[DukeofURL]

Slight problem I've run into here.....
I bought my car from a dealer in CA, and had it shipped to the PCD. As my profile says, I live in NJ, so I just figured I'd take a trip down to SC and drive back up, getting a temporary tag from wherever I take delivery of the car (The PCD in this case.)

So then not too long ago, I get a letter that says I should bring my plates with me, or the CA should send them. Problem being, in CA they do not have temporary plates, they just tape the registration to the windshield. In NJ, you can't get registration until you title the car, etc. The dealer supposedly has sent me the "MCO" (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin), which I'll need to get the car registered and titled, but that may not be possible in the timeframe I have.

A guy I work with from GA says down there you just tape a sign to the rear window that says "Tags Applied For". Supposedly he drove around for a month like that until a cop in FL pulled him over. He told the cop that's the way it was in GA, and the cop let him go.

Also, a guy I know transported a car from IL to NJ with only a 2" x 2" piece of paper taped to the rear window (this is all they have in IL apparently), and he had no troubles for the entire trip, and the next couple of weeks after, until he got plates from the DMV.

I just want to avoid troubles with the police on the way back home, heh. You guys have any suggestions?

[jmonier]

The temporary windshield tag you get in California is certainly OK for PCD but you have to apply for registration in CA to get it. NJ probably has something similar but I'm sure you have to apply for registration there to get it. Many times, if you order from a dealer in a different state than your residence they will handle the registration in your state. In this case, you need to contact the NJ motor vehicle dept. to find out how to handle it.

[Blue328xi]

I think they give you a temp tag for SC. I could be wrong on that, I did PCD in Dec.

[fizzle]

yea NJ cops suck especially up by us in North NJ. hope you get this sorted out.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by Blue328xi

I think they give you a temp tag for SC. I could be wrong on that, I did PCD in Dec.

I don't think that's true. They require temp tags or license plates from the state the car will be registered in.

[Dr_Dirt]

Hey Duke,
I met you at the PDC. I hope this license plate issue didn't slow you down.
Best of luck...

[Ian335i]

Great question, as I was wondering the same thing! Thanks for posting it.

[vase330]

Better have a letter from CA DMV showing car is registered temporarily. You also better have insurance. I couldn't drive my car in NJ for 3 months after moving from Washington State to NJ and attempting to title it there. Yeah in WA, they have no paper title, only electronic ones, and they give you a reciept instead. But NJ only has paper titles. You know what happened next? NJ said the'd not accept it, and WA had to create a paper title with a state seal. Took 3 months, in which time NJ DMV told me I was not to drive the car on public roads. Talk about primitive dumb rules They also would not return my washington registration and title which I had to surrender to them. Customer service sucks big time in NJ DMVs too.
NJ is one complicated mess of a place to transfer a car from out of state if anything other than the mandane arises. Have proof of registartion and insurance or the cops will impound your baby.

[I-Won-Today]

Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier, but here is the answer for all future PCD guest:

The PCD has the ability to issue SC Temp Tags to any NON South Carolina resident in certain situations were a tag cannot be provided by the selling dealer.

If you are a South Carolina resident, we CAN'T issue you a temporary tag. You must have one issued by the dealer.

I would say that around 95% of our guest show up with their temporary tag or the dealer has already sent one to us.

Hope this helps.