Repair-It

Here it is, in clear print.

Things to Know
You can transfer the registration and plates to a new vehicle as long as the name on the registration remains the same.
After the transfer is done, the number of days the plates can be used prior to registration is as follows:
RI Dealer: 20 calendar days from date on bill of sale.
Out-of-state Dealer: 72 hours from date on bill of sale.
Private Party: 48 hours from date on bill of sale.

http://www.dmv.ri.gov/registrations/pla ... /index.php

As stated, this is for when you are transferring a plate from one car to another. The use case would be, you are buying a car and have not sold your old one yet. You take the plate off the old one, slap it on the car you bought, and drive home. You have 2 days as a private party to register the car. The "loop hole" is, if stopped in this period (even if it is not your intention to transfer the plate, or do so in 2 days), your alibi is you are about to complete the transfer paperwork or whatever. Realistically, the state is giving you up to a weekend or so to get to the DMV and register the car.

I've never actually bought a car this way - and when I have, the dealer either handled the registration (SRX, Malibu trade) or I got a temp plate through the dealer (CTS-V, Fleetwood trade in PA).

I guess the point is, you have 2 days to drive the car on your old plate before you can legally get into trouble but, again, it is designed for you to actually be transferring that plate - it is not written as a transportation rule even though we can use it that way (again, the alibi). All you'd need is your bill of sale in the car to show a cop if he pulled you over.

It does not appear that CT has such a policy. Which makes me wonder if CT would recognize my right in RI to drive the Ram on the Ranger's plate. I am sure if I said I was headed home that would be alright. He is just going to let me drive home on his plate but I wanted to look this stuff up for real (it is not the cop's prerogative to give a shit that your buddy told you there are X days to drive on the old plate or whatever your excuse would be).

In MA, there is a 7 day grace period but the wording is funny:

Is there a Grace Period for Transferring a Registration?
If you own a vehicle or trailer and purchase a new vehicle or trailer from a dealer or purchase a used vehicle or trailer from a private party, you may transfer your registration to the newly acquired vehicle. Massachusetts allows a grace period of seven (7) calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle.
Under this grace period, the following conditions must be met:
You must be at least 18 years old.
The newly acquired vehicle or trailer must be of the same type and have the same number of wheels as the previous vehicle or trailer.
You must carry the transfer documents, which show the registration number to be transferred, in your vehicle.
You must have lost possession of or disposed of your previous vehicle.
The registration plates must be attached to the newly acquired vehicle.

http://www.massrmv.com/Registration/Tra ... ation.aspx

They actually want you to have "disposed" of the old vehicle first! And it goes by that date. Kind of strange. Again, applying the loop hole, it's "7 days to drive on your old plate" if you don't get absorbed in the fine print. Although, from a legal standpoint, the fine print is actually what matters.

So to me this sounds like in RI and MA, you can go buy a car, and drive it home with one of your old plates and the bill of sale, dated. That is what I thought, except I thought you had 3 days in RI. I guess it is 2. Fair enough.

So here is a question that complicates things: Sam wants the plate from the Corolla for the RAV when we get rid of the Corolla. I thought I could just pay the transfer fee, but the RAV is registered to her, and the Corolla is to me. Don't ask why we would do any of this, she likes the plate on the Corolla. Also, she wanted the loan on the RAV in her name, I think for credit purposes, and I didn't want the RAV in my name, so I could say it wasn't mine. LOL.

What would have to be done to transfer the Corolla plate to the RAV once the Corolla is sold?

billgiacheri wrote:So to me this sounds like in RI and MA, you can go buy a car, and drive it home with one of your old plates and the bill of sale, dated. That is what I thought, except I thought you had 3 days in RI. I guess it is 2. Fair enough.

MA law is worded so I think you could be hassled, or worse.

Massachusetts allows a grace period of seven (7) calendar days from the date you dispose of your previous vehicle to register your newly acquired vehicle

You must carry the transfer documents, which show the registration number to be transferred, in your vehicle.

You must have lost possession of or disposed of your previous vehicle.

RI references the bill of sale which is simple and I feel comfortable with that. I don't actually care about MA or CT except if I buy a car from there, there is a huge gray area while I am operating that vehicle in those states. It may be up to the cop to decide if you are, in fact, in the process of transporting the car to RI (assuming he is aware of the RI policy). I don't think CT has any obligation to recognize this RI policy, however. Just like when driving through VA you cannot have a radar detector, regardless of the law in your state. Or concealed carry. You get the idea.

Here is some discussion. Based on the discussion it is clearly different state to state. I guess there is a trip permit that can be purchased in some states.

http://www.autotrader.com/car-news/how- ... ome-259139

These are decent links:
https://www.usa.gov/buy-a-car
https://www.vehiclehistory.gov/nmvtis_v ... story.html