Long story short I found a car in WI that I'm going to purchase. The seller previously purchased the car from IL but didn't change the title. He didn't sign the title and now is looking to sell it. The catch is it doesn't have plates. The seller advise me its ok to drive as long as I have the bill of sale and tittle in hand when I get pulled over. For 1 I'm not going to believe that BS from the seller or drive without plates for 6 hours back home. What is the best route about this? I sent a text this morning too see if he can overnight the tittle for me so I can get plates for it before I come this weekend. Is there another route about this? Oh and I found out about this situation after we agreed upon a price and was never mentioned in his ad.
Peter, you're alive! Are you financing the car? The bank should be able to arrange for a temp permit for you to drive the car back.
Gotcha. Check with your local DMV, tell them what's happening and they may be able to get you a temp tag then or let you know what you can do. A bill of sale may be enough for you to get the car back here to get registered.
Pretty sure you need the temp tag through the state in which it's titled. I'd call the IL dmv to confirm what the MN dmv says. Technically I think you need an interstate temp tag. welcome back, Peter!
Bought our car from IL. They just asked where we were going and gave us a yellow permit to put in the back window to drive home.
^Do this. YMMV but I had very little trouble driving plateless home from MI through Chicago to the cities a few years back with my coupe when I bought it. I was stopped one time and simply produced my bill of sale and was sent on my way, so I wouldn't concern yourself with that part. What I would be most worried about is the seller getting the title stuff sorted out before you go to pick up the car - if you do go out there on faith, get the seller to accompany you to the dmv and do the paperwork there just in case. The dmv can be very particular about how the paperwork is done. I'd be very suspicious if the title isn't in the name of the seller... and just so you know it'll take up to 3-4 months for a new title.
I know this car is out of state, but here is what Senior Bnuts told me for the law in MN (He also says the laws will probably be some what similar). Well MN law states that him buying the vehicle and never transferring it then trying to sell it to you,aka jumping, is illegal. Both the seller(s) and buyer(s) can get in trouble for driving the vehicle without plates/tabs, unless you have a permit of course. But since he never transferred it from the previous owner, the first owner and the buyer would get in trouble and maybe the middle guy(WI) if you can prove it... If the IL seller went on the computer and told the DMV that WI guy bought it and he never transferred it, then he tries selling it to you. That will throw a red flag and you will get in trouble as will the WI seller. tl;dr Either have him send you the title and hopefully you don't throw any red flags. or have him transfer it to his name and then have him send it to you. Either way. Seems dicey. Take the safe route
How long did WI guy own the car? If the car was licensed under his ownership (while the title was in IL guys name still), the registration renewal would have gone to IL guy. Seems weird that IL guy wouldn't put up a stink unless WI guy never had it on the road or had it under a year. Definitely worth looking into. I assume you've contacted IL guy to confirm whatever WI guy is saying, right?
