Hi LH community,
I know the current pandemic will probably throw a wrench in the mix here, but I’m trying to find out what the process would be to lease from a dealer in NJ but register the car in MA.
From what I can tell through some internet searching, it would be illegal to drive the car back to MA on NJ temp plates as a MA resident.
Would the process be:
Thanks all!
NJ issues temp plates so I don’t see why you couldn’t drive back to MA on NJ temp tags? The NJ dealer would then file your dmv paperwork (prob thru a 3rd party runner) and they’d come in the mail…
I do know MA doesn’t have/provide temp tags so it’s tough for us NY/NJ guys getting cars up there.
I leased a car once in the Boston area so am familiar…
Hey @bdemps2241
You’re correct
No temp tags can enter or leave MA
The dealer would send you paperwork and upon receipt back, hire a service to register it with actual MA tags
At that point you can pick it up or ship
Edit - I have one dealer in MA who lets some customers leave w dealer plates same day but that’s a huge liability and not the norm/shouldn’t be expected
Does this have to be the case or could I go to the RMV (because it’s my faaaavorite place).
Does MA not even allow temp tags from other states? Is that something they’d pull you over for?
Correct!
It’s madness up here!
It’s up to the dealer
There is a lot of potential risk with them sending you the docs and you registering it.
I have some dealers that allow this and others say no way Jose
It’s not allowed. You sign a poa allowing the dealer to register in your name in nj.
Nj to ma needs a runner service to set up the reg. If the ma dmv is closed, idk how you’re able to get cars out. Nj temps are good for 90 days now
This is pretty incorrect, MA doesn’t recognize temp tags doesn’t matter who/what/where issues them.
@Wkdsid ^^^^ just as an FYI
What deal could be worth this headache? And potentially making payments without a car?
Didn’t know thanks…
I would’ve thought you can register a car and an outside state (like NY, CT or NJ) would provide a temp tag (for their respective state ) while the MA resident waits for his/her perm plates/registration
I knew MA didn’t issue temp tags within MA
Example: MA resident leases car in NY. NY dealer provides temp NY tag on rear window while begins the process with 3rd party runner to obtain MA tags/registration . You’re telling me the NY dealer will tell the MA leasee “sorry, can’t give you one of my temp tags cause your state doesn’t recognize this”.
Just wanted to understand, that’s all…
Correct… In MA its illegal to drive on temp tags. Makes it a nightmare for out of state dealers.
Also why all of my kickass (and thanks for being patient) out of state clients have to wait for their cars after signing.
We deliver to the DMV or Town Hall in all New England states so clients leave with their cars. Or, MA dealers act as their own registries and have a safe full of plates (for in state deals).
For any other state, the process is completed by a tag service or the individual buyer if the state is a bit more rare (in terms of us doing business with them).
Process usually takes no more than 5-7 business days.
At this time, I’m securing deals for out of state folks, but they’re not signing the contract and beginning the lease until we know the car can be registered.
Working well for now since most aren’t driving anyways 
and for the right car/deal, well worth it!
I mean the question was to see/verify if it would be a headache, and it certainly seems it would be.
The vehicle I am interested in seems few and far between, and even more so for it to be a good deal.
If the dealer is competent and you’re not in a huge rush, I would still go for it.
For example, if MA is doing mail in Reg, they could hire a tag service to do that.
is MA doing mail in reg though? ny/nj arent.
NY is from what our tag service said (Beacon). We’ve done a couple.
I don’t know if MA is (all but one of my dealers are here) so it doesn’t affect me.
Has anyone dealt with the opposite of this, getting a car from MA and registering it in NJ? Wondering the timeline to expect on when the dealer will receive the registration to deliver the car.
@aronchi as you mentioned if Ny/NJ aren’t doing mail in, this may be a bigger issue I’m assuming.