Options for driving car cross-country without plates?

[Komzorz]

#1 for sure, just have bill of sale, title, and be insured.

I got pulled over driving from the smog place to the dmv (fucking Redmond cops, nothing better to do) and the guy was getting ready to ream me a new one because my tabs were a full decade expired.

Handed him the smog paper which was printed 15 minutes prior and he let me go, since I was literally a mile away from the dmv. As long as your paperwork checks out and it's all gone down in the past 24 hours or whatever, you should be fine.

[Thizzelle]

i've done #2, never been bothered with because all they write down is make model and color for tickets. Which usually is BMW black 325. if it's an M just say you put the badge on it

[BlackbirdM3]

Here is how I did it for my M3 last year.
Went to the dmv, got a 1 way temp permit. You fill it out, and attach it to the rear window. From there, I drove it home no plates, 1000 miles. I got pulled over once, in late February in the rain at night because I didn't have plates. I pointed out the temp permit, and he let me go. I had all the paper work on hand. I went almost 4 months without being pulled over. I also managed to get the car insured before I bought it, so once I had the car in hand, it was insured and I had proof.

My advice, get the temp one way permit, get the car insured, drive it home. Get to the dmv asap and get the thing registered. Don't do anything stupid while driving it.

Will

[SmokeE30]

I've used tags off of other vehicles numerous times in the past. Get a bill of sale, put the car on your insurance, and have the title with you. The felony misuse of plates I don't think would be a big problem as long as you have all your other ducks in a row if anything the police would say the car would have to be towed be because it's not registered but that's the way I roll

[M-technik-3]

Every state has temp tags. In texas its $30 for a month. Get a tag before you leave, and put it on and drive home.

Wrong: Massachusetts does not have Temp Tags nor does Delaware since tag stays with vehicle unless vehicle is new.

[M-technik-3]

Register it before you go to pick it up, bring a plate with you or have you not officially traded money for title yet? So it's not yours yet?

[slammin.e28]

Maybe I've been in Europe too long, but don't you also need insurance??????????????
WTF is a piece of paper with a lie saying tags applied for....... gonna do- nothing is applied for, you just bought it.

I would say get insurance with the VIN nr. and some temp tags, or tow it. Just think if you kill someone on your way home-- even if it isn't your fault- with no insurance in an unregistered car!

Most insurance companies will cover you for a short period after you make the initial purchase of the car, at least that's how mine is. Just like if I'm in someone else's vehicle I'm covered. Basically the same thing, as it's not your car until you get the title transferred.

[mikeedler]

Maybe I've been in Europe too long, but don't you also need insurance??????????????
WTF is a piece of paper with a lie saying tags applied for....... gonna do- nothing is applied for, you just bought it.

I would say get insurance with the VIN nr. and some temp tags, or tow it. Just think if you kill someone on your way home-- even if it isn't your fault- with no insurance in an unregistered car!

[dannyyisntt]

Gun it and hope for the best

[tH16]

Bill of sale and title, drive that bitch home.

[Tanktheory]

It was already said but I'll reiterate..

MISUSE OF PLATES IS A FELONY
Just don't use plates or do the 'tags applied for'. Keep the bill of sale and title with you in the car. You should be good.

[MaksV]

Every state has temp tags. In texas its $30 for a month. Get a tag before you leave, and put it on and drive home.

[slammin.e28]

Va will actually sell you ($5 or $10, can't remember) a temporary tag to get it home if you are a resident. Only good for like a week or something. I've used it twice now. Maybe your state has something similar?

$15, you get 3 days from the day it was filled out, and you have to have a bill of sale with the title.

I did this and got yanked when a fuse blew and my taillight went dark. Dickheads didn't even know what the paper was, threatened to take me to jail for a stolen car, etc, etc. Cops were on the phone with PA etc, etc. One guy was a dick, the other nice. I had to explain to them what the paper was, where I got it, etc.

Seriously cops, know your fucking job.

I also had the plate from my old 325i on the new 325i 'vert I'd just bought. Woulda made it home no problem but that fucking fuse blew. Figured it was better to have a plate there rather than get stopped multiple times by dicks who wouldn't know what a trip permit was. Worked great....except for that fuse.

[Rsully70sev]

Swapping the plates off another car is a felony, so probably don't want to do that.

[Simon S]