Buying a car- A private party car seller wants to keep the plates, how do I drive this car legally? (in texas)

Question

So here's the situation:

I'm buying a car from a private seller tomorrow (Saturday) in Houston, TX pending an inspection form my mechanic, and I have to drive it back home to Austin, TX. The original owner wants to keep the license plates, so how do I go about driving this car home legally? Am I expected to have license plates already? Or is there possibly some sort of "untitled vehicle" sheet I can print out that I see some cars have?

I have no experience with buying cars in the past so I'm a bit lost. Thanks in advance to any help given!

Answer 1

go to motor vehicle with the proper paperwork and get some plates and insurance on your own.

Answer 2

The first answer is wrong [note to first answerer:  if you're licensed to practice law in all 50 states, you have my apology].   Around here, the plates ordinarily go with the car.  You sure as heck can't put 'em on any other vehicle.

But what if it's "vanity plates"?  I just don't know.

And what if the guy just won't hand 'em over?  Don't know that either.

But since it's too late to visit the local subcourthouse to ask the question, what I'd do is, drive the dang thing without plates, and throw myself on the mercy of the judge should I end up with a ticket for it.  I assume you'll drive away with a clear title in hand?  

Or at a minimum, the appropriate transfer documents in hand.

Those I *know* you'll find on the DPS website.

Answer 3

You will need to go to the local dmv with the title,and they should be able to get you a temporary tag and then mail you the permanent one in the mail

Answer 4

You can drive it and if you get stopped just show the bill of sale to officer.

Answer 5

In California, I know you can request a temporary sticker, which would go on your windshield for transporting.  You would need to contact Texas DMV or maybe search their website.  I do know that in Texas, unless they are specialty plates, they should stay with the vehicle, then you would register the vehicle in your name.  I'm not sure what the timeline is.  Sounds odd to me.

Answer 6

that is weird that he wants to keep plates I would call a local DMV office and ask if that is normal/legal.

-I purchased a car in Newbraunfels TX from private party and didn't have to change the plates.....

Answer 7

You should take the signed title to get a temporary tag from the tag office until you get a permanent one.

Answer 8

When you buy the car...be sure that person goes with you to the court house.  You have to transfer the title out of that person's name into yours..And while doing that, tell the person at the court house that you need to get another set of plates.  Be sure to have proof of insurance..Good luck.

Answer 9

Answer from a Texas licensed Insurance Agent

The private seller is very wise.

In Texas all you do is go to the DMV,pay your registration fees and register your vehicle purchase, No need for Temporary Tags, They will give you "Permanent" Tags before you walk out the door so long as you have the required proof of purchase.

Some states actually require that a license plate be removed from a vehicle when it is sold. This is to make sure you properly register the vehicle in your name and get your own plates.

Unfortunately some states such as Texas still allow the plate to remain on the sold vehicle. This is why Texas has so many accidents and tickets issued where the driver is never found. It is quite common in Texas for people to buy a car and then drive it around for years still in the previous owners name.

I once had 6 police officers in 3 squad cars in my front yard banging on my door at 3:00 am with all weapons drawn looking for the owner of a car that I had sold 2 years prior. The buyer never changed the registration into his name and had even resold it with the same plates. Apparently someone had committed a Felony using the car.

I learned my lesson, after this I will always remove the plates when selling a car. That way the Buyer is forced to register the vehicle and get his own plates

Answer 10

You must register the car and get your own plates you can not keep his plates that is illegal in any state!

You must do that before you can take possession of the car because it must be transfered into your name and that is when they issue you the plates.