Can I use CA tags to drive home to NY?

[georgieb51]

I just bought a nice truck in California and I want to drive it home to NY. I already have insurance on it and I have a clear title. And the PO left the CA tags on it that are good until December. Can I drive using these tags as "temporary tags"? When I get home I will then pay the tax and register it in NY

[leddzepp]

Why not? I drive all over the country with California plates/tags on my rig.

[AussieinNC]

Short answer...Yes...but...

Cal to NY is a long way to drive an newly acquired truck, regardless of how good it seems at the moment....

I would be looking at cross country car transport...should be around $2500 and may save you a lot of heartache and trouble along the way...

Just my ten cents worth...2 cents just doesnt seem to cut it anymore!

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

Why not? I drive all over the country with California plates/tags on my rig.

But the difference between you and me is that you are a CA resident and are probably legally registered in CA. Right now You are talking to a NY resident who cannot register the truck in NY until I get home to a NY DMV. Last year I bought a truck in Nevada and got a 14 day moving permit. But I have heard that in a situation like this it might be possible to avoid temporary tags and just use the CA tags until I get back to NY.

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

I just bought a nice truck in California and I want to drive it home to NY. I already have insurance on it and I have a clear title. And the PO left the CA tags on it that are good until December. Can I drive using these tags as "temporary tags"? When I get home I will then pay the tax and register it in NY

Yes, you can. With current registration, there won't be any legal issues that you would have. If you are stopped, for some reason, just show the officer you bill of sale and title. The PO has to sign the title and date it, so that will show the officer you just purchased it.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by Rickysnickers

Yes, you can. With current registration, there won't be any legal issues that you would have. If you are stopped, for some reason, just show the officer you bill of sale and title. The PO has to sign the title and date it, so that will show the officer you just purchased it.

Thank you Ricky. I feel better already. And since the tags are good for a few more months I am guessing there is no rush to get across the country ?

[rsavage]

I would talk to NYDMV and your insurance. Whether you have the CA title in your possession or not, it is not officially registered to you. therefore, there is a chance that your insurance wouldn't cover. I wouldn't bet my house and future on it. Better to research than be sorry.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by rsavage

I would talk to NYDMV and your insurance. Whether you have the CA title in your possession or not, it is not officially registered to you. therefore, there is a chance that your insurance wouldn't cover. I wouldn't bet my house and future on it. Better to research than be sorry.

What would be really helpful is if someone could point out some place in the CA DMV website the specific information on this situation. I have searched that website and I just cannot find it. Apparently I do not know how to ask the correct question.

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

If I remember correctly in California the tags follow the vehicle from owner to owner. In my state new owner = new tag and registration. So you have a vehicle that is not registered in your name in your home state, that if the tag is run through NCIC might come back to the previous owner. Since you have not registered the vehicle in California, it likely is not listed as yours yet. Speaking as a police officer, I would recommend registering where you live, then use that tag on the trip.

[leddzepp]

The truck is tagged and currently registered. If YOU yourself have insurance it’s no problem driving it home. If you don’t believe me call your insurance company and ask them, which is the first place I would have called to begin with.

[RichardJ]

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1...dmv/vr/vr_info

Scroll down to;
"The number of days you have to transfer ownership of a vehicle you purchased or sold."

That should answer your Questions.

10 days to report, 30 days to pay fees. As mentioned, you have the signed Pink, a bill of sale, a NY driver license, plus NY insurance. No cop is going to mess with you unless you're way past the 30 days and on the road driving west. ha,ha

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by georgieb51

Thank you Ricky. I feel better already. And since the tags are good for a few more months I am guessing there is no rush to get across the country ?

Nope. you are good to go until the plates are expired.

[HO455]

I would not think twice about it. The worst thing I've ever experienced was a Stater pulled me over once about a trailer I was pulling. The plates on the truck and trailer were from different states. He wasn't terribly excited about the "I just bought it story" so he told me to me go to the next state police office and get a trip permit. Since the office was 5 or so miles from the next state line I just skipped the trip permit and went through Washington instead.

[Chevyland]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

The truck is tagged and currently registered. If YOU yourself have insurance it’s no problem driving it home. If you don’t believe me call your insurance company and ask them, which is the first place I would have called to begin with.

X2
If you have ‘good’ insurance
They cover you for 30 days, even without calling them
After you purchase a vehicle
You say the truck is registered
This is a no brainer
Book your flight

If it is in northern Ca
Pm me
I’ll pick you up at the airport
And get you where you need to go

[jocko]

Why not just get a temporary tag at they NY DMV before you fly out to pick it up? I think almost all states do this. While you can drive temporarily with the CA tags, you cannot drive it with those tags until they tags expire - there is a limit on the number of days are allowed before you must register in your state. Having a temp tag avoids a whole lot of confusion - you'll have a temp reg in your name, and all you do is call your insurance company and tell them the details and they send you a card via email. "Yes, you can" doesn't always mean "Yes, you should". Just think of all the tolls the previous owner will be mailed if you drive through TX and OK... ha. Again, you CAN drive it home with the CA tags - but it's the little things like photo toll roads and what not that would concern me. The PO will very likely submit the release form that frees him from going to jail if you decide to rob a bank on the way home, but it doesn't mean tolls won't get sent his way. If you never drive on a toll road, well, you're lucky nowadays, at least around here.

[truckster]

Call your insurance agent and make sure you're covered. Once that is done I wouldn't worry about the tags at all.

While you're on the phone with your insurance agent you might want to add roadside assistance, just in case.

[mrtoni]

State Farm covers you automatically for 30 days without calling even. I know better to call

[67swb72klb]

I did it quite often when I was going to OK.buying these trucks sometimes till they were expired. I just made sure they were insured after I was home..

[Andy4639]

Easy thing to do is call said insurance company and verify insurance. Tell them your plan and as long as you have insurance. Get a email are something to show the police if they pull you over. Drive the truck home and who cares what tag is on it. They don't know you are the owner are not until you show them a piece of paper at which time you show them the bill of sale also.

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

Again, speaking as a police officer, I will say that it is ALWAYS better to do it right (and legal), and not cut any corners that can come back to haunt you later. I am sure many on here have "just driven the new truck as-is" and NOT been caught, but I myself have caught hundreds of people over the years who tried to fudge instead of buying a $5 temporary tag. It is NOT worth the risk. Each individual state that you drive through will have its own laws that may differ from where you live. I like to live by the motto:
"You can do NO wrong by doing right"

This is solely YOUR decision, and I hope you do this the legal way so that you may avoid any hassles, such as citations, or tow charges. And BTW, congratulations on your new purchase!

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by HIGHWAY BY THE SEA

Again, speaking as a police officer, I will say that it is ALWAYS better to do it right (and legal), and not cut any corners that can come back to haunt you later. I am sure many on here have "just driven the new truck as-is" and NOT been caught, but I myself have caught hundreds of people over the years who tried to fudge instead of buying a $5 temporary tag. It is NOT worth the risk. Each individual state that you drive through will have its own laws that may differ from where you live. I like to live by the motto:
"You can do NO wrong by doing right"

This is solely YOUR decision, and I hope you do this the legal way so that you may avoid any hassles, such as citations, or tow charges. And BTW, congratulations on your new purchase!

Not trying to break the law by any means but how does the law work in a case like this? How can you get a plate for said vehicle before you buy it?
I have never got a temp tag for a vehicle I bought from a individual in SC. I have been to the DMV and asked for the right way and they told me to buy it drive it home and get the tags for it. Which is what I do.
Yes I agree Cal to NY is a bit of a ride but if the plates are good in the name of the seller I can't see a problem with it as long as he has proof of buying it and insurance.

[too much stuff]

I had joesjunk pickup a truck for me recently. Drove down to pick it up and drive back to MN. In MO the owner keeps the plates so I drove home to MN with NO plates at all. Sure enough, an hour and 20 mins from home I get pulled over by a trooper. I have the title with me, but we didn't date the part I kept. Trooper wasn't impressed. Had to wait for a backup county sheriff to assist... Having some fun now...He told me if the title was dated he would have let me go sooner. He also said as soon as you get into the state where the vehicle resides you are supposed to do the title transfer. Then he put his head down and said "I guess it is sunday" Just get home and take care of it was the last I heard from him.
And yes, state farm will cover you upon buying a vehicle for at least 14 days and up to 30 automatically.
I would say go for it as long as you can prove ownership possibly with a bill of sale and title with a date on it, have fun on your roadtrip!

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Not trying to break the law by any means but how does the law work in a case like this? How can you get a plate for said vehicle before you buy it?
I have never got a temp tag for a vehicle I bought from a individual in SC. I have been to the DMV and asked for the right way and they told me to buy it drive it home and get the tags for it. Which is what I do.
Yes I agree Cal to NY is a bit of a ride but if the plates are good in the name of the seller I can't see a problem with it as long as he has proof of buying it and insurance.

Ok, so speaking as a 30+ year police corporal/former auto theft investigator (normally I don't like using or saying that), the OP isn't fudging anything. What he is doing is completely legal, speaking on the CA side. If he wanted to waste the money getting a moving/operating permit, then he can, but again, it's a waste of money and it's not needed. He'll have a signed title and that shows he's the owner of said truck. Of course, once he gets back home, he will need to promptly register his new purchase with the NY DMV.

[georgieb51]

Originally Posted by truckster

Call your insurance agent and make sure you're covered. Once that is done I wouldn't worry about the tags at all.

While you're on the phone with your insurance agent you might want to add roadside assistance, just in case.

There has been so much good advice here. Just to explain a bit further I found the truck on Reno Craigslist since I have family in South Lake Tahoe. Then I made a deal to buy it while still in NY. Then I insured it while still in NY before I even bought it. But NY does not have temporary tags and I could not register in NY in any way until I got the title. Since the owner only wanted to deal with cash I could not get the title until I flew out to Tahoe and paid the fellow. It all went smoothly and he left the tags on the truck. In the past I have got a 14-day trip permit from Nevada that you just tape to the inside of the windshield. But that was when I bought a Nevada truck. This the first time I have bought a CA truck to drive home. So I will leave the plates on and drive safely and conservatively. But I think Jocko brings up a valid point about tolls. Not sure what I will do about that. i am ok at toll booths but I believe
jocko is referring to those scanners that are over the highway at high speed.

[HIGHWAY BY THE SEA]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

Not trying to break the law by any means but how does the law work in a case like this? How can you get a plate for said vehicle before you buy it?
I have never got a temp tag for a vehicle I bought from a individual in SC. I have been to the DMV and asked for the right way and they told me to buy it drive it home and get the tags for it. Which is what I do.
Yes I agree Cal to NY is a bit of a ride but if the plates are good in the name of the seller I can't see a problem with it as long as he has proof of buying it and insurance.

He said in the OP that he had bought it and had the title. I took this to mean that he paid for it and had the title mailed to him like I did when I bought my 78 Jeep J10 from a seller in Colorado. I then took the title to the SC DMV and registered it. SC law 56-3-210 requires temporary tags BEFORE operating a vehicle, 56-3-110 requires it to be registered, SC 56-3-1240 requires a license tag on all vehicles.
This is what I was basing my advice upon.
I have no idea why the DMV would tell a person to drive with no tags. They should not be doing that.