Buying in CA and riding out of state

[allanbegg]

Does anyone here know how the following purchase scenario works?

I've talked to my local auto license facility as well as AAA, and neither gives me any confidence that they actually "know" how the process will work.

I'm in PA. I'm buying a Trike in CA.
I am going to fly to CA, pick it up, and ride it home.

In PA, when someone is transferring a vehicle they have just purchased out of the state, they are issued a Temporary Tag. It's good for 10 or 14 days and they have to get it out of the state within that amount of time.

I can't seem to find out if CA has a similar capability.

My local licensing facility said that CA does offer a temporary.
AAA said that I would have to get a "real" CA License Plate.

Thoughts?

Thanks, Allan

[Jess from VA]

I'd just log into the CA DMV, do some reading, then call a CA DMV office direct (the one you will actually use if possible) if you need to.  IE I'd go to the horse's mouth.   https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv

I'd probably just take my other valk plate out with me and slap it on there and try not to get pulled over on the way home.  But I have always been the occasional scofflaw when I need to be feel like it.  (Just be sure you have a signed title to prove ownership if you are pulled over)

You want it insured though, and there can be problems being insured on scofflaw plates.  

I do know my auto coverage extends automatic coverage on anything new or used I buy for a week or two (identical coverage to what I keep on my car) (USAA).  They would prefer I call beforehand and get it all straight, but if I don't call, the coverage is still there.  But I don't know if Geico on my bikes has the same deal or not.  

I'm not sure (at all), but think trikes are closer to cars than bikes, insurance and DMV wise.

Lock it up good in motel parking lots.  You can buy cheap motion sensor alarms too.

[The emperor has no clothes]

It's been a while since I've bought a vehicle in CA. But as I remember the license plate stays with the vehicle . The seller signs over the title and you are good to go. It is the sellers responsibility to inform DMV that his vehicle was sold. It is also the buyers responsibility to register it if living in CA. But you are not. When arriving in PA you will take your signed over title to DMV and register it there. Now, mind you this is from memory of 35 years ago.

[sheets]

Just brainstorming here . . .

I've purchased out of state and brought into Cali. Showed title with proper signatures and date, and proof of insurance, to Cali DMV within 14 days and all is well.

I suspect that if the bike is currently registered, and with title in hand - with appropriate signature of previous owner releasing liability, and a signed and dated Bill of Sale, all you should need is proof of insurance - in your name - for said machine. Call your insurance company before you hit the road. They should email you with evidence of coverage with a effective date. If it takes more than 14 days to transit home I'd beg for mercy from PA DMV and present receipts for gas-food-lodging for the period of time until you get home to register in your home state.  

I don't see the point in getting a temporary registration in Cali of you are exiting the state the next day.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Probably post this over on the SoCal chapter for a more informed opinion.  

[allanbegg]

Thanks for the input thus far.
I've got the Insurance under control.
My problem is the license plate that is supposed to be on the trike.
I've tried searching Google and the CA DMV sites.
I found a temporary license, but it is only applicable to commercial vehicles.
I may have to bite the bullet and call CA DMV.
Posting the question in the SoCal area is a great suggestion, though.
Will try that.

Allan

[sheets]

Keep the Cali plate on the bike as evidence of current registration. You will turn in the Cali plate when you register in PA. No difference in DMV between NorCal and SoCal. 

[Alpha Dog]

Go ahead and call that CA DMV.  That ought to be fun.  I can not believe the hours I wasted with those folks in the 11 years I lived there.  Anyway best of luck and hope it is painless.   I ran across you name a bunch a couple years back when researching the Honda Shadow Ace Tourer 1100 series made in Marysville.  Really neat bikes.  I imagine you are the same guy.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Keep the Cali plate on the bike as evidence of current registration. You will turn in the Cali plate when you register in PA. No difference in DMV between NorCal and SoCal. 

that's what I'd do also. Along with having the signed over title with you.

[Bighead]

Well I guess it would depend if it were new or used......I didnt see where you stated that. If new they should issue a temp tag at dealer( at least every vehicle I have bought out of state did) if used do as stated above and leave tag with trike til you get home. If you get stopped and that is wrong.  Play dumb.

[sheets]

"Well I guess it would depend if it were new or used..."

Good point!

[sandy]

At this time of year, I'd ship it on a truck. www.shippingmasters.com  Safe; reliable and on time. I've shipped 2 bikes with no problems.

[allanbegg]

Sorry. Couple of pertinent details omitted.
It's a used Trike from a private party.
Existing plates are "Disabled, or Handicapped, or whatever it's called in CA".

[Jess from VA]

Well, if SOP for CA is to take the vehicle with the plate, handicap is no problem, just don't use their spots.

I would think your CA seller would be jumping in to help you with this.

You pay him cash or equivalent, you prove to him you have it insured, he leaves the plate on it and gives you a registration, you do two bills of sale (one each), you promise to mail the plate and registration back when you get home, and of course he signs the title over.  (And keeping the CA plate on it long enough to get home may be the way they do it anyway)

He will cancel his insurance on it anyway, but if you have full coverage too, he ought to leave his on anyway (for his own liability worries about your trip home on his plates), until he gets the plate and registration back in the mail.  He's already paid for it, cancelling early never gets anyone more than peanuts back (it is never day for dollar), and what's a week extra coverage?  A few dollars.

To go a bit further:  The risk to seller on your ride home on his plate is his potential liability to others if you hurt other persons or property.  If you total the bike, he's already been paid for that (and you have your own coverage).  But your insurance has you listed as the primary insured, and seller not at all.  That's why he also keeps his own coverage on it until you get home and mail the plate and registration back.  He's the primary insured on his coverage.  Keeping up his coverage for a week or so to get home should resolve any of his worries.

If you are pulled over with his plates, you have his registration, his signed title, your insurance coverage to show, and the bill of sale shows you are lawfully in possession.  You intend to transfer title, pay tax and get PA plates when you get home.  You may get a ticket for a moving violation, but otherwise you are good to go. If some cop argues you are somehow in violation of that state's rules, you reply you are in full compliance with CA (pickup) and PA (destination) state laws, and cannot be forced to comply with each and every state's laws you pass through, where you are neither a citizen or a resident.  Cite the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the US Constitution.

[LandElephant]

Plate is suppose to stay with the bike. Make sure insurance and license in same state. When you get to PA, if you need inspection then get it, register the trike and mail back to the seller the plates so they can turn them back in. If PA requires odometer reading then see if there is form and have it signed by the seller.

If they were standard CA plates you could fill out the CADOT appropriate form and run the bike until the registration expires. I did that in 2004 and had a Texas address on a registered CA bike. Stopped by CHP, issued ticket, when to court and judge verified that I had sent the correct form in and approved by California was told have a nice day.

Remember to return plates to seller if they are handicap or disabled. They need to return those if not being used.

Charlie Morse

[Divot]

I recently purchased a car in CA and intended to fly down and drive it home to Idaho.  Once I was informed of the tax/registration fees I had it shipped instead. 

The car dealer informed me that if one take's possession of the vehicle in CA, one must pay the 8% CA state sales tax, unlike other (most?) states where you can pay your home state sales tax once you get it home and register it.   Once I figured the difference in cost between CA's 8% and Idaho's 6% sales tax plus what it would cost to get there and back, it was considerably less expensive just to ship the vehicle rather than to go get it.  The key apparently is where you take possession of the vehicle.  Anywhere out of CA will work. 

I can't say this applies to motorcycles, but my guess is that it does. 

[Jess from VA]

That sounds like California all right.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

I recently purchased a car in CA and intended to fly down and drive it home to Idaho.  Once I was informed of the tax/registration fees I had it shipped instead. 

The car dealer informed me that if one take's possession of the vehicle in CA, one must pay the 8% CA state sales tax, unlike other (most?) states where you can pay your home state sales tax once you get it home and register it.   Once I figured the difference in cost between CA's 8% and Idaho's 6% sales tax plus what it would cost to get there and back, it was considerably less expensive just to ship the vehicle rather than to go get it.  The key apparently is where you take possession of the vehicle.  Anywhere out of CA will work. 

I can't say this applies to motorcycles, but my guess is that it does. 

I don’t think that applies to a private sell.

[Rams]

It appears you've received some pretty good advice here.   Can't offer any more than what has already been given but, on your cross country trek back home, if you happen to pass through KY and need a place to overnight, shoot me a PM or contact me in advance and I'll be happy to put you up for a night or two for you to rest up.   Might even feed you, ya never know.   

Just let me know as soon as you know.   I travel a lot transporting and would definitely have to be home for a visit.   Easy to plan around things if you know it's going to happen.

Rams
Frankfort, KY

[Hooter]

Might have missed it here but don't forget a signed bill of sale, dated and timed.

[¿spoom]

I know it's not exactly what you asked, but unless it's some kind of bucket list thing or you reeeeeealy want to do this, I'd scrap the idea of riding it back to PA. First of all there's the weather, i.e. snow in the higher elevations, then there's "what if there's a mechanical problem" . I'd fly out and have a one-way U-Haul van reserved to bring it back. It's easy to strap a 3 wheeler down and not worry about it falling over. Get good reliable length & width numbers and see if it'd fit in one of the full-sized Transit or Sprinter vans, some places rent them and you'd get better mileage than a bigger box van. Biggest thing to check on is if the rental place has a loading dock where you could ride the bike a garage door and onto/into the high deck of a truck. Tell them ahead of time what you want to do and see if they will help. I did that once with a bike where the seller worked where there was a loading dock, and they let me back the van up to it. I bought a 4 x 8 of 3/4" plywood and put it in the van on my way to pick up the bike so I'd have a short transition "ramp." over the dock plate and into the van. 'course that was before 3/4" plywood cost bazillon dollars a sheet     

[3fan4life]

This time of the year I believe that I'd have it shipped to me or I'd wait until June to go get it.

VA has a thing called a trip ticket that allows you to legally drive a vehicle purchased in another state back to VA or vice versa (I have used this several times).

Check and see if PA or CA has anything like this.