I have not purchased a car with cash before. I am looking at buying a beater (SUV) in the next week. The car will be under $4K and the seller has the title in hand - no lien. So, how do I buy the car?

I was thinking of asking the guy to bring the car to my house - after I agree to buy it and make a small deposit. Then he can sign the title and take the cash and his plates and I will drop him back. First, is this process ok? Second, if he's not willing to bring the car to me, how am I supposed to bring it home without plates and insurance? What's the proper way to do this?

Please advise.

Thanks!

 

If you are planning to transfer plates from an existing car, you can put them on the SUV (either at your house or his) and legally drive it for 7 days before you get to the registry. If you're not doing a transfer, then the only options are to have the SUV brought to your house, or leave it at his house until you've registered it, which you should be able to do the same day.

I hope this helps.

 

with Bruce.

If you are not transferring a registration, have him bring the car to you, pay him the $, he signs over the title to you and then you contact your insurance company for an RMV1 form. They can fill it out form with the info on the title and you will have what you need to register the vehicle.

I don't even think you need a "bill of sale" as the title will suffice. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

How he gets home after delivering the car is his problem.

 

Give him back $20 and call him a cab.

 

Be careful with your transfers. You can only transfer a registration if you "lose possesion" of the car the plates were originally registered to. In other words, you must sell or trade in the car before you can use it's plates. Also, you must insure the new vehicle before putting any plates on it. This is as simple as a call to your agent in most cases, but must be done none the less.

You must also keep the title, bill of sale and documentation of losing possesion of the original vehicle with you at all times until you title/register the new car at the RMV. Make sure you have all yuor paperwork signed and dated PRIOR to the officer pulling you over. We are not fooled by those who drive around with the un-dated title for two months

 

Thank you all, this is good info.

 

If you have a friend who has access to dealer plates, those always work. This is still legal as long as you insure the car first via vin number etc.

 

Wanna bet?

But that was a long time ago.

 

Not so much.

If a vehicle is not in the dealers inventory and available for sale by said dealer, it is not legit. For example, when you buy a car at the dealer and they slap thier plate on it for you for a few days, even that is technically attatching plates unlawfully. Most officers on the street don't know too much about tbis aspect of the law and even those that do like myself usually don't pay it much mind. But there is always that one guy so be careful.



Bruce, sometimes we pretend we don't notice things to avoid breaking balls and extra work

 

Don't forget to print out or go to the DMV and get copies of Bill of Sales. I know you can sign the Title but it makes it so much easier with a signed Bill of Sale and Title going to get registration.

I like the idea of having the person drive it to your house. Usually I drive it home and mail back the plates to the owners.