How do you move a motorhome purchased from another state

[cross21114]

Suppose you buy a used motorhome from out of state from a private seller. How do you move it to your state? In other words, would the seller let you move it on their license plates and insurance? I guess you could arrange insurance but, for example, I could not get plates until I brought it back to Maryland and had it inspected.

Thanks,

[ol__yeller]

donn0128 wrote:
Your vehicle insurance should normally cover any purchases for 30 days. So thats no problem.

While this is generally true, I'd check with your insurance carrier to make sure you are covered for an RV automatically for 30 days after purchase. Your policy may only cover like vehicles, a car or truck if you have a car. An RV is a different vehicle and you might have to get a rider or have it added to your existing policy. It would be smart to check this out before heading down the road.

[doxiemom11]

Temporary license plate tag to get it home( from either state) If you have current rv insurance, you should have automatic coverage to get it home, but call your agent to check for sure.

[wa8yxm]

Two answers depending on if you wish to personally move it or hire someone

First: There are transport companies. they move it under their insurance and license tag.. VERIFY that they actually HAVE insurance first please

If you decide to move it yourself (Drive it home) I would recommend you get insurance. they stop off at the license plate store in the "origin" state and get a TEMP registration.. These are good for anywhere from a few days to six months depending on the state.. Drive straight home and get your own.

With modern insurance you can have proof within the hour. And you wait at the DMV longer than that.

Next to Last but not least.. Some states the law says you have a set number of days to drive it home before you register it. Directly home by the most direct route... But if you are bringing it in from another state.. I would not use this excemption. I'd get temp tags

And last: Driving it home with the Seller's plates is a far more serious violation than not haveing any plate at all on it. (In most states)

[Dennis12]

Do what PawPaw_n_Gram says. Make sure to have all of your paperwork with insurance and drive it. Play stupid and beg for forgiveness. It always works for me.

[cross21114]

As the OP from Maryland. In this state, when you sell a vehicle, the plates must be turned into the DMV. I looked on line about trying to get a temporary registration, and it is not addressed. I'll call the DMV Monday and ask their advice.

I would hope that if I buy out of state, and provide evidence of insurance, the seller will let me transport it to Maryland on their plates and I would send them back upon arrival.

I would worry about not having some sort of plate on the rig during transport.

Thanks

[mowermech]

It depends on the states involved.
As a resident of Montana, I can drive a newly purchased vehicle with just the title and/or Bill Of Sale for 40 days after the purchase date.
If you buy a vehicle in Montana, the seller will keep his license plates.
If you buy a vehicle in California, the license plates will stay on the vehicle until it is registered in another state. It is the seller's responsibility to notify the State that the vehicle has been sold
It is the buyer's responsibility to find out the rules in the states where the transaction will take place.

[D_E_Bishop]

I am not a scofflaw, neither am I worried about such inconsequential issues such as this. I'm very much in line with PawPaw_n_Gram and donn0128 in just make sure you have it insured, BOS and prior registration.

I have never heard of anyone being stopped just to check registration. It is possible if you do not have the plates from the sellers state that you could be stopped but not too likely that you would even be stopped if no plates.

In CA, you leave the plates on a vehicle unless they are vanity plates. No big deal anyplace.

[SCVJeff]

Naio wrote:
Most states will issues a 'trip permit' to allow you to move an unregistered vehicle. As kerrlakeroo said, the cost is low.

Some states will also let you register your new vehicle long distance, by mail.

Washington State also does this. We bought ours new up north of Seattle and they taped a 24hr get out of the state or pay tax (after all that's what it's all about) certificate on the window. So South we went...

[Naio]

In most states plates stay with the vehicle. The registration is changed in the computer, and you get issued new plates and stickers in your home state, but until then nothing changes on the outside of the vehicle. Cops won't think anything is weird. To be legal, you should get a trip permit.

If I bought in a state where the seller keeps the plates, OTOH I would also put a paper sign where the (missing) license plate goes that said, "I have a trip permit". In case anyone wonders :B.

Insurance you do with a phone call, so you can do it from anywhere.

[kerrlakeRoo]

OK you were referring to commercial, thanks.

[midnightsadie]

I did it paw,,paws way three times not a problem. its not a big deal just have your paper work handy.

[romore]

I had to buy permits to purchase fuel for a commercially registered truck. Non commercial vehicles are not required to be weighed anywhere we have been but in the op's case he would need a temporary operation permit issued by each state which would be available at the first available scale.

[TheLuvShack]

I live in Indiana. Bought an RV in Michigan. Went to Michigan BMV and bought a temp tag for a few dollars. Insured it with my company before I left Michigan.

[kerrlakeRoo]

Romore, weigh stations as you enter a state?
I have never had to weigh any of my trucks or my Class C. I was predominately travelling in the South East and it was never an issue, I did get stopped in NY once for towing my boat on an interstate but as a military transfer issue they understood that in my home state it was a personal vehicle and let it ride.
Is it different entering Canada or the western states?