day.

This scenario is already covered in this forum. Look for the Ford Maverick road trip.

WildScotsRacing wrote: I like the idea of getting your tags beforehand and taking them with you to pick up the car. You may have to have the seller mail you the notarized title and BOS first (at least in Oklahoma you have to bring them with you to a tag office before they will register the car). This seems like the safest way to avoid having a bored and overzealous LEO choose you to enliven his day.

Yes this would be the ideal way to do it. Title and BOS are needed in wa also, I don't believe any inspection would be required, but I have not bought out of state before. But we don't have safety inspections here, and its old enough to not need emissions testing.

AFAIK the registration/insurance rules of other states do not apply to you, only those of your home state.

I tried to get temp plates when I drove SanFord back from WI.

SC said no plates without the title. They wouldn't even do a temporary tag.

WI would do a plate as long as I was registering it in WI, but we weren't going to have a title before they closed.

I got the title, a bill of sale, and all of my insurance information together and just drove it. Of the 6-8 police cars that passed, none of them were interested in stopping a 60 year old bus.

We were probably lucky, but I'd do it again.

If you're gonna just go for it, I'd do it with no plates, make sure you have a legit title and bill of sale, and proof of insurance. As long as you have your E36 M3 together and don't do anything too stupid I would think you'll be fine.

In reply to Toyman01:

Ohyeah, good point, you have to have the title first, so it usually ends up being a 'next morning' event at the DMV, which is not pleasant or easy.

cmcgregor has good advice. Get insurance on it before you hit the road, and even if you don't have a printout anybody who pulls you over will be able to see that there is insurance on it. Keep your legal paperwork (title and B.o.S.) safe and near you. I slap on a cardboard plate with "Just bought dd/mm" on the license plate slot when I buy a new car. Have driven by cops many, many times and not been stopped yet.

Thanks guys. I think no plate and trip permit with insurance would probably work fine. The car will probably end up over my budget, but im trying to cover my bases if SWMBO gives it the green light.

I did it last Fall. WA to NV. The PO left the old plate on, as they are not required to turn the plate in to the DMV upon sale.

I drove through a bit of WA and a whole lot of OR on that plate. Also another 100 miles of NV until I got to the first NV DMV office in Winnemucca.

I drove like a normal person, never more than 5 over the limit. Probably didn't hurt that it was a beige Acura.

The PO's plates are still in the trunk.

In reply to EvanR:

There is no plate on it ATM.

But its sounding like it wouldn't be much of a problem.

I have done it multiple times. No plate, but have insurance cert, signed over title fully completed, and bill of sale. never had a problem.

I did this when I bought my GTO in Rhode Island. I made a thread about it, but I can't be bothered to fight the search engine right now. In the end, I did the old "leave the seller's plate on and send it back" thing. The one thing that made my situation a little more complicated was that the shortest way from RI to MI is through Canada, and I didn't want to cross the border with plates that weren't mine, so I took the southerly route around Lake Erie instead.

Last time i did this, i bought tge car, had the title fedexed to me. I went and registered the car, got plates, and fedexed them to my pickup point. No temps needed. Ymmv if you live in an inspection state.