Temporary tag for out of state purchase?

Off-Ramp
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I’m having trouble figuring out what the best option is for this one.

My daughter will be receiving a vehicle (2018 Camry) from grandparents. The grandparents live in MA and the vehicle will be registered in MI or IL (she is graduating from college and location is TBD pending the job situation).The plan was for her to fly out and pick up the car and title and turn the return journey into a road trip. But the grandparents would prefer to take the plates off prior to handing the car over.

It appears as though it’s not particularly easy to get temp tags for a vehicle that you do not yet have the title for.

Any recommendations on the best option? It seems like the most practical solution is to get insurance for the car and convince the grandparents to leave the plates on until she can get it registered and plates issued.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Been there, I bought a car from Boston, private party, MA DMV doesn’t issue temp plate for out of state purchase. My seller was kind enough to let me drive it back with his plate.

It’s either the grandparents lend her their plate to drive it back or she drive it back without plate and have all the documentation to show she’s the legal owner of the car.

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1/ The title should be sent in advance of her arrival, so she can take it, with insurance, to her current state of residence DMV and receive back plates and registration she can then attach to drive it back.

2/ Ship the car. Maybe cheaper than a road trip anyway.

3/ Some wholesale dealers maybe willing to rent use of a dealer transport plate but you would need to have this connection.

You can also try speaking with a runner service like iymansregistryservice.com – at least for professional advice on options.

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Technically, the right way to do this would be to send her the title and bill of sale ahead of time, and have her go and get plates and bring them with her when she picks up the car.

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I appreciate the advice from all!

It shouldn’t be an issue to get the title and bill of sale ahead of time so we might go that route.

Thanks again.

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This is the way. If it’s a gift it may be exempt from sales tax too depending on where she lives.

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Check how can you register in MI or IL. In PA, I can’t get the tag place to issue plate & do registration unless I have the car with me there. Otherwise, I have to trace VIN at local police station where the car is located to get the tag place to process the registration. Thus, I prefer to just get the car to the tag place.

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