Buying a Car That Has No Plates

[thstone]

I had a similar situation, so I called the California DMV. They said that I would have to come into the DMV to pick up the plates for my 996, then drive home and put the plates on the car, then drive back so I could have the car inspected and finalize the transfer of ownership.

Yeah, right.

I drove the plate-less car to the DMV, installed the plates in the parking lot, and then had the inspection performed.

[DoninDel]

Nobody addressed how to test drive - only what to do after you bought it.
Have seller get temporary insurance - (make a down payment on insurance) so it can be test driven.
If he doesn't agree, he may have something to hide and you should walk away, unless you can get it cheaply enough. You could still have Porsche dealer check it mechanically with it untagged.
I did buy a car where seller told me insurance had lapsed - but I test drove it anyway - I wasn't liable, it wasn't my car 'till I bought it. If I remember correctly, I got it insured and drove it with his plates to DMV (carefully) and returned the plates later.

[BoxMann]

Originally Posted by DoninDel

Nobody addressed how to test drive - only what to do after you bought it.

Thank you. My last post tried to clarify that.

Have seller get temporary insurance - (make a down payment on insurance) so it can be test driven. If he doesn't agree, he may have something to hide and you should walk away, unless you can get it cheaply enough.

He's willing to let me test drive it, but I'm at risk for doing that in case I get stopped: no plates, unregistered, uninsured.

You could still have Porsche dealer check it mechanically with it untagged.

Yes, but the shop's test drive is an important part of their PPI and I wouldn't want to forego it.