by Armando Martinez
Remove the License Plates from the Vehicle
Before completing the sale, the seller should remove the license plates from the vehicle. The plates should be surrendered to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) if the seller is not transferring them to another vehicle they own. The seller must also complete and sign the "Assignment of Ownership'' section on the back of the vehicle's title before providing, you the buyer, the title
Obtain a Temporary Transit Plate or Transfer Existing Plates
The buyer has two options for obtaining plates for the vehicle. They can apply for a temporary transit plate, which is a 30-day plate that allows the buyer to legally drive the vehicle while they obtain registration and plates. Alternatively, the buyer can transfer their existing license plates from another vehicle they own to the newly purchased vehicle. To transfer the plates, the buyer must visit a PennDOT office and bring the following items:
- The vehicle's title
- The buyer's driver's license or other identification
- The existing license plates that they wish to transfer
- Copy of the registration in their name
- Pay the $2.00 transfer fee
- Pay for any additional title fees and taxes
Register the Vehicle and Obtain New License Plates
Within 20 days of the purchase, the buyer must register the vehicle with PennDOT and obtain new license plates. To register the vehicle, the buyer must bring the following items to a PennDOT office:
- The vehicle's title, which should have been signed by the seller and include the buyer's information in the "Application for Title" section
- Proof of insurance
- The buyer's driver's license or other identification
- Payment for any fees and taxes
After completing the registration process, the buyer will be issued new license plates for the vehicle.
It's important to note that if the buyer is transferring existing plates, they should remove those plates from the old vehicle before completing the transfer. Additionally, if the seller is not transferring the plates to another vehicle they own, they should surrender the plates to PennDOT to avoid any potential liability issues along with form MV-141
For more information, please check out the Penn DOT Title and Registration website.
This article was written by Armando Martinez. Armando Martinez is among the nation’s experts on automotive titling, registration, DMV services and document operations. With nearly two decades of experience across a broad range of financial services functions and some of the largest names in auto, from Wells Fargo to Uber, Armando combines vision and ingenuity with a wealth of information so auto shoppers and sellers can learn from his experience.
Start your transaction with Caramel, learn more about how the process works, or reach out to our Support team with any questions.
