Car registration and moving states

[doneby35]

Car registration renewal due end of this month, leaving state end of next month, will be selling car as soon as I get to new state and not getting another one.
How does one approach this?
1. Should I be registering the car in the new state or should I not worry about it since it’ll be posted for sale and not being used until it sells?
2. Do I mail the plate back and get a prorated refund from the state the registration was renewed in?

[Dave1442397]

1) I wouldn't bother registering the car in the new state. The renewal in your old state is still valid, and the new state should have a grace period before you have to register your car. Here in NJ you have 60 days, and it's not enforced, judging by the number of out-of-state plates in my neighborhood.

2) No idea. Does your state give refunds? NJ is not good at that :)
 

[flyingsnakes]

#1 - I think it would depend how you plan to sell the car. If it's to a private party, they might balk at getting a title from another state, as it would complicate them being able to register. A dealer might know how to handle this better

#2 - probably not. It depends on your state what you need to do with the plate. Some states it stays with the car, sometimes it belongs to you.

If I were you, I would sell the car in your current state and rent something while you move. In California, the registration stays with the car, so someone buying it while there is still 10 months on it, would value the savings they'll get.

[doneby35]

#1 - I think it would depend how you plan to sell the car. If it's to a private party, they might balk at getting a title from another state, as it would complicate them being able to register. A dealer might know how to handle this better

#2 - probably not. It depends on your state what you need to do with the plate. Some states it stays with the car, sometimes it belongs to you.

If I were you, I would sell the car in your current state and rent something while you move. In California, the registration stays with the car, so someone buying it while there is still 10 months on it, would value the savings they'll get.

Likely private party sale as that’s probably where I can sell it for more. I’m driving the car 1500 miles or so to get to the destination state, since I have pets and some items that I’m transporting and other options will cost me much more, so selling it before getting there is not an option I think.

[AMandM]

#1. Go to the website of the motor vehicles bureau for your destination state and find the procedure for registering a car purchased from a private party out of state. That will tell you how much trouble it will be for your potential buyers. If you think it's enough of a hassle to be a serious deterrent, you can either register the car in the new state or sell it to a dealer.

#2. Depends on the state. In my state, you pay for registration two years at a time and you only get a refund (of half the amount) if you cancel the registration with over a year to go.

Another possibility: Look into whether you can get a temporary/transfer registration in your current state. I have twice had something like that when a car was being moved to a new state/province.

[doneby35]

#1. Go to the website of the motor vehicles bureau for your destination state and find the procedure for registering a car purchased from a private party out of state. That will tell you how much trouble it will be for your potential buyers. If you think it's enough of a hassle to be a serious deterrent, you can either register the car in the new state or sell it to a dealer.

#2. Depends on the state. In my state, you pay for registration two years at a time and you only get a refund (of half the amount) if you cancel the registration with over a year to go.

Another possibility: Look into whether you can get a temporary/transfer registration in your current state. I have twice had something like that when a car was being moved to a new state/province.

Good info. I’ll check on all of this.