laws around changing license plates


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I am driving a car that my parents bought for me when I was younger. Everything is in their name. 

 

I am in a different state (parents in MD, me in WA) and need to change the plates. situations seems a bit delicate. 

 

I am thinking they need to change ownership to me. This usually results in a plate change but since they live in MD and would do this from there, I would get new MD plates. Then I go to WA and ask for the plates to change again but this time since I am a WA resident, I can get the WA plates. 

 

Does this sound right? Are the DMV people linked? Can they just give me WA plates from MD? (the car is physically in WA).

 

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There is a bit more that will need to happen in order for you to get new plates.

Please view http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/transferprivate.html for more information from your states DMV. Also note it may take some weeks before everything is finalized so you will have to keep your MD plates, inspection stickers, etc. on until you can get things processed or at least get temporary plates from WA.

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There is a bit more that will need to happen in order for you to get new plates. Please view http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/transferprivate.html for more information from your states DMV. Also note it may take some weeks before everything is finalized so you will have to keep your MD plates, inspection stickers, etc. on until you can get things processed or at least get temporary plates from WA.

that's the website I was reading before posting here. I thought it was incorrect, that's why I posted....

 

My roommate went through this ordeal and it took 3 hours. His parents happened to be in town so he had that advantage but it wasn't a 6-8 week process and he didn't pay an additional $50 to magically get it done in 1 day.  

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that's the website I was reading before posting here. I thought it was incorrect, that's why I posted....

 

My roommate went through this ordeal and it took 3 hours. His parents happened to be in town so he had that advantage but it wasn't a 6-8 week process and he didn't pay an additional $50 to magically get it done in 1 day.  

 

I would recommend working with your parents to get all the proper paperwork signed by you and your parents prepaired, you would then take the signed papers to your local DMV in WA to get WA plates, and if you have not already you will need to get your WA Driver's License.

 

http://www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/moving.html

 

If you have not done so direct your parents to these pages: http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Vehicle-Services/Registration/title-registration-info.htm and http://www.mva.maryland.gov/About-MVA/INFO/27300/27300-38T.htm for them to get things ready for you if they have not already filled out this paperwork.

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i am not certain as ever state is different however, when i was in university my vehicle was registered in Ohio and i was living abroad, my parents owned the car and would simply mail me my registration and tags each year. I would stick the tag to the car and that was it. nothing else needed be done.

 

as far as transferring the car to you from them Again each state is different however, it did not cost anything and we just had to fill out a form and take it to the registration desk at the Department of Motor Vehicles. gave them the form, signed a paper saying i would insure the vehicle within 24 hours and that was that.

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  • 2 weeks later...

in case someone stumbles across this topic, the easiest solution is to get power of attorney from your parents or whomever owns the car. once you have that paperwork you can make decisions regarding the licensing and finances related to the car do not technically own it. Once that paperwork is notarized, you bring the title to the DMV of the destination state and they switch the title to that state but the owner is still the original owner. After that they give you a license plate and $130 later, you are done.  

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They sign title over to you and register in what ever state you are in. This is standard practice. Don't over complicate a simple procedure.

 

Exactly all I ever had to do and have done this 3 times, in my life!

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Here's an idea - call the DMV and ask or go to their website for your state.  You just might get a more correct answer than say...asking a bunch of folks on a site that provide opinions from armchair lawyers.   Just a thought.

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