I did this when I bought the car before the 993... and got pulled over within the first 5miles with an "illegal tag"

I showed the written bill of sale and explained I just bought the car and waiting on the tags and was let go with a warning (even though I dont know what the hell else I was supposed to do)

 

Having driven to/from VA to NY I would say you would not have any worries.

FWIW, when I bought my car - I used the plates of the PO (with his agreeing to it) to 'transport' it from his abode to mine. When I arrived I simply took the plates off and shipped them back to him.
(And yes I sweetened the deal with a nice 'GIFT' that went along with the returned plates.)

Personally -- and considering the DMV hassles before you -- I think you are better off leaving the plates ON - and driving it back to NY with a modicum of paperwork (insurance etc.) - THEN shipping the plates back along with a 'gift'.

Gerry

 

It seems that you can do almost anything you want so long as you don't get pulled over.

 

Don't chance it. Talk to the guy and see if you can use his tag and reg to drive home. Maybe leave him some $$ as refundable sec deposit that you won't do anything crazy with his tag.

 

As a retired deputy sheriff I will tell you that it would be one real hardcore cop to write you up for anything if you have a proper bill of sale, paperwork, etc.. I never hassled anyone in my 25 year career unless the driver had altered temp tags (where the numbers are changed) or a bad driver's license.

 

I recently flew out to San Diego with metal plates in my carry on. They were more concerned with my plastic belt buckle. However, I did get stopped three times by the border patrol on the way back to NC.

 

Did the same thing when I bought my E55 in Atlanta a few years back. Flew in, seller met me at the airport, signed over docs, and I drove back to MD with his plates. Overnighted it back to him along with a couple things he had left in the car.

BTW, don't remember seeing a cab for sale in VA while trolling. How did you find it?

 

As others have said, it varies by state. Massachusetts does not recognize any temporary tag from any state, and if you happen to live there, you can't insure the car until it's titled and plated in Massachusetts. This makes it challenging to buy a car from out of state without the use of a dealer -- which is why the dealership lobby has that law on the books.

However, Massachusetts, and probably most other states, will usually give you a grace period to transfer an existing and insured tag to your "new" car. In Mass., it's 72 hours. So, you can pull a legal tag off your other car, put it on the new one, and drive home with the old car's registration, insurance and the bill of sale and you would be fine.

I would call your insurance agent and ask what to do. You want to make sure you're covered. I certainly would not allow anyone buying a car from me drive on my plates, that's way too much liability.

 

Wow... I had my flight from Tulsa, OK to Grand Rapids, MI to pick up my 993. I had already applied for a new title (helped that my Dad was the PO) and had registration, proof of insurance, and my plate (metal) all in my carry on bag. I went through security with no issues.

Thinking back on it... it was all inside a fedex envelope... but still I would have thought they would have caught that, especially if that's the rule.

Now I feel bad.