So it looks like I am finally going to buy a 4runner. 98 Sr5 with 105k on it for $5500. The problem is that the car is in NJ and I am in Maryland. I am going up Saturday to look at the car and take it to a local auto shop for a once-over. If everything checks out I will purchase it next week. Anyone have experience with buying a car from a private party out of state? I believe that in Maryland, in order to get temp tags you need the signed title, which would mean an axtra trip to NJ. I have read online that there may be a grace period, and If I have the title and signed bill of sale I can drive the car home with no tags at all? Is that true? If not are their any other options?
Buying 4runner Out of State- How to get it home??
- Thread starter gwohlfort
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JohnsD90
New member
Are you friends with anyone who has a dealer plate/Transporter plate? those help, have them come if you do.
Stone5_T4R
New member
Check on your state DMV site. In VA you can download a one-way transport document which allows you to purchase and drive the vehicle home. It has a 1-3 day period on there I believe. A buddy of mine took a train to Vermont and drove the car back. You would have to also make sure you call in to your insurance company before getting on the road along with the bill of sale and signed title. When I sold my Toyota pickup a few weeks ago..the buyer used my laptop to print out all the necessary documentation. I'm sure Md and other states are able to do this as well. Just have to look for the process on your DMV site.
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vr4boy
New member
just rent a u haul truck w/ a dolly.
here are simple steps:
1)call the nearest u haul center where the your 4runner is located in NJ
2)make reservations for a one way trip from NJ to MD (truck w/ tow dolly)
3)drive up there(NJ) and pick up the uhaul truck w/ dolly
4)head on to your 4runner,pay and transfer title.
5)load up the 4runner and drive home(4runner in tow)....
task done
oh when ur done drop off the u haul at your nearest uhaul svc center in md...
i've done this before-picked up a wrecked bmw m3 from south carolina to md...flew there,drove back...
here are simple steps:
1)call the nearest u haul center where the your 4runner is located in NJ
2)make reservations for a one way trip from NJ to MD (truck w/ tow dolly)
3)drive up there(NJ) and pick up the uhaul truck w/ dolly
4)head on to your 4runner,pay and transfer title.
5)load up the 4runner and drive home(4runner in tow)....
task done
oh when ur done drop off the u haul at your nearest uhaul svc center in md...
i've done this before-picked up a wrecked bmw m3 from south carolina to md...flew there,drove back...
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topdown4runner
New member
I agree with the above....
What I have done in the past, but is not exactly legal...bring a current tag with you.
Purchase said vehicle and stick the tag on it.
MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE ALL FOR SALE ADVERTISMENTS FROM THE VEHICLE. ( I found out the hard way )
Drive it home.
In Florida, the Tag Office will issue a temp tag for like 3 days. I think it costs around $15.
I am SURE Maryland has some similar system. CALL THEM, or ask a cop. He'll know. That is how I found out about Fla's system He let me go with a warning as I had all the sale doc's and a clean record.
Good luck
What I have done in the past, but is not exactly legal...bring a current tag with you.
Purchase said vehicle and stick the tag on it.
MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE ALL FOR SALE ADVERTISMENTS FROM THE VEHICLE. ( I found out the hard way )
Drive it home.
In Florida, the Tag Office will issue a temp tag for like 3 days. I think it costs around $15.
I am SURE Maryland has some similar system. CALL THEM, or ask a cop. He'll know. That is how I found out about Fla's system
He let me go with a warning as I had all the sale doc's and a clean record.Good luck
Martinjmpr
New member
The only state you should have to worry about is the state in which you will be registering the vehicle, which should be NJ.
Contact the NJ DMV or county clerk's office and find out if you can get a temporary tag or transportation document.
I bought a motorcycle in Colorado when I was living in Wyoming and this is exactly what I did. I don't even think I needed the title. I just gave the information to the clerk at the county office, paid $5 and she gave me a paper tag that was good for 3 or 5 days. Then I drove down, picked up the bike and rode it back up to WY. Once I was back in WY I got a VIN inspection and then was able to register it.
Renting a truck and trailer seems awfully expensive to me. Several hundred bucks + time getting to and from the U-Haul center vs. spending a few hours at the DMV and paying $15 - $20 seems like a no brainer to me. :shrug:
Contact the NJ DMV or county clerk's office and find out if you can get a temporary tag or transportation document.
I bought a motorcycle in Colorado when I was living in Wyoming and this is exactly what I did. I don't even think I needed the title. I just gave the information to the clerk at the county office, paid $5 and she gave me a paper tag that was good for 3 or 5 days. Then I drove down, picked up the bike and rode it back up to WY. Once I was back in WY I got a VIN inspection and then was able to register it.
Renting a truck and trailer seems awfully expensive to me. Several hundred bucks + time getting to and from the U-Haul center vs. spending a few hours at the DMV and paying $15 - $20 seems like a no brainer to me. :shrug:
Martinjmpr
New member
Forgot to add: There's one other possibility that's even simpler and costs nothing:
If the vehicle has a current license plate and registration and if the seller trusts you, just leave the current plates on, drive it home, and mail the plates back to the owner.
If the vehicle has a current license plate and registration and if the seller trusts you, just leave the current plates on, drive it home, and mail the plates back to the owner.
Martinjmpr
New member
Final note: Re: "Grace periods": Check your state Motor Vehicle laws. There is such a grace period in CO. If you buy from a private party after 5pm weekdays or on any weekend or holiday, you will have (I believe) a 72 hour grace period.
We did this when my wife bought a motorcycle on a weekend. I printed up a bill of sale that had both the date and the time of the sale, since it was on a Sunday we were fine. I rode the motorcycle back to the house (about 30 miles) with no plate but with the signed title and the signed bill of sale in my pocket. If I'd been stopped I would have handed the documents over to the officer and would have been fine.
We did this when my wife bought a motorcycle on a weekend. I printed up a bill of sale that had both the date and the time of the sale, since it was on a Sunday we were fine. I rode the motorcycle back to the house (about 30 miles) with no plate but with the signed title and the signed bill of sale in my pocket. If I'd been stopped I would have handed the documents over to the officer and would have been fine.
drinknmolson
New member
This is the way I have done every private party purchase I have ever made, just make sure you call your insurance co so your coverage starts the day you purchase.
bgmac
New member
x2....
I will certainly ask, but I dont think I would even let a stranger drive away with my plates. Its worth a try though. The U-haul thing seems pretty pricey. Seems like the best option now is to take the plates off another one of my cars and just pray i dont get pulled over.
MikesToy
Banned
Or just drive it like you stole it. HAHA. Once you have the title in your name and in your hands, call your insurance co. to add that vehicle to your policy and drive it home. If you get pulled over, tell the cop that you just bought it and you're on your way home to get it registered at your home-state.
vr4boy
New member
really not that all pricey....but,better than what fines you might get when you get pulled over(hope not) driving an unregistered/uninsured(again, hopefully not) truck-there'll be likely fines for the driver and towing,storage,impound fees for the truck...
if you go by the "another"plate route(hope not x3)...make sure it's off another truck/van/suv as MD has different plate patterns for cars,trucks,trailers etc...and MD cops will know....
TheDurk
Elite Member
I did the "another plate" trick way back in 1973 when I was young and fearless (and no assets to lose). I bought an Audi 100LS in CT where I went to school because I got $800 more on the trade-in (a '68 Pontiac LeMans). I did have the new car insured over the phone, slapped the plates from the traded-in Pontiac on the new car and drove the Audi home to NJ and straight to the DMV.
All went fine, but I definitely had some pucker moments every time I saw a cop. I stayed at 8 miles over the limit the whole way. I still think I would have gotten away with it (back then) if I had been stopped, with a new-car invoice dated the same day on the passenger seat.
All went fine, but I definitely had some pucker moments every time I saw a cop. I stayed at 8 miles over the limit the whole way. I still think I would have gotten away with it (back then) if I had been stopped, with a new-car invoice dated the same day on the passenger seat.
[email protected]
New member
I helped a friend buy a car in NJ a this Fall. We drove in his car to seller home. He paid the guy and walked out with the signed title. We then went to to the NJ DMV where he got a temporary registration in less than a half hour. We then went back to the new car and drove it home to Pennsylvania with the temp tag in the rear window.
