Private sale of a vehicle

Submitted by TheWonderfail t3_z8echo in massachusetts

Could someone explain the basics of how it works in MA?

  1. I give them the money for the vehicle. They give me the vehicle and a title and bill of sale.

  2. ??? At this point I can’t drive away cause the vehicle isn’t registered or insured right? What happens now?

  3. After that I would bring the registration and title application, proof of insurance, proof of ownership, proof of lawful presence and the fee to the DMV.

  4. Then I get the vehicle inspected.

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SwingPrestigious695 t1_iyb8ydx wrote

You cannot drive without plates or insurance, so if you don't have a set of currently registered plates from your own vehicle, you'll need to make an extra trip.

  1. You pay them, they fill out and sign the bill of sale built into the back of the title. If it's already got info on the back, stop. The title needs to start out clean and in their name.

  2. If you have plates from your currently registered car, attach those and complete the following steps on the same day. If you cannot complete them that day, park in your driveway and get a ride to complete everything else.

  3. Go to your insurance agent with the title and get a policy and an RMV-1 form from them. They will fill it out and stamp it.

  4. Go to the registry and get it registered, they will give you plates if you didn't have them in step 2, and a registration which stays in the car.

  5. Get your new car a state inspection sticker within 7 days.

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TheWonderfail OP t1_iybm30b wrote

Thank you that was helpful. In this scenario I wouldn’t have plates so somehow the vehicle needs to end up in my driveway. Maybe the vehicle could be driven with their old plates, maybe I call a tow truck, etc.

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PakkyT t1_iyd3gzp wrote

Since you are not transferring plates you will not be able to drive the car until you get the car registered. So you have a few choices to move the car to your place.

  1. Ask the seller if they can drive it to your house and do the transaction (exchanging payment, signing over the title, etc.) at your house. Then the seller can removed the plates from the car and leave. Of course this requires the seller to have someone drive them home again. Get the car insured and registered to get your new plates.

  2. Go to their place, do the transaction, leave without the car (leaving it with the seller), and get the car insured, registered, and receive your plates. Return to seller's place, attach plates to car and drive it home. In this case you will have to have someone take you to the seller's place the second time since you can not drive two cars home yourself.

  3. Have it towed. This would be my last choice as it is expensive.

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Ill-Telephone-7926 t1_iyecngq wrote

There's a nice check-list for registration here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-registration-and-title-for-a-vehicle-purchased-from-an-individual

Insure first. Then make payment and sign over title. Then register and title the vehicle to yourself (in person at the RMV). Finally, you'll have plates and can drive it. Inspect within 7 days.

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Positive-Material t1_iyb8bhx wrote

you go to A-Affordable Insurance location and get plates afterward or even beforehand and mount them to the car with screws and then you are good to drive away i think.

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