Buying a vehicle from a private seller

[CarlHungus]

Random question, but when purchasing a vehicle from a private party, do I need to register it w/ the courthouse before legally being able to drive it home, or is there a grace period? I know with a dealer they give you temporary plates, but obviously that isn't the case with a private seller.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

I've sold 3 cars to private sellers and I take the plate off but they keep the registration. I make them go to the DMV right away to get new plates. I've been told there is a grace period when a title is transferred.

Edit - I should add I am not the best source because last time I bought a car I just took the old plates off my old car and put it on my new car and drove around for 3 months before I went to the DMV. Apparently that's illegal.

 

[Stormin]

I've sold 3 cars to private sellers and I take the plate off but they keep the registration. I make them go to the DMV right away to get new plates. I've been told there is a grace period when a title is transferred.

Edit - I should add I am not the best source because last time I bought a car I just took the old plates off my old car and put it on my new car and drove around for 3 months before I went to the DMV. Apparently that's illegal.

The new owner has the bill of sale. Good idea to go to the Court House soon. Also make sure the vehicle has insurance. The old owner likely dropped the insurance after being sold.

 

[DeereClone]

We sold a car privately and the buyer's took a copy of our purchase agreement/transfer of title agreement with them. I would assume this would buy you a little grace period but I really don't know for sure.

 

[isu2014]

You can drive it without being registered (no plates) for about a month. DO NOT put the plates from your old vehicle on it, that is quite illegal. In order to be legal, you need your license, proof of insurance and a bill of sale that clearly states the names of both parties, the price sold for and signatures. I got stopped once the weekend I bought my truck for not having plates and it took a total of about 2 minutes for him to clear me. No big deal.

Good luck on the new vehicle!

EDIT: There is a 30 day grace period in Iowa to have your vehicle registered. The title of the vehicle with the purchase price will suffice, but I highly recommend writing up a bill of sale anyway. There are a lot of templates online you can use and print off for neatness.

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

You can drive it without being registered (no plates) for about a month. DO NOT put the plates from your old vehicle on it, that is quite illegal.

why is it so complicated? Why can't a person have license plates and then just transfer them to whatever car they buy? Why are plates and registration different?

 

[k123]

I've sold three cars on craigslist, and remember there is something on the back of the title (where you fill out the title transfer information) that says you can drive it for 30 days, just need to keep the title in the car to prove transfer of ownership. Of course its easiest for to just go get registered and plates right away.

The new buyer should call their insurance (but most insurers will extend their other car policies for 14 days to the new car, assuming they are already insured), and the seller should cancel theirs in case anything happens in the interim.

There are a bunch of forms here, but really they are all included on the title (odometer, damage disclosure, etc)
http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/buyingselling/selling.htm
The checklist form (first link) can be handy for both to have a copy of.

IMPORTANT!! Be careful filling out the back of the title. "Scratching out a misprint" is considered an alteration and the County will insist on a new clean one from the previous owner before you can register it (worst case just draw a line through it but keep legible, but they still might reject it). Big pain!!

 

[k123]

why is it so complicated? Why can't a person have license plates and then just transfer them to whatever car they buy? Why are plates and registration different?

In some states (like Minnesota), the plates follow the vehicle. In Iowa they follow the owner. You have the option of transferring your existing plates to your new vehicle, or getting new plates (e.g. you need to sell your existing car and have an extra car for a while, etc)

 

[keepngoal]

EDIT: There is a 30 day grace period in Iowa to have your vehicle registered. The title of the vehicle with the purchase price will suffice, but I highly recommend writing up a bill of sale anyway. There are a lot of templates online you can use and print off for neatness.

at one time California had a 6 month grace period. Any guesses who bought a new car (or leased a new one) every six months, and drove around without a license plate, also meaning without paying taxes "forever"?

 

[isu2014]

You can drive it without being registered (no plates) for (I think) about a month. DO NOT put the plates from your old vehicle on it, that is quite illegal. In order to be legal, you need your license, proof of insurance and a bill of sale that clearly states the names of both parties, the price sold for and signatures. I got stopped once the weekend I bought my truck for not having plates and it took a total of about 2 minutes for him to clear me. No big deal.

Good luck on the new vehicle!

at one time California had a 6 month grace period. Any guesses who bought a new car (or leased a new one) every six months, and drove around without a license plate, also meaning without paying taxes "forever"?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you.

 

[keepngoal]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you.

Steve Jobs.

http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/07...ed-california-wants-temporary-license-plates/

 

[3TrueFans]

Steve Jobs.

http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/07...ed-california-wants-temporary-license-plates/

You're Steve Jobs?

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Steve Jobs.

http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/07...ed-california-wants-temporary-license-plates/

steve jobs sounds a lot like an *******

 

[CarlHungus]

Thanks everyone. If I buy the vehicle, it will be after the courthouse closes, so I can't register it until the next day. I was just wondering if I could drive it home that evening, which is sounds like I can which is nice.