Ashley Derrington
The rules for vehicle registration after purchase vary by state, and in some cases, even by county or local DMV office.
Most states allow you to drive a new car for at least a few days before you need to have license plates or temporary plates.
You’ll need to apply for temporary plates or a temporary permit while you wait for your official plates to arrive — typically by mail.
For more details, including driving laws listed by state, see below.
State Laws for Driving Cars Without Plates After Purchase
All 50 states require vehicles to be registered and titled with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or local transportation agency.[1]
To prove registration, you must attach a visible license plate (or plates) to the vehicle.[1]
However, when you purchase a car (new or used), it may not have plates yet, or it may have plates registered to the previous owner.
Depending on where you live, you may be allowed to drive the car without plates for a few hours, days, or at least from the point of sale to your home or local DMV.
While you wait for your official plates to arrive — typically by mail — you’ll need to apply for temporary plates or a temporary permit.
You can only use a temporary plate or permit for a set amount of time before you’re required to have official plates affixed to the vehicle. Time frames vary by state and are listed below.
Some states also have policies that vary based on how you purchased the vehicle. Different laws may apply depending on whether you went to a dealer or made a transaction with a private seller.
See the table below for vehicle registration laws by state — we’ve also linked to each state’s DMV website (to the most appropriate page, if available) so you can find more specific information.
| State | Can you drive a car without plates? | Required registration time for new vehicles | How long are temporary plates valid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes, with bill of sale paperwork | 20 days | 20 days |
| Alaska | Varies; check with local DMV office | 30 days | Varies; check with local DMV office |
| Arizona | No, for purchases from a dealer; for a private sale, you can get a 3-day permit | 15 days | Until new registration arrives |
| Arkansas | Yes, but you should obtain a temporary printed tag within 10 days of the vehicle purchase | 30 days | 30 days |
| California | Yes, with a temporary plate | 10 days | 90 days or until new plates arrive |
| Colorado | Yes, for up to 3 days (from a non-licensed dealer) | 60 days | 60 days |
| Connecticut | Yes, with temporary registration | 10 days | Varies; check with local DMV office |
| Delaware | Yes, with a temporary registration plate | 30 days | 30 days |
| Florida | Yes, with a temporary tag | 30 days | 30 days |
| Georgia | Varies; check with local DMV office | 30 days | 30 days |
| Hawaii | Policies vary by island | 30 days | Policies vary by island |
| Idaho | Varies; check with local DMV office | 30 days | Varies; check with local DMV office |
| Illinois | Yes, for up to 24 hours (only from point of sale to DMV) | 30 days | Varies; check with local DMV office |
| Indiana | Yes, for up to 72 hours after purchase as long as you're driving to storage, an inspection site, or a license branch | 60 days | 30 days |
| Iowa | Yes, for up to 30 days with bill of sale paperwork | 30 days | Varies; check with local DMV office |
| Kansas | Yes, with 60-day permit | 60 days | 60 days |
| Kentucky | Yes, with a 30-day permit | 15 days | Until new registration arrives |
| Louisiana | Yes, with a 60-day permit | 60 days | 60 days |
| Maine | Yes, with a 10-day transit plate | 10 days | 10 days |
| Maryland | Yes, with a 30-day permit | 30 days | 30 days |
| Massachusetts | No, and there are no temporary plates | 10 days for new purchases and 7 days for registration transfers | N/A |
| Michigan | Yes, from point of sale to home within 3 days of purchase (with proof of title) | 15 days | 15 days |
| Minnesota | Yes, with a 21-day permit | 21 days | 21 days |
| Mississippi | Yes, for 7 days (when you buy from an authorized dealer) | 7 business days (plus 48 hours for out-of-county purchases) | 7 days |
| Missouri | Yes, with a 30-day permit | 30 days | Usually 30 days; certain dealers may offer 60- or 90-day permits under specific conditions |
| Montana | Yes, with a 40-day permit | 40 days | 40 days |
| Nebraska | Yes, but only with a dealer-provided in-transit tag | 30 days | Until new registration arrives |
| Nevada | Yes, for three days after purchase with valid insurance and movement permit | 30 days for private sales; before the temporary permit expiration for dealer purchases | Until new registration arrives |
| New Hampshire | Yes, with a 20-day temporary plate | 20 days | 20 days |
| New Jersey | Typically no, but some dealers may issue temporary tags | 10 days | Until new registration arrives |
| New Mexico | Yes, with 30-day temporary tag | 30 days | 30 days |
| New York | Yes, with a 30-day in-transit permit | Within 180 days of insuring the vehicle | 30 days |
| North Carolina | Yes, with a temporary plate | 30 days | 10 to 30 days |
| North Dakota | Yes, for up to 5 days with proof of ownership | 30 days | 30 days |
| Ohio | Yes, with a temporary license plate | 30 days | 30 days |
| Oklahoma | Yes, for up to five days if you buy from a private seller; dealerships will provide temporary tags | 30 days | 30 days |
| Oregon | Yes, with a trip permit | 30 days | 30 days |
| Pennsylvania | Yes, with a temporary plate | 90 days | 90 days |
| Rhode Island | Yes, with a temporary plate | 20 days for dealer purchases; 5 days for private sales | Until new registration arrives |
| South Carolina | Yes, with a temporary permit | 45 days | 45 days |
| South Dakota | Yes, with a 45-day seller's permit or 5- to 15-day permit from the county treasurer's office | 45 days | Varies; check with local DMV office |
| Tennessee | Yes, with temporary tags or dealer drive-out tags | Varies; check with your county clerk's office | Varies; check with your county clerk's office |
| Texas | Yes, with a 5-day transit permit | 30 days | You can get temporary permits for one trip, 3 days, 6 days, or 30 days |
| Utah | Yes, with a temporary permit and bill of sale | 60 days | 15 days |
| Vermont | Yes, with a transit plate (good for 10 days inside of Vermont and 30 days out-of-state) | 30 days (an inspection is required within 15 days) | 60 days |
| Virginia | Yes, with a 3-day trip permit | Varies; check with local DMV office | 30 days |
| Washington | Typically no, but you may be able to get a 3-day trip permit | 15 days | Until the new registration arrives |
| West Virginia | Yes, with a temporary plate | 10 days | 60 days or until the new registration arrives |
| Wisconsin | Yes, for up to 2 days | You have 2 days to start the registration process and get temporary tags | 90 days |
| Wyoming | Yes, for up to 45 days with the title or bill of sale | 45 days for private sales; 60 days for dealer purchases | You can get temporary plates that are good for 30, 60, or 90 days |
Buying a Used Car Without License Plates
A licensed used car dealer will typically help you with the necessary paperwork to register your used car and apply for new license plates or a license plate transfer.
You may decide to transfer the plates from your old car to the newer vehicle, as this is often cheaper than applying for new plates.
Keep in mind that you should only transfer plates registered under your name — not someone else’s name. In some states, it’s illegal to operate a vehicle with someone else’s license plates.[2]
If you purchase a used car from a private seller, you’ll likely need to make a trip to the DMV to register the vehicle, complete a title transfer, and apply for new plates or a transfer.
In most instances, you’ll be issued temporary plates or a temporary permit to display while you wait for your official plates.
Registration and transfer costs vary by state. Before heading to the DMV, you’ll want to prepare to bring the following:
- Your driver’s license
- Title
- Proof of insurance
- Emissions test or vehicle inspection report, if required
It’s also a good idea to contact your local DMV about the requirements in your state before purchasing a car from a private party.
Nichole DeFazio, Esq.
Cathy Desmet
Lindsey Desmet
Loren Eaton
William Lipovsky
You need to revise the last bit on Massachusetts. You can only transfer plates from another vehicle if the vehicle the plates are coming off of, has been disposed of prior to purchase of the new vehicle.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, Ron! We have updated our article to include this information.