Buying a car outside of Massachusetts - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

vmcg · 05-11-2015, 10:20 AM

How hard is it to buy a car privately out of state from a private seller?

I'm going to buy a ZL1 and will likely have to go out of state, if I'm flying out to somewhere to buy one I want to do the deal there and then so would bring a bankers check with me.

Can I bring my tags of my current vehicle or get temporary ones issued?

TRC-SS · 05-11-2015, 11:51 AM

Getting a vehicle from out of state is not that much different. Make Sure you have a title and bill of sale. As far as plates, Massachusetts state law allows you to use plates from your old vehicle for your new one and you have a 7 day grace period to register it with those plates. You CANNOT take plates off another vehicle and put them on the camaro just to get it home. The plates need to be from a vehicle that you sold that is no longer in your possession, with the intent to register new vehicle with those plates. Temp tags are only issued to vehicles from same state.

Other wise you will have to do what i did few years back. Bought a car from New York. Ran down paid the dealer, got title and bill of sale. Went back to Mass, registered the car, got plates and ran back to New York,!

Good luck, hope this helps

DaveA · 05-11-2015, 01:15 PM

I bought my Camaro new out of state. Got temp tags from other state. It can definitely be done just check with Registry.

RichSS2006 · 05-11-2015, 04:38 PM

I just bought a car in NJ. Trailered it back to CT. The NJ dealer gave us a 30 day temporary plate. We'll run over to CT DMV this weekend to register. I could have driven it home, but chose to trailer it back. $90 at U-haul for trailer.
Good luck,
Rich

Rock-It Man · 05-11-2015, 05:27 PM

This can get complicated. In a few states (Indiana comes to mind) you are liable for the local sales tax unless the car is being shipped to MA by a bonded carrier. So if you trailer it yourself, you pay sales tax in both states.

The most pain free approach to all this is, in fact, to have the car shipped to MA and just get new plates for it. You can start the process with the Mass Registry as soon as you have the bill of sale and the title signed. That way, when the car arrives, put the new plates on and enjoy!

Also, DIY trailering will usually cost more than a carrier, if you figure all your costs, like fuel and lodging. If you are renting the tow vehicle and/or trailer, forgetaboutit: the carrier will be way less expensive.

xk49 · 05-12-2015, 06:18 AM

Living in NH, I've bought cars in Mass in the past. Mass does not recognize "temp/transfer" plates and you could be fined. For example, I could get temp/transfer tags from the NH DMV and go pick up a car in Maine no problem, but I couldn't pick up a car in Mass using the same process. Go figure.

TRC-SS · 05-12-2015, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveA

I bought my Camaro new out of state. Got temp tags from other state. It can definitely be done just check with Registry.

Which state allowed that?

Cause this does not happen with Massachusetts and majority of the surrounding states. I attempted with New York and Mass denied the temp tags

DaveA · 05-12-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRC-SS

Which state allowed that?

Cause this does not happen with Massachusetts and majority of the surrounding states. I attempted with New York and Mass denied the temp tags

Maryland

Criswell Chevrolet - great deal and I would highly recommend them. Picked me up from the airport and the whole process was very smooth. While it's unlikely I would ever buy another GM vehicle, if that were to ever change, I would certainly buy from them.

TRC-SS · 05-12-2015, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveA

Maryland

Criswell Chevrolet - great deal and I would highly recommend them. Picked me up from the airport and the whole process was very smooth. While it's unlikely I would ever buy another GM vehicle, if that were to ever change, I would certainly buy from them.

Nice.

Bad@ssCamaro · 05-12-2015, 09:34 PM

Your insurance agent should be able to provide all the information you need to assist the process. The most important document besides the Bill of Sale is the Certificate of Origin (if the vehicle is new). I bought my car in Michigan and was issued a temp tag in that state, but was informed that it was not legal in Massachusetts. That does not mean you can not be insured, it's just something that is not legal and thus you could be fined by it. I took the risk of entering into MA with those plates, but I had a short drive after entering the border (from NY - about a 45 minute drive to home) and it was about 4 am, which police visibility is fairly low (IMO). If I would have been pulled over, I would have been seeking the sympathy and understanding of the police officer

Good luck in your purchase and prepare well

Oh, and Rogers Chevrolet will pick you up if you fly in too.

05-11-2015, 10:20 AM	#1
vmcg Drives: Chevrolet Camaro SS, Seat Leon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 53	Buying a car outside of Massachusetts How hard is it to buy a car privately out of state from a private seller? I'm going to buy a ZL1 and will likely have to go out of state, if I'm flying out to somewhere to buy one I want to do the deal there and then so would bring a bankers check with me. Can I bring my tags of my current vehicle or get temporary ones issued?

05-11-2015, 11:51 AM	#2
TRC-SS 700RWHP-650TQ Drives: 2011 Forged LS3 Supercharged/Cammed Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Shrewsbury Massachusetts Posts: 5,269 View My Garage	Getting a vehicle from out of state is not that much different. Make Sure you have a title and bill of sale. As far as plates, Massachusetts state law allows you to use plates from your old vehicle for your new one and you have a 7 day grace period to register it with those plates. You CANNOT take plates off another vehicle and put them on the camaro just to get it home. The plates need to be from a vehicle that you sold that is no longer in your possession, with the intent to register new vehicle with those plates. Temp tags are only issued to vehicles from same state. Other wise you will have to do what i did few years back. Bought a car from New York. Ran down paid the dealer, got title and bill of sale. Went back to Mass, registered the car, got plates and ran back to New York,! Good luck, hope this helps __________________ View Build HERE>>>>>MY 2011 2SS/RS JOURNAL

05-11-2015, 04:38 PM	#4
RichSS2006 Drives: 2010 2SSRS Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: South Carolina Posts: 506 View My Garage	I just bought a car in NJ. Trailered it back to CT. The NJ dealer gave us a 30 day temporary plate. We'll run over to CT DMV this weekend to register. I could have driven it home, but chose to trailer it back. $90 at U-haul for trailer. Good luck, Rich __________________ No longer stock, but oooh so much more fun!

05-12-2015, 06:18 AM	#6
xk49 Drives: 2011 2SS/RS L99 RJT Convertible Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NH Posts: 306	Living in NH, I've bought cars in Mass in the past. Mass does not recognize "temp/transfer" plates and you could be fined. For example, I could get temp/transfer tags from the NH DMV and go pick up a car in Maine no problem, but I couldn't pick up a car in Mass using the same process. Go figure. __________________ Flowmaster Force II Axle back, Kooks LT's and Highflow Cats, Oracle Side Makers, BC Coilovers, E-Force Supercharger, Rotofab Intake, HexVents, ACS T4 Splitter/Rockers/Wind Deflectors, Aeroforce dual pod, Autometer boost/WB analog gauges, MRR M228 20x10 20x11 Nitto Invo 275/315's, CDC Sport Bar, Tuned by Slowhawk Performance. Last edited by xk49; 05-12-2015 at 10:12 AM.

05-12-2015, 09:34 PM	#10
Bad@ssCamaro BeckyD Rocks :-) Drives: 2015 1SS/1LE Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: CT Posts: 5,778 View My Garage	Your insurance agent should be able to provide all the information you need to assist the process. The most important document besides the Bill of Sale is the Certificate of Origin (if the vehicle is new). I bought my car in Michigan and was issued a temp tag in that state, but was informed that it was not legal in Massachusetts. That does not mean you can not be insured, it's just something that is not legal and thus you could be fined by it. I took the risk of entering into MA with those plates, but I had a short drive after entering the border (from NY - about a 45 minute drive to home) and it was about 4 am, which police visibility is fairly low (IMO). If I would have been pulled over, I would have been seeking the sympathy and understanding of the police officer Good luck in your purchase and prepare well Oh, and Rogers Chevrolet will pick you up if you fly in too. __________________ 2015 CRT 1SS/1LE RS/Recaro's/NPP/Nav/Rear vision pkg./BA speaker upgrade. Stage 3 BMR cam, ARH 1 7/8 headers, CAI, BMR 1.25 drop springs, JPSS Billet Bushings, Peddars Cradle Bushings...460 whp...so far....SOLD, but not forgotten!

05-11-2015, 01:15 PM	#3
DaveA Drives: 2013 Camaro SS vert Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 199	I bought my Camaro new out of state. Got temp tags from other state. It can definitely be done just check with Registry.

05-11-2015, 05:27 PM	#5
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,036 View My Garage	This can get complicated. In a few states (Indiana comes to mind) you are liable for the local sales tax unless the car is being shipped to MA by a bonded carrier. So if you trailer it yourself, you pay sales tax in both states. The most pain free approach to all this is, in fact, to have the car shipped to MA and just get new plates for it. You can start the process with the Mass Registry as soon as you have the bill of sale and the title signed. That way, when the car arrives, put the new plates on and enjoy! Also, DIY trailering will usually cost more than a carrier, if you figure all your costs, like fuel and lodging. If you are renting the tow vehicle and/or trailer, forgetaboutit: the carrier will be way less expensive.