Submitted by [deleted] t3_z4mt5c in massachusetts
lets say theres some 20 year old who goes to buy a car off somebody in a town 50 miles away. how can he drive that vehicle home? like that thing isnt even registered in his name yet and he doesnt even have insurance or anything like that?
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how does this work? going to be buying a car soon and i dont have the balls to drive it on the road all the way home without anything legal done
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ASSUMING PRIVATE SALE AND NOT FROM A DEALER
Clutch answer right here. Someone give this guy a $10 Dunks giftcard, I’m fresh out.
Got you. But legit, how is a DD awahd not in this sub? Or a Citgo sign.... We need some custom awahds.
A police officer told me that during the first 7 days it is okay not to have plates as long as you carry your papers showing you purchased the vehicle with you. I did that when I purchased my vehicle and when I'd go into a building I'd put a sign on my driver's side window that said "This vehicle is NOT abandoned. I am inside. If you have any questions please call me at 978-423-6824." No-one ever called me and I was never ticketed. When I was driving no police officer or state trooper ever called me.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
Well for me I still had my old vehicle as I did not buy from a dealership but by a private vehicle owner.
It doesn’t change anything. The registry says you have to lose possession of the vehicle the plates came from.
[deleted]
No insurance = no registration = no license plate = don't drive it on the road
No. Insurance is a no-go, but you have 7 days to transfer registration if you have one already .
If you have active plates that were on a vehicle that is NO LONGER in your possession, and hasn’t been in your possession for less than 7 days, then you can attach plates to drive the vehicle home.
Google 7 day transfer law in MA.
By the way, they don't actually check or verify that the previous vehicle is no longer in your possession. While that is the rule, it isn't enforced and no one cares. Doesn't mean you can drive the old one though since you switch your insurance to the new car.
If you actually read your registration for the vehicle you already have it says right on the front of your registration you can take your plates and your registration put them on the car you just bought and drive it for one week, before you have to go to the registry and switch the registration to the new vehicle. It's literally what the wording on your registration is about. Used to own a small cab company, always had one car registered to me personally for this and a myriad of other reasons... Every time I was acquiring a new car for one reason or another be it parts or to put out on the road I took the plates off of the car registered to me brought the paperwork with me including the bill of sale for the new car and the title transferred signed over to me the registration to the car the plates and drove it around for a week just like it says you can right on your registration. Don't believe me? That's fine you could you know read your registration. Lol
Is this only for commercial? My passenger car registration doesn't say this.
Post pic of registration, it's been since 2016 that I've owned a vehicle ( thank you Uber!!!) However this is what the writing on every car registration used to say commercial or pleasure passenger ,what have you, at my peak I had seven active registrations. I find it hard to believe that they close this transfer loophole. Helpful hint for your corner cutters out there, if your bill of sale and title signed over to you , is missing the date who's to say when the seven day transfer period started? I got pulled over once by a Chelsea cop that asked me that cut the shit it was the fourth car that he had seen the plates on, it was April inspection time, lots of cars getting moved around taken apart.... Those plates registered to me used to do a lot of good normally for my cab company but friends of mine who own cab companies as well in the North shore. Was a hell of a lot cheaper than repair plates or dealer plates . I think it was a good 4-month period with a car the plates were technically registered to no longer existed. I'm telling you if the front of the registration doesn't still see this I'd be shocked if you can't still do this because think about the original question on this thread what do you do? What if you buy a car Saturday afternoon Saturday evening? You can't get it back to your house until Monday afternoon after a full day of the insurance company and the registry? Come on... Politicians people that work at the registry, even cops there people too they want to drive their new sports car home on Saturday afternoon too right? Right!
You’re wrong. You can only do that if you no longer have possession of the car you took the plates from.
I think you're partially correct in that the general idea is that you're taking one car off the road, and the plates you're putting the car on is replacing the car you're taking off the road. However I am not an attorney nor what I sit on a jury it's blasphemy. Also I'm from the only free city in New England. Do what you got to do paisan, trust me nobody cares where the other car is . Have the seller sign the spot on the title that makes the transfer legal and do not fill out anything else!!!!
No date no new owner, nothing. Your bill of sale signed again no date!! Have the registration to the old car with you. The old car needs to be parked somewhere in private property,. You know have 7 days, there is no mandate that I know of that says you must relinquish ownership and possession of the original registered automobile, if you can produce case law from LexisNexis or if someone could just go ahead and take a picture of the registration and block out your personal information I'm telling you it's written right on your registration... At least it was as of 2016 below the fold under your personal information. Final advice you should all know!!
Corporations are people too!!! Form an LLC this should own any automobiles you have, it will protect you from any liability involving any of those automobiles. You can literally walk away from thousands of dollars in fines and fees charged to the automobile parking tickets excise tax tolls it can all die with that LLC and never ever touch you personally!
CORPORATIONS ARE PEO.LE TOOOOOO!!!!
Buy insurance first. You can pay for a policy ahead of time and cancel if the sale falls through.
You can take your current registration and current plates and put them on the new vehicle. Anyone saying you can't do this or the only way is it tow it are incorrect.
Or, if your insurance agent is open at the time, call them and give them the VIN number, and they can take care of it over the phone. I've done this several times.
I was stopped once, it was a Friday night, I explained to the officer I just picked up the car, (I had a dated bill of sale, not required in MA but good to have), and told him I was going to my insurnace in the morning when they open. It was around 7pm at the time. He said okay and let me go.
You're insurnace agent should know this too.
No you can’t. You have to have lost possession of the previous car.
So actually, what you're saying is I'm correct as long as I don't have the other vehicle? Okay, so I'm correct. Thanks!
No. The way you worded it has you taking your current registration and current plates and putting them on the new car. Nowhere does it say you disposed of the previous car. Thanks for playing.
Because you don't have to "dispose of the previous car." You just can't have both registered at the same time with the same plates, obviously. I've done this, multiple times. I've swapped plates from project cars to new dailies while still having the other car. Nothing is stopping you from still owning the old car.
You do actually.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
Okay, can you link the statute that says the previous vehicle must be disposed of? Edit: I'm only asking because the link you shared doesn't say the vehicle must be disposed of.
Also, can you link the source about who is checking and how they verify that?
Also, can you explain to me how I and several others have been able to swap plates while minting possession of the previous vehicle?
Here’s the mgl. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section2
As for your other drivel, ask the state. It’s in black and white for you. You must lose possession of the previous vehicle.
That link also doesn't say anywhere the previous vehicle must be disposed of. You're wrong.
Go fight the registry.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
Again, it doesn't say anywhere that the previous vehicle must be disposed of or can't be in your possession. You're wrong.
From the registry website, you know the people in charge of vehicle registrations. Kind of hard to argue that it doesn’t say it anywhere when it’s directly from their website in plain English.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
The registry website is run independently and is a for profit website.
Read the quote. Read the laws you linked. No where does it say that the vehicle must be disposed of or that it can no longer be in your possession.
Here it is again if you missed it.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
The registry website is run independently and is a for profit website.
Read the quote. Here:
>“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.”
Read the laws you linked. No where does it say that the vehicle must be disposed of or that it can no longer be in your possession.
I actually added emphasis for you. It seems words are really difficult for you, so I'm gonna stop, because this is really stupid.
Have a good night, buddy.
Go fight the registry. They make the rules which are clearly spelled out on their website.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
Part you are missing is you cannot no matter what drive an uninsured vehicle in MA. It's technically even illegal to drive an uninsured out of state vehicle (like NH that it's not mandatory) in MA.
If you do what i said in the other comment, the insunrace policy on the previous vehicle will cover the new one, for up to seven days.
No it doesn't.
Only applies to registeration.
You flat out cannot legally drive in MA without insurance.
I've done this several times. My insurnace agent says it's okay, cops, etc. The liability insurance policy follows the driver, this why people can drive other people's cars. So yes, if you do what I say, the active insurnace policy will cover the driver if anything happens, for liability only. This means if you hit a tree, you're fucked, but if you hit someone else, you're policy will still cover the damages to their vehicle, and not yours.
Do none of you know how your insurance policy works? The only mandatory insurance is liability, and that policy follows the driver. This is why it's so important when teenagers get their license that are added to their parents' policy as a driver, and why any decent insurance agent will tell you that anyone in your household needs to be listed as a driver on your policy. Liability insurance follows the driver.
Try reading the laws.
You need a completed RMV1, which means you need insurance.
Yeah, someone else kept linking the registry site yesterday, too. Unfortunately, again, it doesn't say what you need it to say. It's just telling you the paperwork you need when you go the registry.
If you can show me the law that says liability insurance doesn't follow the driver and drivers in MA can only drive if they have insurance that covers the current car they are driving, I'll gladly admit I'm wrong.
If the person you are buying the car from has the car registered and insured and they're willing to part with their license plates, you can drive it home the same way you would drive a friend's car on the road. The person selling the car then cancels their insurance a few hours later or the next day.
From a private sale, the only legal way is to tow it. We unfortunately don't allow temp tags in MA. I rent a uhaul trailer and tow it myself when I buy private party but you can also call a tow truck. Just a note, AAA won't tow an unregistered car.
Some people play "musical plates" and swap plates over from another car but this isn't legal. Some run it home without plates which is also illegal.
You could possibly swap plates and then have AAA tow it. You wouldnt be breaking any laws but idk how much they will look into it. They've never checked my registration when towing my cars.
The -OTHER- legal (and normal) thing to do is:
You can register and insure it the same day, get the plates, and then go put them on, and then drive home.
Only if it's a weekday during business hours ;)
With an appointment!
Fun fact - there aren’t any appointments available.
Seems like the RMV is still operating like it’s March 2020
registering a newly purchased vehicle doesn't require an appointment. You just show up. Did it in October in Leominster and it took about 30 minutes.
It is legal to swap plates.
Not without losing possession of the previous vehicle.
Oops, my car is on my friend's lot and they're in posession of it. Oops, they gave it back 6 days later.
All perfectly legal.
Oops. It’s still titled in your name. Oops. Still illegal.
[deleted]
It all depends on the area you live in. Its usually structured as a pickup cost then per mile. Last time I looked into it it was $100 for the pickup, then $4.25/mi.
I have a truck so a uhaul trailer rental is $50 and has unlimited miles. You can also rent a pickup and trailer combo from uhaul.
Don't forget, you need to figure out how you are getting to the DMV to register it, because you can't drive the new car.
Put it in drive and go. Ride dirty f it
The process is Buy the car. Call your insurance, they will email you the form for the RMV. Print the form and go down to the RMV and then pay sales tax, title and registration. The RMV will give you plates and you drive the car home after that. RMV has been always a nightmare, Since Covid you now need an appointment and I've heard its like a 14 day wait to get one.
You don't need a reservation for a registration/title on a newly purchased vehicle. And you can get insurance before you buy the car if you have the VIN.
I would recommend:
- call insurance and get the RMV-1. Print out the RMV-1.
- buy the car, get the title.
- uber/get a ride to the RMV. Get plates.
- uber/get a ride back to the car and put the plates on
- get an inspection.
You have 7 calendar days to get insured and registered, then 7 days to get inspected. You are allowed to drive it during these times unless it was a junk title that you've rehabilitated, then you have to do all the things first.
No you aren’t. That’s only if you are transferring the plates from a car you don’t have in your possession anymore.
This isn't correct.
“Massachusetts allows a grace period of 7 calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.” https://www.mass.gov/how-to/transfer-your-registration-to-a-vehicle-or-trailer-purchased-from-a-dealer
Again, it doesn't say the previous vehicle must be disposed of or cannot be in your possession.
Take your chances and carry some proof of sale with you? And follow the rules of the road.
you're not supposed to drive it that way, even in private sale. before you buy a care your supposed to line up insurance, then buy the car and pay on insurance.
then go to registry with title & bill of sale and copy of insurance info get it registered & transfer title.
The answer is: He puts the key in the ignition, puts it in drive, and drives it home. He or his father probably puts on a spare plate that doesn’t belong to the car just to keep the police from immediately noticing during the trip.
Just because it’s not legal doesn’t mean people don’t do it.
I usually slap some active plates and a registration to drive home. You would have the paperwork (bill of sale/title) so if you happen to get pulled over you can claim the 7 day transfer rule.
Because you're suppose to have insurance/plates etc. B4 you drive off the lot and then 3 business days to get it inspected and if you pay cash U can take the title and chance it or get it towed to a driveway, garage etc. WheW!!! 😎💪😁🇺🇸🙃
You can't.
If it's your first car, best to have it towed, or let it sit there until you get plates. But if you're switching plates from another car, it's totally legal to take them off and drive the unregistered car with them. You have a week to register it.
>If it's your first car, best to have it towed, or let it sit there until you get plates.
Too expensive. Best to simply make two trips. First trip you buy the car and get the signed title. Go home without the car, get insurance who will generate the form you will need to then take it to the registry to register the car where they hand you plates. Now make the second trip out to the seller, put the plates on the car and drive it home.
Alternatively see if the seller is willing to drive the car to you when you exchange money and title. Then they can park it in your driveway, take off their plates, and leave.
Find out what the rules are from your insurance company, and follow them.
Liability from an uninsured accident can be huge, like covering someone's legal and medical bills.
I put a plate on it from another car and drive it home.
Yes, that's illegal, but that's how I do it.
You should add it to your policy and get the rta form
It’s insanely cheap to insure a non-financed car in MA through an online company. It’s easy now. Before the interwebs you basically white knuckled it home hoping nothing went wrong.
[deleted]
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About driving it there's a
Thing called a tow truck
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You have 7 days to register your car. Call/ get quotes online for insurance and you just need the VIN to get insurance. Carry insurance card and Title you receive from seller with you and get the car registered within 7 days.
Very carefully
I’m a retired police officer from MA. If you lose possession of your vehicle. And have a valid registration and insurance yo7 can swap the plates. But you are required to have a bill of sale and a stamped RMV1 form which is the application for registration. The insurance companies will issue it to you already filled out. You have 7 days to drive the vehicle you purchased as long as the insurance company has agreed to insure the new vehicle. They issue a Stamp on the RMV1 form. So the answer is yes it can be done. But it’s not just throw a plate on and drive. Yes you may get away with it but if you have not gone to the insurance company it’s a crime. You could be charged with driving an unregistered uninsured motor vehicle. The later is a criminal offense and your car will be towed and your license plates seized
Call your insurance from the newly purchased vehicle. Then drive it.
Cross your fingers and hope that if you do get pulled over, the cop will be reasonable (ymmv)
One way to be totally legal is you can ask the seller to drive it to your location on their plates (assuming they have it registered/insured) or allow you to drive it on their plates and complete the transaction at your place. However, I would never do this due to the liability if you let them drive it on your plates or if I (the seller) drive it on my plates I run the risk of getting into an accident after I have the car sold and then what's the chances the buyer is going to complete that transaction?
Another way was I sold a car once and the buyer wanted to drive it home on my plates and I told him sorry, no. He went and got his brother-in-law who owned a garage to come back with him and put Repair plates on it for the drive home. Brother-in-law was really annoyed with me for not letting the buyer drive on my plates. Brother-in-law also told buyer he (BIL) needed to drive the vehicle on those plates. Also turned into a pain as the BIL decided he needed to now inspect every detail of the car. I finally told the buyer to take it or leave it but do it now!
I think you have 3 days? No. Maybe I am misremembering.
PabloX68 t1_ixrri5k wrote
Call your insurance company before picking it up. They'll send you the form and insurance stamp that you take with you to the RMV to register the car. If you have plates from a previous car, you can put those on and have the form and that's legal for 7 days.
If you don't have plates at all, ask the insurance company.