So if I buy a vehicle from a private party what do I have to do to drive it home? I can't find anything on the MVA website about this other than it needs to be registered. Do they expect me to buy it, then register it and get plates and then go get the vehicle?

So if I buy a vehicle from a private party what do I have to do to drive it home? I can't find anything on the MVA website about this other than it needs to be registered. Do they expect me to buy it, then register it and get plates and then go get the vehicle?

Any of the tag and title services will sell you a 30 day tag, required info is:
Driver’s License
Valid title
Bill of sale
Proof of insurance
Lien release (If there exists a lien on the vehicle)

The price is usually more than I want to pay so I do it the other way, but this is the legal way.

Last weekend I drove to Michigan to buy a vehicle from a private party. Drove it home 610 miles without a tag on it at all. Tapped the lien release to the inside rear window. I also got a notarized bill of sale and the title at the time of sale in Michigan.

Upon getting back to Md., I went to the MVA with the title, lien release, and bill of sale. MVA gives me regular metal tags and a regular paper registration with expiration decals of June 2010. Paper registration says it expires on 12 June (30 days from the day I was at MVA). Upon getting my Md inspection, I will go back to MVA and they will give me new decals for the tags and a new paper registration with the new dates on them. If I don't get my inspection and go back to the MVA within the 30 days, my Md tags will expire in June and I won't be able to drive the car.

Know anyone with something to tow it home with?

Hubby and I have sold vehicles to people before. What we do is let them drive with our tags and tell them to mail them back to us w/in a week or so, after they've been able to get their own tags. Both parties should have a bill of sale so if anything happens, all parties are covered.

I've also had friends & family do this, too.

Hubby and I have sold vehicles to people before. What we do is let them drive with our tags and tell them to mail them back to us w/in a week or so, after they've been able to get their own tags. Both parties should have a bill of sale so if anything happens, all parties are covered.

I've also had friends & family do this, too.

Illegal! Ever consider your liability if the person you gave the tags to has an accident? You sold the vehicle and signed over the title. You now have no insurance. By you giving YOUR tags to the new owner to use, you could be charged with contributory negligence. Not worth it!

just go to mva and you can get a 30 day tag. you need title, proof of insurance, and bill of sale (although they didn't even look at mine) . you will have to pay title fee, taxes, and $20 dollars for temporary tag. they give you a regular hard tag and stickers good for 30 days. they also gave me form to fill out for new stickers to get regualr stickers after inspection. Just went through this a month ago. Also after you get the car inspected and go to get stickers you have the option to get them for 1 or 2 years

Do they expect me to buy it, then register it and get plates and then go get the vehicle?

yes
but you only get a temp tag. That lets you get it inspected so you can get the metal tag.


but since that's a pita, most folks jut take the tag off another car and drive home real careful.

FYI trucks and cars are different series of numbers/letters, don't mix those.

Illegal! Ever consider your liability if the person you gave the tags to has an accident? You sold the vehicle and signed over the title. You now have no insurance. By you giving YOUR tags to the new owner to use, you could be charged with contributory negligence. Not worth it!

Your wrong..........Maryland allows you 10 days WITH PERMISSION of the owner to operate the sold vehicle for up to 10 days upon a sale transfer. Again with the permission of the original registration owner. A signed letter will suffice. However, you need to supply your own insurance.

Your wrong..........Maryland allows you 10 days WITH PERMISSION of the owner to operate the sold vehicle for up to 10 days upon a sale transfer. Again with the permission of the original registration owner. A signed letter will suffice.

I would have to see that in writing before I tried using it. Not that I doubt you, but that really could bite you in the ass.

I would have to see that in writing before I tried using it. Not that I doubt you, but that really could bite you in the ass.

Here ya go........

MGA Statutes Text Page 1 (http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/web_statutes.asp?gtr&13-501)

Here ya go........

MGA Statutes Text Page 1 (http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/web_statutes.asp?gtr&13-501)

Thanks, that may be of use sometime.

Illegal! Ever consider your liability if the person you gave the tags to has an accident? You sold the vehicle and signed over the title. You now have no insurance. By you giving YOUR tags to the new owner to use, you could be charged with contributory negligence. Not worth it!


This isnt true. There is nothing wrong with letting someone drive home on your plates, but does involve a little trust. You still carry insurance on the vehicle until YOU cancel it. Which should be after you receive tags back and return to MVA. Nevertheless, should an accident occur on the new owners ride home, it should be covered on HIS insurance regardless if he called them to add or not. There are some inconsistancies with all this but generally true. The biggest thing you have to worry about is 1) getting your tags back. Hopefully the new buyer is on the ball. 2) getting good payment for your car ....ie wire transfer, cash, etc.

This is why I always buy from the dealer or trade into the dealer so I don;t have to bother with stuff like this.

This is why I always buy from the dealer or trade into the dealer, because I'm a lazy-azz and want others to do what I can't figure out how to do.

:fixed: