# Buying a used car in NJ, but residing in FL **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-used-car-in-nj-but-residing-in-fl/585864 "2011-06-17T17:26:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-used-car-in-nj-but-residing-in-fl/585864/1 "2011-06-17T17:26:14Z")
A friend’s nephew who lives in FL is flying to NJ to buy my old car. He plans on driving it home to FL. This is his first car. What does he need to drive this home, legally? Surely he’ll need a driver’s license, insurance, and registration. The DL will be from Florida, but where does he get insurance and where does he register it? To complicate matters, I believe he’s already airborne. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-used-car-in-nj-but-residing-in-fl/585864/2 "2011-06-17T17:29:22Z")
I found this on the NJ MVC site: > [@](#): > > If you purchase a vehicle in New Jersey and are not a resident of the state and plan to transport and register it in your home state, you must get temporary registration to transfer the vehicle out of New Jersey state lines. > > Visit an MVC Agency to complete an application for temporary vehicle registration (Form BA-49). You will need to provide the title verifying the out-of-state address and proof of insurance. A $5 fee will be applied. > > You will be issued a 20-day temporary non-resident registration that cannot be renewed. > > Note: temporary registrations are valid for use only in the continental United States. It just confuses me. The title a NJ title. He’d have to get the vehicle re-titled in FL first? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-used-car-in-nj-but-residing-in-fl/585864/3 "2011-06-17T17:44:43Z")
Why not just let him drive it to Florida while you’re still the registered owner? Once he’s home, he can re-register it there. This assumes that you trust him to take care of the paperwork and not just leave it in your name. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-used-car-in-nj-but-residing-in-fl/585864/4 "2011-06-17T18:03:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Why not just let him drive it to Florida while you’re still the registered owner? Once he’s home, he can re-register it there. This assumes that you trust him to take care of the paperwork and not just leave it in your name. The car is no longer insured. I do not believe I am allowed to continue using my plates on the car. I don’t know if his insurance would act as coverage in that situation. I’m also concerned about automated tickets being issued (speeding, tolls, red lights) on my plates. I got NJ-MVC on the phone and they said that he needs FL DL, FL insurance, the NJ title, and a crisp $5 bill. ETA: Yes, I could’ve just googled it, but after 15 minutes of poking I didn’t find it; and as always happens, 15 seconds after I submit the question, that’s when I _do_ find it. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-used-car-in-nj-but-residing-in-fl/585864/5 "2011-06-17T20:05:14Z")
> [@JerseyFrank](#): > > I found this on the NJ MVC site: > > It just confuses me. The title a NJ title. He’d have to get the vehicle re-titled in FL first? I wouldn’t think so. Every title I have seen (I’ve not seen NJ titles) has a bank of spaces on the back when you transfer it. In those spaces, the new purchaser puts his name, address, purchase price, etc. and you both sign it. This now becomes the new owner’s title.