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A question about trailering a pick up truck

showme
Explorer III
Explorer III
Howdy, folks! It's been quite a while since we've been without an rv, so I haven't checked in for a while, but it suddenly occurred to me that this might be the place for this question. I've just bought a 1951 Chevy pick up (my first bought truck, which I've always said would be my retirement model-which I am now), and I need to get it 180 miles from mid Illinois back home to southeast Missouri. It's not licensed, so I've been trying to figure out how to get it down here without getting pulled over by the IL or MO highway patrol. Does anyone have any suggestions, whether it be on trailering the truck, special permits to drive the truck, or other ideas as to how I could get this done? It has 5,000 miles on a rebuilt engine, runs great, but has been in a guys garage for 5 years (no long runs, in other words, just around country roads), so I'm not exactly sure what to do. My AAA only covers up to 100 miles, so I'm either going to have to contract it out (low bid of $350), or drive it home. Any body here had any experience with special permits in Illinois or Missouri? Thanks in advance for any and all replies! BTW, I won't be towing the next trailer we buy with this truck. 🙂
24 REPLIES 24

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Explorer III
It really looks like you didn't pass "Reading Comprehension 101" either. Direct quote from the OP's first post:

"Does anyone have any suggestions, whether it be on trailering the truck, special permits to drive the truck, or other ideas as to how I could get this done?"

Notice he specifically mentions "trailering the truck".
Howard and Peggy

"Don't Panic"

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Explorer
BurbMan wrote:
donn0128 wrote:
Rent a flat bed from uahul, load it on and drive home.


That's what I would do.


You folks are *NOT* reading his post/s!!..:S

He doesn't have a receiver - just the ball on the bumper.

~

On edit - see he got it done with a friend's truck and trailer.

(Reading comprehension 101 still applies!..:R..)


~

showme
Explorer III
Explorer III
Thanks, everyone, for the replies and the concern! Good news is, It's Home! I ended up trailering it back night before last. A friend of a friend had a trailer and truck, so we went up and safely brought it home. The advice of the license dept. was correct, in Missouri anyway. I'm transferring the plates to the '51, so I can legally drive the "new" truck for 30 days on the plates to get the thing licensed. I called Illinois and was told to get a temp drive away tag for $10, but a bill of sale won't get it, only a title. Since there is no way to produce a title until the lost title comes in, which the PO was told would be 4-6 weeks, that isn't possible. When I ran the Missouri license idea by the IL Sec. of State title office, the weren't' sure what to say. They couldn't give me a sure reply, since I had to get it home before bad weather sets in, and Missouri laws and Illinois laws are at odds. So, after checking with about 6 transport companies, (one in particular was very pushy and arrogant, and still won't stop hassling me about how wrong every other towing company is), a good friend who is working overtime and can't help, referred me to a friend of his, and we drove the 180 miles to Decatur and pulled it home, so all is well. I will get a picture of the "old boy" and put it on here today. Thanks so very much to ALL of you, and I can't even begin to tell each of you how much I appreciate your replies. Especially the ones who were infuriated with what I'd been told, because it made me feel as though you all really cared and were worried about my welfare. I love this forum! Thanks you all!

traindriver1
Explorer
Explorer
You can get a temp lic to drive it back to mo, go to any dmv or place that handles license plates and you will be good to go. Your best bet would be to put it on s trailer. I rented a u-haul to take a car from ill to joplin after the tornado, believe it cost 135.00.

B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Explorer II
Being an old truck, why take a chance on driving it that far and winding up on the side of the road? Just go rent a trailer and haul it home. Ride in comfort, make better time and no worries..

B.O.
Former Ram/Cummins owner
2015 Silverado 3500 D/A DRW
Yup I'm a fanboy!
2016 Cedar Creek 36CKTS

Wadcutter
Nomad
Nomad
Some people on here have given some terrible advice. Also illegal advice. The advice you got from your local licensing bureau was the worst. She's an idiot for even suggesting it. What she suggested is a felony in IL. That means it's more than just a ticket. That means you go to jail, no bond, and wait until a judge sees you. That 1951 pickup can get really expensive before you finally get it home, if ever.
I spent 30+ years with the ISP. Unlike some of the others who don't have a clue but always seem to be the ones giving terrible advice.
It's a simple process. You're not the first person from out of state to buy a vehicle in IL. IL has what's called a Drive Away Permit. It use to cost $10 from the IL Secretary of State office. 217-782-6030. Very simple to do. No hassle. And it keeps you 100% legal.
You can't just drive it home without plates. Don't even try it. If you get stopped it's more than just a ticket. It's towed and impounded until you make it legal. You pay the towing and storage fees. That can amount to several hundred dollars in addition to the ticket. You don't even have to get stopped to find yourself in trouble. If it breaks down on the way home and an officer stops to help - same legal problems. If you're involved in a crash, even if it's not your fault, you have even more problems and possibly civil problems even if the other driver is at fault.
Save yourself the headache and worry. Call IL SOS and do it the legal way.
Camped in every state

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Explorer III
You don't have to get it inspected to get a temporary tag. It used to be that the only time you could drive it without a tag was to get it inspected. Now it has to be tagged regardless of circumstances.
Howard and Peggy

"Don't Panic"

fullautodave
Explorer
Explorer
fj12ryder wrote:
Don't know about Illinois, but Missouri does not allow you to drive an unlicensed vehicle on the road unless it is being driven to an inspection station. It must have a tag, whether it is temporary or permanent. Edit: I did some checking and now I'm not sure whether it is legal to even drive it to the inspection station, without a tag

You may not be stopped, or you may be stopped by a lenient LEO, or you may be stopped by an overzealous LEO who will ticket you and not allow you to proceed with an unlicensed vehicle, just no way to tell. Personally I would put it on a trailer and not worry about it.


This dont even make sense. If you can't tag it until it's inspected and you can't drive it until it's tagged how do you get it inspected?
2009 Mobile Suites TKSB3
2008 Ford F-450 Superduty
2009 Jeep Rubicon toad
1999 Bigfoot C1011FR

Terryallan
Explorer II
Explorer II
RV daytrader wrote:
If you are driving it, make sure you got insurance on it first!


My thoughts as well. Collision won't do you much good, But liability could be VERY important.
Terry & Shay
Coachman Apex 288BH.
2013 F150 XLT Off Road
5.0, 3.73
Lazy Campers

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
Drive back roads and avoid cities. Obey oral traffic signs. Keep receipt of purchase. Drive it home.

RV_daytrader
Explorer
Explorer
If you are driving it, make sure you got insurance on it first!
YODA...our lil Toyota!
1989 Toyota Seabreeze

YamaDooed
Explorer
Explorer
In Illinois for a non resident you need the last paragraphs...

Temporary permit info clicky...

showme
Explorer III
Explorer III
Well, that's exactly what the official DOV office told me! (I am going to verify it, and (anonymously), call Illinois DOV and see what they say about it. Possibly I could get a temp tag from IL just in case. The truck and seller live just outside of Decatur, IL, so I could venture on over from the tiny village of ***** to get one if needed. (Asterisks just in case any frustrated peace officer is listening in) 🙂

BurbMan
Explorer II
Explorer II
donn0128 wrote:
Rent a flat bed from uahul, load it on and drive home.


That's what I would do.