BRB-83-911SC

Hi - Just a quick intro - I was going to wait until I had the car in hand, but have run into a snafu getting it registered in order to drive it home.

First, it is a 1984 928S Euro, 5-speed, Black/Black, 33,000 original one owner miles. Pics will be forthcoming, along with more details.

But, here is the issue, and am seeking advice/similar experiences from others in terms of registering it in MA - The car is currently titled and registered in PA (where the PO is). I have a properly signed over current PA title, bill of sale, and all paperwork back to the original importer title and bill of sale to the PO in 1984 (it was imported/federalized in 1984 and sold new to the PO I am buying it from). The vin on all documents match the vin in all the correct places on the car. Should be a slam dunk, and it was untill the vin was entered into the Registry of Motor Vehicles computer - it does not like the WPOZZZ vin - comes back as an invalid vin. They have requested a visual inspection of the vin by a police agency with sign off on a form they provided. However the car is in PA. I can get a local PA police dept. to sign off on it, but they will find that the vin on the paperwork is correct. Then what? When I asked that, the supervisor at the registry could say no more than "we will have to call Boston".

So, has anyone been trough this before? Especially in MA?

I was scheduled to fly to Pittsburgh this Thursday to drive the car home. I don't really want to think about shipping it....

Thanks! And a formal introduction will follow once I finish stressing about this.

Chuck Z

VIN is on the A pillar and the seller should have all the EPA and DOT releases. I'm not an expert but that should be all you'll need besides the visual. There are lots of gray market cars out there and if the seller has all the documentation I can't imagine you'd have a problem...... again, I'm not an expert.

BTW, I email this seller twice about this car and he never responded.............. NICE car!

leonl

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum and congrats on your 928. I just got my 928 delivered today. So I am as new as you in 928 world.

I am not sure about car and every state is different. It is quite similar when I got my bike. The owner lives in CA and somehow when he signed the title or some info on the title has issue. The local DMV give me an affidavit to fill up and to have a local police officer to verify the vin and his signature and badge ID. That's about it. Hopefully yours go smoothly and good luck.

James Bailey

Why not use the current PA plate to driver home and mail it back if the guy wants it ? As noted with the exception of California most states are OK with Euro gray market cars but confirm that for your state....

Chuck Z

Insurance! Bought and sold 60+ cars in the last 18 years and I NEVER let people use my plates to drive home on...... In NC, if it's your plate, you're liable..... You cannot cancel or otherwise void the plate b/c insurance has to be in force on any active registration/plate or there are fines/points.

BRB-83-911SC

Chuck - Thanks, but your green 78 was a NICE car! But the 84 did check out nicer in person than in the pics....still not sure how I managed to secure it. Now, to get it on the road and home to me...

Tempermental

Have it flat bedded - probably cost 400 -500 from PA to MA
It's not worth the hassle to do it illegally and if you break down or get hit or who knows what -it'll cost a lot more.

tv

I had the exact same situation. I drove down in a rental to Philly, took a test drive, checked out the papers he had, agreed to purchase and then called the Penn state cops and asked them what to do.

The officer said you could try going w/o plates and explain the situation when stopped with your paperwork and if it was him, he would let me go, but if I got stopped by a ***** (his words) I would have some trouble.

We, all 3, came to the conclusion that Mr. Bailey suggests. The PO was a reasonbale guy, I am trust worthy guy, and I drove home with his plates and registration and Fedexed it back the next day. There was a certain amount of trust on both sides. What a fun ride home (after jersey) couldn't stop laughing everytime I hit the gas.

Back in mass, the registry computer does not like ZZZ but a manual override will fix that. I had a State Cop friend sign off on it after a look at the vin. In the words of the Penn Statie, only a ***** would care about anything else.

Post pics, sounds like a rare find. Definately take the Merritt parkway from the NY border, great road and fun in the 928.

Good Luck

Chuck Z

When I saw this car, I figured it was probably a gem! Congrats and welcome to the group. Please post pics when you get it home.

Trust really has nothing to do with it. If you hit somebody or somebody hits you or whatever.... the registered owner is going to get sued! Just not smart on sellers part to "loan" a tag/registration IMHO of course....

Brian, I would strongly suggest that if you cannot get the DMV stuff worked out do as another suggested and at least flat bed it....

76FJ55

I've always been of the opinion that if you show that you are being being financially responsible that the police will most likely not have an issue with you driving a newly purchased car with no plate. You should be able to get insurance on it just by supplying the vin to your insurance agent. so if you have proof of insurance and all the papers stating that you just purchased the vehicle, I think you should be in the clear to drive it home with little fear of incarceration.

I had a similar issue though the situation was a little different i that the vehicle was already in my name. I have a 1976 Toyota Landcruiser that I bough while living in KS. KS had no problem issuing a title when I purchased it, however when I moved back to MO their computer system did not like that it only had an 8 digit VIN. I had to take it by the local highway patrol depot fort them to verify the VIN. Once they filled out the their necessary paperwork the state of MO issued me the title. Upon moving to OK the OK title was issued without any extra paperwork

lrpman

As a fellow new owner, welcome.
I had a VIN problem in SC when the lady typing hit the "O" instead of the number "0". Also on the Rolls the state did not understand that SRG34013 was the WHOLE VIN.
As far as plates a lot of states will issue a TRANSFER plate for $5.00 good old cardboard tag.
My $.02 is I NEVER drive a collector car home in the old days I wouldl always pay a GOOD transporter or RENT a trailer.
Hope it all works out for you. I am in the throws of getting mine fetched from Florida to S.C. but I am cheating have a 28 ft enclosed to go fetch with.

BRB-83-911SC

Thanks for the encouragement. The PO has offered to have the local police verify the vin and sign the form I need. MA doesn't issue temp. tags. And I had 3 different people at the Registy try the vin, swapping o's and 0's, and all other possible typos. It is the zzz that the system doesn't like. I did learn one thing tonight - MA has a 7 day grace period for completing the paperwork on the "transfer" of plates (as opposed to obtaining new ones), so if I can't get the vin signed off on by Thursday, I will "transfer" the plates from my 911 to the 928 and drive her home. The 928 has alrady been added to my insurance policy, so I should be ok with the plates from the 911 for the ride home, and then have the vin verified locally and tie up the loose ends.

Here is one pic:

linderpat

I just used my old 928 plate to drive my 78 shark across the country, with no issue. Also, when I sold my Shelby, I let the buyer use my plate (it was a seriousPIA for him to get registration for the drive back to CO from MT). There was a legit, state mandated bill of sale, and I had him sign an indemnity in case any problems came to haunt me. There were no problems. Cops don't bother us old guys, and it is easy to talk your way out of it.

depami

I bought my 86.5 off eBay and drove to PA to fetch it. The PO went to the “tag office” with me and signed off on the title. Upon proof of insurance, I was issued a PA “temporary transfer tag” and off we went, legal as can be.

It was a fun drive back to MN and had no problem registering the car in MN, but it is not a euro and don’t know if that would have mattered or not.