MA vehicle purchasing/transporting laws...

[altrocker1]

so lets say i bought an xj in MA...I live in New Jersey, but the jeep i going to ny, what do i need to get to drive it there? do i need a temporary registration of some sort? my insurance covers me...but i'm never going to register it. i would like to avoid a fee if i can, but i would also not like to get a ticket...

 

[pajeepman]

Truck and tow dolly? Not the answer you are looking for but seems like an valid answer.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

Truck and tow dolly? Not the answer you are looking for but seems like an valid answer.

You should be able to get Ma temp tags, and that will allow you to drive it where ever you need to get it to. That is assuming your going to drive it to where ever you need to get it. If your trailering it (or some variation therein) then just buy it, throw it on the trailer and register it in whatever state it ends up in.

 

[altrocker1]

if i had access to a truck and a tow dolly that would be a no brainer...but after just moving here and living right by nyc...pickups are hard to come by. i know you can get temporary tags in mass, i just don't know how to do it without being there and i really only have sunday to go pick this xj up. this jeep is getting parted out when it reaches my shop so it will never need to be registered. im just not sure why i would have to register it in mass when i don't have an address there. i know some states you have 30 days to get registered, but i also know mass can be a pain when it comes to the dmv..

 

[5spd_xj]

You should be able to get Ma temp tags, and that will allow you to drive it where ever you need to get it to. That is assuming your going to drive it to where ever you need to get it. If your trailering it (or some variation therein) then just buy it, throw it on the trailer and register it in whatever state it ends up in.

no such thing. I live in MA (unfortunately...) but when I buy a vehicle, with a bill of sale I'm in the clear to drive around with plates from my previous registered/insured vehicle for a week, then gotta get insured and on the road. So might be worth finding out for sure, but my guess is that at least here, you'd be ok to take the plates/reg from another vehicle of yours and get a bill of sale when you pick it up...

HTH :wave:

 

[sheepjeep]

no such thing. I live in MA (unfortunately...) but when I buy a vehicle, with a bill of sale I'm in the clear to drive around with plates from my previous registered/insured vehicle for a week, then gotta get insured and on the road. So might be worth finding out for sure, but my guess is that at least here, you'd be ok to take the plates/reg from another vehicle of yours and get a bill of sale when you pick it up...

HTH :wave:

that only works if have MA reg vehicle that you are transferring the reg to and will take off the road

can you get NJ temp tags?

 

[chedisme]

Are you going this sunday? If its next sunday you can borrow my trailer. But its not avalible this weekend.

 

[billyjp2]

In MA the vehicle on the dolly has to be registered.

 

[XJLI]

In MA the vehicle on the dolly has to be registered.

Pretty sure the law is the same in ny. If tires are on the ground it needs to be regd.

 

[altrocker1]

It has to be Sunday...need to get it out of previous owners yard

 

[kastein]

I'd recommend getting a temp plate from NJ or NY if possible... then get it the hell out of mass as quickly as possible. You already have the title, right?

Mass temp plates are nonexistent, and mass laws about them are retarded. Basically, if you are a mass resident, temp plates gotten for a vehicle from another state are not valid. If you are a non mass resident, you will not be issued temp plates to get it out of the state. If you are a non mass resident driving in mass with valid temp plates from your state, they can't touch you as long as all the paperwork matches up and you're within the temp plate's period. A friend of mine got pulled over with a CT license, CT temp plate, on a car bought from MA, in MA, and they couldn't find a way to ticket him. Cop was not happy, thought he had a good catch and got nothing.

 

[billyjp2]

where in mass?

 

[altrocker1]

its in ware mass...needs to make it to monticello ny. its about a 3 hour haul or more. The jeep runs and drives, the po just shattered the steering box bolts so i bought a durango box (that i needed for my xj anyway) to install temporarily. i waited to long though, i didnt have any time off this week to go to nj dmv so i'm not quite sure what to do. i am going to try to go there in the morning...however, i don't have a lot of time. if anyone wants to go for an adventure tomorrow, i pay in whiskey and gas money and parts too! im regretting buying this thing so far away...i just wish i lived in iowa still where all of my friends owned pickups.

 

[MassMopar]

Like others have said, MA does not issue temp tags.
You do not need to register it in MA at all to get it out of the state.
If you're not planning on registering it at all, I would trailer the thing or get a temp tag from NJ or NY. Last resort is a buddy with a dealer or repair plate.

As a Mass resident, the way I read the RMV's website, I can legally attach my current plates to my new, unregistered ride, if I meet the following criteria:
-I have lost possession of my old ride (it's sold/traded/physically not at my house)
-My old ride and new ride are the same thing (passenger vehicle)
-My old ride has enough/appropriate insurance to cover my new ride
-And I must register my new ride within 7 days

 

[Begster]

As a Mass resident, the way I read the RMV's website, I can legally attach my current plates to my new, unregistered ride, if I meet the following criteria:
-I have lost possession of my old ride (it's sold/traded/physically not at my house)

Not necessary. The old vehicle can be at your house, as long as you plan on (or say you plan on) replacing the new vehicle with that old vehicle there are no issues. You cannot be expected to rid your old means of transportation before you obtain a new means of transportation. I've transported multiple vehicles by taking the plate off my Jeep, throwing it on the new vehicle and driving them home.

 

[altrocker1]

new plan is to drive up to my friends house in western mass, pull the plates from my xj...take my friends truck up there with a tow dolly, slap my plates on it and tow it back to his house on the dolly (basically on the ny/ma border) then on monday i'm going to go pick up a NJ temp registration and when i go to my friends for the fourth of july, i will then drive the jeep to my shop about a week and a half later then i wanted it to be there. if i feel really ambitious, i might actually just drive all the way to the shop tomorrow. we'll see how it goes.

 

[MassMopar]

Not necessary. The old vehicle can be at your house, as long as you plan on (or say you plan on) replacing the new vehicle with that old vehicle there are no issues. You cannot be expected to rid your old means of transportation before you obtain a new means of transportation. I've transported multiple vehicles by taking the plate off my Jeep, throwing it on the new vehicle and driving them home.

Per the RMV's website

Is there a Grace Period for Transferring a Registration?
If you own a vehicle or trailer and purchase a new vehicle or trailer from a dealer or purchase a used vehicle or trailer from a private party, you may transfer your registration to the newly acquired vehicle. Massachusetts allows a grace period of seven (7) calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle. Under this grace period, the following conditions must be met:

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• The newly acquired vehicle or trailer must be of the same type and have the same number of wheels as the previous vehicle or trailer.
• You must carry the transfer documents, which show the registration number to be transferred, in your vehicle.
• You must have lost possession of or disposed of your previous vehicle.
• The registration plates must be attached to the newly acquired vehicle.

Please note, there is no grace period if you do not currently have a registered vehicle or trailer. The RMV does not issue temporary registration plates.



http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/regs/reg2.htm



http://www.massrmv.com/rmv/forms/21426.pdf

 

[altrocker1]

well...the jeep is now off the previous owners property and is sitting at my buddies house. plans are still to pick up temporary plates tomorrow or tuesday and to drive it the rest of the way. wound up taking the risk today of putting plates on it and driving it. i had the title, bill of sale and proof of insurance with me...not sure if it was the right choice, but seems like no one truly knows what the right choice was. i just followed my buddy, drove the speed limit and stayed off the expressway and all was well