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affreeman · 09-02-2016, 07:54 PM

I've been actively hunting for my perfect MH for a while now. I've pursued a couple of potential deals that were out of state, but they were both with dealers who would handle the paperwork and provide a temporary registration so I could drive the MH back home legally. For one reason or another none of these deals worked out so I am still looking.

Now I'm considering a possible deal on another out of state coach, but this time it is with a private seller. And I realized that I have no idea how I would go about making it legal for me to drive the coach home before I registered it here in Massachusetts.

I'm sure others have been in this position so I'd sure appreciate somebody telling me how they went about it.

Thanks!

FloraBama · 09-02-2016, 08:11 PM

A bill of sale and I would drive away. The question becomes how do you show proof of insurance?

affreeman · 09-02-2016, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloraBama

A bill of sale and I would drive away. The question becomes how do you show proof of insurance?

You would drive the vehicle unregistered?

Proof of insurance is easy enough. I'll print that out when I go online and add it to my insurance. At least I think it is.

Bigd9 · 09-02-2016, 08:20 PM

We purchased our past two motorhomes from private parties out of state. I went to our DMV and asked them what I would need. They were very helpful even giving me information how to safely handle the money tansfer, and how to get the motorhome back to Kentucky legally. On this coach, the previous owner stilled owed money and our purchase price wasn't enough to cover his debt. He had to come up with additional funds to allow the release of the lean. We had to figure out how to safely and legally make the transaction. I was lucky, he was just as interested in financial safety as I was, and we worked well together.

My advice it to talk with your bank, and your DMV. They should be able to help.

ahicks · 09-02-2016, 08:20 PM

The bill of sale with a very recent date and an explanation of what you're doing should suffice.

I'd be VERY careful of who owns the coach though. If the seller's name isn't the only one on the title, you could be up a creek when trying to get the title work done when you get it home. In the case of partnerships and corporations, you really have no idea if the seller really has the right to sign off on it. Florida can be a huge PIA..... especially if there is a divorce involved.

If you have a deal that doesn't feel right, I'd meet the seller at a local license bureau and have them look things over. Most states have reciprocal taxes, so if possible just take care of everything right then and there.

Going through an out of state dealer isn't always a lot better. I've had issues were the temporary permits they issued to drive home on expired, and I still had no title. The endless list of excuses the dealer provided was nauseating.

FloraBama · 09-02-2016, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by affreeman

You would drive the vehicle unregistered?

Proof of insurance is easy enough. I'll print that out when I go online and add it to my insurance. At least I think it is.

Yes I would. Every private auto sale I have made resulted in the new owner driving away "unregistered." But with a freshly signed bill of sale and intention of getting it registered at the first opportunity.

**CountryFit** · 09-03-2016, 12:00 AM

4 years ago, i bought my rig from a private party in out of state. we went to the bank together, paid him through the bank clerk, signed the bill of sale, i called my insurance co, then i hit the road at 6pm for 350 miles (scary thing was i had never driven a vehicle in that size). as at the time i was in the process of retirement and moving to another state, ii waited for 20 days then drove another 300 miles to the state i call "home" and registered it there

. you got my point...

Arch Hoagland · 09-03-2016, 12:51 AM

What state is the RV located in?

guardrail53 · 09-03-2016, 01:44 AM

I bought "Mona" out of state, out of country! I live in Thailand, am from Illinois, and "Mona" was in Florida, at a private seller! I had a friend and his dad go look at it, and he told me to buy it! So I called the seller, set up the deal with my bank, and his bank, wired the money to his account, when my second buddy and his son got there to pick it up! They got the signed, clean title, BOS, and the seller left his license plates on the MH for me. My buddy drove it up to his place 100 miles north, still in florida, and parked it at his house! Then I had him send the title and the BOS to my son's in Illinois, had him take that to the DMV, and get the plates! Then he sent them back to my buddies house, and he put them on the MH, and sent the PO's plates back to him! I called the insurance co. and got the coverage on the MH at the same time, so it was covered when my buddy picked it up from the seller! So we flew into Tampa, my buddy picked us up at the airport, took us to see "Mona", then to a motel, where we could rest comfortably overnight, then he picked us up in the morning, and dropped us off at Mona, and we went to my other friends CG, and stayed for 3 days, getting everything lined out, checked out and working, then drove it for the next month, and close to 4000 miles, from Florida up to upstate NY, then back down to Illinois, with a lot of stops along the way! It is now at my son's house in Illinois, waiting for us to return, and he is using her, and keeping up on the maintenance for me!
Call or visit the Mass. DMV and ask them what you will need to do? Easy! And now days with the wire transfer options at your bank, you can do all of that very easy too! Make sure that the title is free and clear, or work that out with his bank, if it has a lean on the title! And remember the sales tax has to be paid, in your home state, when you do the title and license it!
Enjoy, and look it over very well, or have someone do that for you! Good luck! Rail!

affreeman · 09-03-2016, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland

What state is the RV located in?

The RV is in New York and I'm in Massachusetts.

affreeman · 09-03-2016, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail53

Call or visit the Mass. DMV and ask them what you will need to do? Easy!

I am well aware of what needs to be done to register the RV in Massachusetts. I need to have the title, bill of sale, and proof of insurance, and pay the sales tax at time of registration.

My question is about how to legally drive the RV from point of purchase in western New York state back to Massachusetts where I will register it. If it was close enough to be able to make two trips I could do the purchase, bring all the paperwork to Mass RMV and register the RV, then go back and drive the RV home. But it's not close so I need to do everything in one trip.

Sweetbriar · 09-03-2016, 05:40 AM

Live in Virginia and acquired my coach from a dealer in South Carolina. Drove home with only a bill of sale. Why pay the cost of a temp out of state registration when its not necessary? As long as the date on the bill of sale is fairly recent you shouldn't have any problems if a trooper pulls you over. Delay making the trip to the DMV too long and you could have a bit of explaining to do.

Insurance is just as easy. All you need is the chassis VIN to get coverage. You do not need to be the registered owner to insure a vehicle. My policy has coverage on four vehicles and only two have my name on the title and/or registration.

tcg · 09-03-2016, 06:21 AM

New York seems to require an in transit vehicle permit whether it's inter state or taking it out of state.

https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/tran...y-registration

Personally I would just drive it with the bill of sale and assigned title and act surprised if I got pulled over. Not sure what the penalty might be though so it might not be worth the risk.

In my state, Michigan, you have 3 days to drive the vehicle with just the assigned title and proof of insurance.

Of course if there is a lien on the title that needs to be released first that may cause other problems until the lien holder releases it.

Chuck_Hammer · 09-03-2016, 07:46 AM

my auto insurance.. is setup so ANY vehicle I drive is covered... If I am purchasing it .. I have 30 days to call my agent. but I do call the same day.

out of state.. I have done that... truck and a trailer (different times).. bank then DMW, with seller. otherwise NO SALE. they will make the time.. if all is legal.

the out of state DMW can (may) offer a 30 day tag to get you home.
in Georgia I purchased a travel trailer.. NO tag at all.. just New Georgia title.. pulled it to Ohio. no tag and no issue.