Transport question: Buying and driving a car from Cleveland OH to Chicago, DMV will be closed - OH peeps, come in here!

[GolfVIDriver]

If all goes according to plan, Sunday June 3rd is going to be a really big day for me from a car enthusiast perspective.

I will be driving from Chicago to Cleveland, OH and possibly buying and driving home a car very near and dear to my heart. I have some good company coming with me that some of you old timer CLers will remember, and we will have a high res camera with us to record the shenanigans and post up a little treat for you guys when we get home. In typical fashion when the two of us get together on a road trip, it will either be a disaster or pure epicness. Perhaps both.

We have made the decision that the car is road worthy, so we're going in the GTI, and driving them both back together.

But I have a problem: I want to make sure the title transfer and transport of the car goes off without a hitch. Further complicating matters, the only day this will work is a Sunday, which means no DMV. So I can't buy a temporary drive off tag, and I don't want to get caught running a expired plate from another vehicle.

I spoke to the seller and he can get the title notorized for the miles (a peculiarity to Ohio, and I am not sure that applies to me) ahead of time. So that part is taken care of. I believe the seller will have a bill of sale dated with all the particulars, so that will be handled as well.

So, the questions:

1. Do any of you Ohio people know what needs to be done to the Ohio title aside from signing it?
2. Do I have any other options on getting this thing home short of running his plates on the car home, and then sending them back to him?

Right now I am thinking of yanking the plates off it, having all signed documentation with me in the car, and winging it. If I get pulled over I can prove I bought the car that day.

Thoughts?

[GolfVIDriver]

Wow....this question hit the ground with a very loud thud.....

[300_munkeys]

I don't know about OH but in VA, you can get a temporary "trip permit" for $5 on the DMV website. You just put in the VIN of the car and your info and pay $5 and print it out. This is good for 3 days.

You can get one from the original state of the car or from the destination state but I did this recently with no problem.

[seroki]

I assume this will be this weekend? If so I would avoid winging it OSHP are dickheads memorial day weekend...

http://bmv.ohio.gov/vehicle_registration.stm

That should pretty much sum up what you would need to do on the right hand column.

You might want to call one of the local BMV's up in Cleveland and ask them what to do.

Edit: Additional looking into it brought me to this:

When a new car is purchased, is it permissible to put the old car tags on before the transfer of title is made?
Yes, however, the new title must be presented to the deputy registrar within thirty days to complete the transfer of registration. [O.R.C. 4503.12 A (4)].

Dont know if that helps more or not.

[seadoo2006]

I assume this will be this weekend? If so I would avoid winging it OSHP are dickheads memorial day weekend...

http://bmv.ohio.gov/vehicle_registration.stm

That should pretty much sum up what you would need to do on the right hand column.

You might want to call one of the local BMV's up in Cleveland and ask them what to do.

In Ohio, you don't have to run any plates for up to 30 days from when the sale happens ... When I've bought cars in the past, I take one of my Ohio plates from a car I own (just so it's not an immediate cop target), screw it on, and make sure I have the title and a purchase agreement with me at all times. I've only ever once been stopped by a police officer and all it took was showing him the title and the purchase agreement and that the plate was, in fact, registered to me.

You might want to check your Illinois laws, but here in Ohio, you aren't required to have any plates for up to 30 days after purchase.

[seroki]

In Ohio, you don't have to run any plates for up to 30 days from when the sale happens ... When I've bought cars in the past, I take one of my Ohio plates from a car I own (just so it's not an immediate cop target), screw it on, and make sure I have the title and a purchase agreement with me at all times. I've only ever once been stopped by a police officer and all it took was showing him the title and the purchase agreement and that the plate was, in fact, registered to me.

You might want to check your Illinois laws, but here in Ohio, you aren't required to have any plates for up to 30 days after purchase.

Good to know

[GolfVIDriver]

The BMV was useless, they basically told me to wait till business hours to obtain the necessary documents, so I did the next best thing: I called the State Police.

I told them the situation, and the jist I got was this: Put something - ANYTHING - on it to not garner a second look, and have your documents with you when you get stopped.

I have a spare plate (the front plate from my GTI, in fact) that I can toss on, so I think that's the answer.

[Fe2O3]

Inb4 omgfelonyifyoudonthavetags

[PlatinumGLS]

I know what you are getting

[Grey Mouser]

In Ohio, you don't have to run any plates for up to 30 days from when the sale happens ... When I've bought cars in the past, I take one of my Ohio plates from a car I own (just so it's not an immediate cop target), screw it on, and make sure I have the title and a purchase agreement with me at all times. I've only ever once been stopped by a police officer and all it took was showing him the title and the purchase agreement and that the plate was, in fact, registered to me.

You might want to check your Illinois laws, but here in Ohio, you aren't required to have any plates for up to 30 days after purchase.

Keeping the title in the car is a good way to get yourself in trouble if the car is stolen.

[GolfVIDriver]

I know what you are getting

That's pretty much how I feel right now. Pinch me, I can't believe it is actually going to happen.

[cadiburns]

I'll bet it's not as cool or rare as what I'm getting.

[GolfVIDriver]

I'll bet it's not as cool or rare as what I'm getting.

Depends. Is yours less than a 1 of 900 production run?

[.:1of1500:.]

I did the whole "Throw on a registered plate" from the car I sold onto the car I purchased in the past.

Got pulled over on the way to getting it registered at 7:30 in the morning and got a $170 fine.

I had the paperwork to prove I had just purchased the vehicle, but it was not yet inspected or registered but was insured.

Such BS.

[epbrown]

I had the paperwork to prove I had just purchased the vehicle, but it was not yet inspected or registered but was insured.

Did you have to drive the car to get registered, or was this a stop on the way back with it?

I've done several out of state purchases, and I typically use the plate from my current car for the drive back; I've never been stopped though.

[VWObsession]

Put something - ANYTHING - on it to not garner a second look, and have your documents with you when you get stopped.

I have a spare plate (the front plate from my GTI, in fact) that I can toss on, so I think that's the answer.

But if the 2 cars are travelling together, that might raise some eyebrows.
Do you have another car with current plates in your posession (either of you) whose "missing" plate can be hidden at home while awaiting your return? Still a risk, but not sure what else to do on a holiday weekend. OSP basically said "just don't get caught."

Drive like a Grandma and leave the shennanigans until you can get it legally registered/tagged.
^
Yeah, I'm boring.

[200HP4dr]

You're buying this, aren't you?

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/2922773091.html

Chris

[bigev007]

This has been coming up a lot lately, and I can't believe how complicated the different states make buying a car/getting tags. In every province I am familiar with you can put your old plate on it (as long as the car has a valid inspection) and you then have 2 weeks or 30 days to get it sorted out. Same with insurance, at least 2 weeks before you have to notify them.

It looks like you can do the IL title transfer online, which gives you 7 days to go in and complete it. Not sure if it will give you a temp tag online, but you can transfer your old plate to the new car if you are not planning to get a new plate.
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/de...tion/pert.html

[GolfVIDriver]

SHould have added -

This is an additional car, no replacing the GTI or the Equinox.

I can't pull a plate off a car at home because that renders my wife's car undrivable, not a good thing when you will be gone all day.

Another option is leveraging a friend. He wants to come with for fun, and we might be able to take his '09 Mustang GT, but I am not sure he will want to drive that all day.

In short, I can pull the front plate on my GTI and put it on the new car for the drive home. I think that's the answer.

[emmettlodge]

Ohio title has to be signed on the back by the seller, and then signed in presence of a notary by the buyer, before it can be transferred.

You need a transferred title to obtain a paper temp tag.

Why don't you just trailer it home?

[VadGTI]

This has been coming up a lot lately, and I can't believe how complicated the different states make buying a car/getting tags. In every province I am familiar with you can put your old plate on it (as long as the car has a valid inspection) and you then have 2 weeks or 30 days to get it sorted out. Same with insurance, at least 2 weeks before you have to notify them.

It looks like you can do the IL title transfer online, which gives you 7 days to go in and complete it. Not sure if it will give you a temp tag online, but you can transfer your old plate to the new car if you are not planning to get a new plate.
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/de...tion/pert.html

How about we make it even simpler. California seems to be the only state that has plates that stay with the cars for the car's life. They aren't assigned to the owner. The rest of the world does it this way. Why do the other 49 states insist on having the plates be assigned to drivers, not cars? It makes things so difficult.

[mike_A3]

Just drive it home dude, its the toll road. Only like 6 hours and ONE road.

Ohio's title weirdness only applies when applying for an Ohio title, you're going to be worried about Illinois stuff, not Ohio stuff.

Just keep a dated and mileage-written-down bill of sale with you. And don't be drunk.

I live just south of Cleveland, I drove my Jeep like 25 days without getting plates. Its normal here, since you have to get an e-check before getting a title, before getting plates, which are all done at different places.

Yes the title office and the BMV are different places.

[mike_A3]

How about we make it even simpler. California seems to be the only state that has plates that stay with the cars for the car's life. They aren't assigned to the owner. The rest of the world does it this way. Why do the other 49 states insist on having the plates be assigned to drivers, not cars? It makes things so difficult.

Because new plates cost more.

The real best is West Virginia trailer plates. No sales tax for trailers that tow over 2k, and plates are good for the life of the trailer. No checkups, no fees, ever. Its worth the drive to WV for any new trailer that costs more than like $1k.

Also a good selling point if you get rid of it. No need to register or title or anything, just sell it for cash and move on.

[GolfVIDriver]

Ohio title has to be signed on the back by the seller, and then signed in presence of a notary by the buyer, before it can be transferred.

You need a transferred title to obtain a paper temp tag.

Why don't you just trailer it home?

I thought about that, but 2 reasons:

1. The Equinox does not have a Class IV hitch (yet) and I am too cheap to buy one.
2. Even if I did, the car + the tow dolly would likely exceed my 3500 lb tow rating, and I don't want to load the 'Nox like that and run it for 6 hours through what will likely be a hot weekend.

[GolfVIDriver]

Just drive it home dude, its the toll road. Only like 6 hours and ONE road.

Ohio's title weirdness only applies when applying for an Ohio title, you're going to be worried about Illinois stuff, not Ohio stuff.

Just keep a dated and mileage-written-down bill of sale with you. And don't be drunk.

I live just south of Cleveland, I drove my Jeep like 25 days without getting plates. Its normal here, since you have to get an e-check before getting a title, before getting plates, which are all done at different places.

Yes the title office and the BMV are different places.

Question on titles:

We don't have to get titles notorized here in IL. The owner is going to get the title signed and notorized before I get there. So, in theory, all I need to do is sign the title when I get home and surrender it to the DMV.

Do I have that right, or is there some wierd hanky panky I need to do on the Ohio title?

[SSLByron]

I know what you are getting

X2

[seadoo2006]

Keeping the title in the car is a good way to get yourself in trouble if the car is stolen.

Considering a title transfer requires a notary public stamp, my signature, and a host of other provisions the BMV requires, I'd say there's a better chance of a notary public being charged with failure to confirm identity ...

Seriously, I have the titles to my car in them because it makes sense to have them with me. If someone steals the car, meh, I have insurance #1, and #2, the state of Ohio has a few fails afes that would protect you in that instance. Again, I have insurance, so wtf do I care where my title is?

[emmettlodge]

I thought about that, but 2 reasons:

1. The Equinox does not have a Class IV hitch (yet) and I am too cheap to buy one.
2. Even if I did, the car + the tow dolly would likely exceed my 3500 lb tow rating, and I don't want to load the 'Nox like that and run it for 6 hours through what will likely be a hot weekend.

Rent a pickup and tandem axle car trailer from UHaul.

[seadoo2006]

Rent a pickup and tandem axle car trailer from UHaul.

Except 60c/mile is no joke on those pickups ... $40 for the truck one-way + $80 for the trailer one-way + an average 345 miles @ 60c/mile +gas + tax + the car to get there and back = $600+ just to transport the car ...

People forget about the per mileage charges when they talk about renting a truck from Uhaul or Penske.

[PlatinumGLS]

In Michigan, it is perfectly legal to drive a vehicle you purchased from an individual for up to 3 days without out plates: http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7...5972--,00.html

You do not need a license plate to drive a newly purchased vehicle directly home within Michigan within three days of purchase. Carry the assigned title with you. Never use a plate from another vehicle as a substitute.

[emmettlodge]

Except 60c/mile is no joke on those pickups ... $40 for the truck one-way + $80 for the trailer one-way + an average 345 miles @ 60c/mile +gas + tax + the car to get there and back = $600+ just to transport the car ...

People forget about the per mileage charges when they talk about renting a truck from Uhaul or Penske.

Penske has no mileage charges.

[GolfVIDriver]

Penske has no mileage charges.

Penske is also freaking expensive. I'd sooner outfit my Equinox for the job.

I should be fine. It won't be the first time I took a vehicle across state lines with no plates.

[seadoo2006]

Penske has no mileage charges.

True, but I believe you pay for it anyways, just looked it up, a 12 foot box truck is going to set you back $360 from Cleveland to Chicago one-way. I can't remember where they have pick up rentals, but I thought it was equally as expensive.

[GolfVIDriver]

True, but I believe you pay for it anyways, just looked it up, a 12 foot box truck is going to set you back $360 from Cleveland to Chicago one-way. I can't remember where they have pick up rentals, but I thought it was equally as expensive.

And that won't include the dolly or gas.

I can get a hitch on my Equinox for $200 without even shopping around.

[Mosbius Designs]

Okay, so someone has to spill the beans here. I can't wait until June 3 to find out what this mystery car is.