Hello,

If one does not live in CA, and desires to buy a car there to take back to their home state what is required?

This would be a private sale. My home state I do not believe will offer a temp plate without the title, and I would be bying the car with the intent to drive it back.

Is a bill of sale and proof of insurance sufficient, or do I need something else? I have not seen that CA does temporary registrations, and while I have read that CA offers a one-trip permit, I have not found an actual form.

I assume lots of diesel MB owners try to get their cars from CA due to the good climate. If so, how did you do it?

Thanks!

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

You'll need a one trip permit. When I bought my 409d in LA about 6 yrs ago, it cost $5. Probably costs $500 now. Got it at the DMV. Technically it is only good for one trip, but I drove around LA for about 5 days before heading home.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

so after paying the seller, having their title signed over, and possibly getting a notarized bill of sale, you then proceed to the DMV to get the permit? The CA DMV site is very unclear...

I may get a rental car just to make it easy t get around prior to having the right permits...

Thanks!

__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)

You must not need that much documentation for the trip permit, because when I bought my car the seller picked the trip permit up from the DMV for me.

I Stuck it on the car window and drove through 4 states with nary a problem. It was very cheap, like 5 or 7 bucks. Very cheap I thought. They are called 72 hour permits, I think.

I figured if I did get pulled over for something the bill of sale and signed title would be enough to get me on my way again.

This might have been highly illegal, but I didn't really care.

I did notice the port of entry near St. George Utah, said "Unlicensed vehicles must stop". I wondered if that meant me, but didn't bother to stop and ask.

When you get home you'll pay your own state's fees for tax and license. I've bought several cars from out of state now, I like the way it allows me to pay for the car out of one month's budget, and pay the T&L from the next. I bought my Camry in Idaho and got a 45 day permit, Paid my T&L 44 days later.

__________________
1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!