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Not sure if this is the right forum...

We're getting ready to buy a car here in NC but my son will be taking it to AZ for the next 3 years or so. That will happen in the middle of August. We're thinking he should register it in AZ. Is it possible to get a temporary NC registration or something? I'd hate to have to pay here in NC and again in AZ.

Anyone have experience in this area?

Thanks.

Simon

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"Never let life be shaped by fear of its end"

No, you're a towel!

Thanks, Marcus but that doesn't really address our situation. My son has just acquired a car here in NC and is leaving for AZ in a few days. We don't want to register it here and then unregister it again.

Simon

Simon, why not just register it in NC, and keep the plate on for the first year, and then register it in AZ.

Unless your son feels it's necessary to do it prior, there is nothing legally requiring him to have an AZ plate on the car. - AB

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I posted that so you could CALL the NCDMV/AZDMV and get the answers to your questions.

_________________
Silver Honda
Green Ford
Blue/White Suzuki
Red Triumph
Grey BMW

"Never let life be shaped by fear of its end"

No, you're a towel!

Thanks, Aaron. That's an option but my son says it's cheaper in AZ than in NC (and he's playing the starving student bit).

Marcus: no disrespect intended to the people working at the NCDMV but they are all DUMB ASSES! We did call them and they said we could get a 10 day temporary tag with proof of insurance and the bill of sale (we don't have title yet as the previous owner's loan company has not sent it yet). So my son hauls down to the DMV, stands in line, and they tell him he needs the title!

Anyone: what are the rules about driving a newly acquired vehicle, with insurance that we can't register yet?

Thanks.

Simon

I had this same question several times in the past, and got varying answers. One time I was told that "if you are planning to switch the tags from another vehicle, the tags may be used for XX days on the new car as long as you carry the signed title and bill of sale and of course insurance."

I have used this possible OK as an excuse to just take the tags off of another car in the fleet and used it on a newly acquied car to get it home. So far I haven't been pulled over with the "wrong" tag. I would really like to know if it is indeed ok.

If possible get someone from the New Bern rd office on the phone, or better yet from DMV enforcement on Blue Ridge Rd. When I had a question about weighted tags, I just kept insisting on talking to an enforcement officer. Eventually I got someone on the phone who knew the laws quite well. It took about 3 calls and at least 6 transfers to get the right people.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Good luck Simon! We went through this a few years ago with my daughter when she went to JWU in Providence. It actually worked out better for us to keep the car registered and insured to NC. Her sticker happened to expire when she came home during Xmas break so it all worked out nice getting the inspection done. We kept the title in our name and had her insured under us.

One thing you might want to check on. Find out if he registers in AZ if they are going to expect him to get an AZ drivers license also. My daughter got told if she registered to RI then she would need insurance and a drivers license for that state. RI insurance rates suck...

Another possibility is to check with one of the smaller car dealers. See if you can't convince one to give you a 10-day paper plate. It'll last long enough to get out there.

NC DMV is not going to go out of their way to help you reduce their revenue...

Graham

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http://www.greywinds.com

OK, here's what we're going to do...

Based on the first paragraph here we're taking the position that we've disposed of the old vehicle (which we have - we sold it and handed over the title) and we're in the 20 day grace period while we're "in the process of having the record transferred" (which is mostly true since we're still waiting for the title of the car we acquired). My son will keep a copy of that web page, the original registration, bill of sale, proof of insurance etc. in the car for the duration.

After he moves to AZ in two weeks he will register the car there and send the plate back to NC DMV.

Just thought I'd close the case. I'm not looking for opinions or approval here but you're welcome to post your comments.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and help.

Simon