O/T How do I get my new car home?

[mattski]

I just bought a 91 Legacy wagon to use as a beater on nasty days and to teach my son to drive. My wife does not want him to drive her Outback, and there is no way he is touching my baby.

The car is up in Boston and I will be up ther next weekend with my younger son's Boyscout troop, visiting the Battleship Massachussetts. I bought the car on E-bay so I will pay for it then, and won't have the title until I do so.

So, what is the best way to get it home? I can get insurance no problem, but the registration and plates have me in a quandry. Any suggestions other than towing it back on a dolly?

Can I use the plates from another car?

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[svx_commuter]

Hi Matt,
I have taken that trip to Fall River with my son and the BSA. It is a memorable trip.

I have no idea on how to get the car back.

John

[benebob]

Not sure how Mass works but most states have a DMV trip tag that if you buy it in their state they give ya. You have X number of days to then take the registration to the DMV in your state to pay the sales tax and register it. That said, I'd take your tag off another car just in case and chance it. Just make sure you have insurance and then most cops should be understanding if it would come to that.

[Mr. Pockets]

Bobb's right, Matt. The Mass. DMV will sell you a 'transit tag' that's good for about thirty days. It's really the same as the temporary tag you get when you buy a car in your home state.

It should be pretty cheap.

[huck369]

You can see if the current owner will let you leave his plate on till you get it home, then you can mail it back to him.
I did this on a GTO I sold that went to FL.

[mattski]

Originally posted by Mr. Pockets
Bobb's right, Matt. The Mass. DMV will sell you a 'transit tag' that's good for about thirty days. It's really the same as the temporary tag you get when you buy a car in your home state.

It should be pretty cheap.

I checked with Mass DMV and they do not sell transit tags. They listed my options as:

1. flat bed it
2. purchase Mass tags and then transfer in NJ

I think that I will use option 3, use the tags from the SVX and hope that I do not get stopped along the way.

Thanks to all for their suggestions.

Matt

Here's an option #4 (not sure if it works in NJ, though -- I did this recently to transport a car out of state into Florida):

Have the PO fill out your state's VIN/Mileage verification form. Florida's form needs to be signed by a notary or a police officer to become official. Then, just get the form mailed to you, and go get NJ tags at your local office. Then you can just take your new NJ tags up to Boston and put them on the Legacy.

Like I said, I don't know if states other than Florida have this sort of form, so YMMV.

[benebob]

Hey Matt does NJ have temp tags that you can get w/o the title? Might want to check into it. Also, do you know a dealer?

When I got my XT I used my SVX tag to bring it back from VA. No problems at all. I even had an expired VA inspection on it.

[svxqueen]

No offense to anyone in Mass but they are one of the most complicated states to do business with. I know that when anyone from Mass buys a car from us they have two options. The first is they have the car shipped and the second is to pay us for the car then we send them the title so they can get plates. I believe they are the only state that doesn't honor temp tags nor do they issue them. I would pay them for the car and get the title so you can take NJ plates with you and drive it back. If you would like some recommendations on shipping let me know. We have a few companies that we use on a regular basis.

[mattski]

I don't really want to pay the balance of the sale price until I see and drive the car. If anything was misrepresented, the most I have lost is the $100 deposit. That means that I can't get the title yet. But thanks for the advice.

Matt

[LarryIII]

Do what I did when I bought the 94 SVX in PA. Take your NJ license plates off a car that is a Subaru (92 SVX in my case), preferably your wife's Outback. Bring the plate, screws & screwdriver with you. Then put your NJ license plates on the 'new' Legacy when you are in Mass. Drive home very, very carefully. Then register the car in NJ. Good Luck.

[mattski]

Larry, I think that is the best option. I called NJDMV and they suggest getting a Temp tag from Mass, which Mass does not issue.

Thanks to you all.

Matt

[benebob]

Hey Matt, I forgot. Congrats on expanding the stable!