How To Transport A Car Without Plates – Understanding Your Options

In some cases, you may find yourself needing to transport a car without plates. For example, if you buy a car from someone in another state and it is not registered and doesn’t have plates, you may need to get it to your state to register it and start driving it. 
Or, if you sell your car and it doesn’t have plates, you may need to find a way to get it to the buyer – and you may not be sure what your options are. Let’s get into the details. 

Can I Transport A Car Without Plates By Driving It Myself?

Yes, but only in some states, and you may end up facing some issues if you try to drive a car between states without license plates. Some states offer “in-transit permits” and temporary tags that you can use to legally drive a car without plates.

However, this varies widely between states. In Oklahoma, for example, it’s not possible to do this at all – there is no system in place to drive a car without plates. But in New York, you can get a 30-day “in transit” permit to drive the car without plates as long as the car can pass inspection.

For this reason, we only recommend driving a car without plates to transport it if you’re staying within your state – and you’re certain that you can get the legal permission to do so. Driving a car without proper registration, even temporary registration, can lead to serious legal penalties and repercussions. Consult with your local DMV/BMV for more information. 

Can The Car Be Driven On Its Old License Plates Until It’s Registered Again?

No. In most states, it’s illegal for a car that’s been bought or sold to be driven with the license plates of the previous owner. The car should not be driven by anyone who is not the currently registered owner of the vehicle – even for a day or two. If you’re caught doing this, you risk legal penalties and fines. 

When buying a vehicle, you need to register it in your name right away. And if you’re selling a vehicle, make sure to remove the license plates and provide the buyer with the necessary paperwork to have it registered in their name. 

What’s The Best Way To Transport A Car Without Plates? 

If you’re transporting a car across state lines with no plates, we recommend that you turn to a car transport company instead of trying to drive it yourself. Not only will this save you a lot of time, it will ensure you do not break any laws. Your car doesn't have to be registered or insured to be transported on the back of a truck.

If you bought a car that doesn’t have plates, it can simply be loaded onto a semi-truck car carrier and driven from its current location to the destination of your choice. Then, as long as you have the required paperwork for your state, you can register it at the DMV/BMV, and then start driving it legally. 

Or, if you’re selling the car, you can arrange for it to be driven to the buyer’s desired drop-off point, and they can handle the process of registering the vehicle from there. Either way, hiring a car transportation company for the job simplifies things a lot, particularly if the car needs to be transported a long distance.

A-1 Auto Transport Can Help You Transport A Car Without Plates In The US 

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, A-1 Auto Transport can help you ship a car without license plates anywhere in the United States. Compared to driving it yourself, this saves you a lot of time – and could also help you avoid legal trouble. So contact us online now, or give us a call at (800) 452-2880 to get a quote and ship your car right away.