How do you get it home once you've bought it?
| krs2fer 12 January 2009 12:59 AM |
If a person buys a class 8 truck that's not been titled as an RV and the buyer doesn't have a CDL, how do they get it home legally? Can they drive it? Can they get a CDL learners permit and drive it that way? I'm talking about a bobtail truck.
Sorry, I sure someone has asked this question in the past but I did a search for it but I couldn't find the answer so I'll ask it again. |
| J.W. Morgan 12 January 2009 01:25 AM |
If you can handle the big truck and its yours you should be able to drive it home. I know that you can not legally haul with a drive out plate (temporary tag) so if it isn't registered then it shouldn't be a commercial vehicle and it wouldn't need a commercial driver. Note this is just my opinion and I am sure that someone here has the "legal" answer. |
| Hdonlybob 12 January 2009 07:13 AM |
I bought mine (500) miles from home in KY. Got a lot of confusion from the state of WV, but the key was having "PRIVATE COACH...NOT FOR HIRE" on the door.
Then just got a temporary plate from KY and drove it home. According to DMV in KY that was perfectly legal. No CDL required. |
| hjsdds 12 January 2009 08:27 AM |
We bought our HDT 2,500 miles away, called Foremost Insurance gave them a VIN, year and the model and told them we need insurance to drive it home. No problem. Bought two silly magnetic signs (Not For Hire) and flew to Salt Lake City. Met Blake Richards of Bennett Trucking Source, he already had 30 days temporary plates (actually a big yellow sticker on the windshield) attached, supplied by Bennett Truck Source. Blake gave me and the RDBE Mistress 15 minute lesson (each) on Salt Lake City streets how to drive it and not stall an Autoshift. And off we went on a 2,500 miles "adventure" back home to New Hampshire. hjs |
| Donnie Barnes 12 January 2009 08:29 AM |
I've not used it, but NC has "transfer plates" that you can get that are good for 10 days. Donnie |
| paulshaunaalan 12 January 2009 08:54 AM |
In my case I was busy so paid the company I bought it from to have a driver deliver it. Cost me $.50 per mile plus the cost of a cheap hotel and South West ticket home. All told about $550 to get it from Nashville to Huston (800 miles). In addition, many on this forum have been known to hook up with a new owner and help do some driving. You just need to let the group know the endpoints and someone may be able to help out. Paul |
| MaxiOmega 12 January 2009 09:21 AM |
I bought mine on eBay from A Better Used Truckx in Oklahoma City. They provided us with a 30 Temp tag. We already had insurance through Trese Hallet at Farm & City before leaving Colorado. We flew in and drove it home. We took with us a couple of signs that read Non Commercial we taped on the doors, and had no issues on the trip home. |
| Walkerl 12 January 2009 10:54 AM |
This is obviously two questions rolled into one: 1) Do I need a CDL 2) How to move it on the highway
The federal government requires every state to honor every other states registration on passenger vehicles but not on commercial vehicles. Thus the different requirements between states on what is required for this "commercial vehicle" HDT. Complicating it more is that this "commercial vehicle" is not being operated commercially. The registration issue must be done in the state of purchase. Again it is different in almost every state. Some issue moving permits and you specify from where to where and vehicle must be moved directly from point A to point B with no side trips. Most states will issue temporary registration which allows the vehicle to move unrestricted except it must be unladen. All states I am aware of require the vehicle to be registered in your home state shortly after arrival. The CDL Issue must be researched for your home state and every state is a little different. If you are legal at home and not operating commercially and are unladen then you almost always will be legal everywhere else. When asking your questions at home be sure to describe the vehicle and not call it a truck. It will be called different things by different states (truck tractor, truck, tractor etc.). Also explain it will be non commercial, unladen and not towing anything. All of these things make a vast difference in the answers you will get. Ask them "Can I drive my new truck" and the answer will invariably be "NO". Incidentally, be sure and keep all temporary permits because your home state may want to see them to verify you haven't operated this vehicle in their state while it was unregistered (think registration penalties - more money - if you can't find the permit). It isn't as difficult as it might sound but pre preparation is the key. Good luck!!! |
| Bill B 12 January 2009 10:58 AM |
In my case - I had to watch the weather, Hugo??? (probably wrong name) and Ike. Hugo headed up the east coast and Ike came up through Texas. I flew to Dallas - FW, rented a one way to Tyler, TX (hmm.. one way 120 mile rental on the car was more than 2300 mile plane flight, went through), and drove north to MI. I had a dealer plate, tried to miss the weigh stations (truckers atlas), as I had NO SIGNAGE on the truck. I got caught by one in Illinois. Hit the scale like a good little trucker, green light and kept on truckin'.
Two days later, the remnants of Ike hit MI. TX and Escapees were out for about ten days. AR, MO, all got hit bad. (Sept 14th or so). Yep - came through Fort Wayne too . Point of this meandering is, especially right now, watch the weather on your route. New, to you, vehicle, different driving, handling, braking, urge caution with regards to the weather. |
| CharlesLee 12 January 2009 01:42 PM |
I bought our HDT out in the Los Angeles, CA area and our trailer was in the D/FW, TX area. I had the time as I was working in the LA area and did not want to drive the truck in the Kaliforna Empire without TX plates (Escapees) so the truck sat on the dealer's lot for a week or so until my TX plates (and insurance card) were mailed to me. I then drove it off the lot with no worries!
Good luck with your first trip!!! |
| Gemstone 12 January 2009 02:45 PM |
Bought ours in IN, while we were traveling from OR to NC and return to OR. The truck was still registered as IN commercial, so we contracted with the seller to deliver it from IN to OR for the cost of a plane ticket home. I understand he had to buy permits to get it through several states along the way. By the time it arrived we had the insurance worked out, and licensing in SD over the phone was a snap. Regards Gemstone |
| 5th_Wheeler 12 January 2009 02:56 PM |
Bill B, on Jan 12 2009, 09:58 AM, said: Bill, not that it makes much difference, but that pesky little fellow was named Gustav where as Hugo was a real bad boy in comparison to Gustav. |
| Library Mark 12 January 2009 03:28 PM |
I have brought home 3 semi tractors. In each case, I told my insurance agent what I was doing, and he issued me what he called a 'desk proof' or something similar. What it amounted to is a proof of insurance that was valid for only the day I was driving the truck, and was not registered with the home office. Just something to show a police officer if I was stopped. I didn't have any plates of any kind, and had the signed-over title and insurance proof with me on each trip. One trip was only 100 miles away, one other was from Northern Tennessee to Michigan. The longest such trip was from Waterloo, IA back home to Western Michigan. I took the bus out and drove the truck back. One thing I learned on that trip is never spend the night in a Chicago bus terminal! Scary place.
Anyway, I was tailed and passed by many cops on all the trips - none of them gave me a second look. I am not advocating this for anyone, but my insurance agent was comfortable with all this, so it must not be too risky an endeavor. |
| Ray H 12 January 2009 04:38 PM |
I have to agree with Walkerl. Every state will be different as far as temp plates to get it out of state. Some states require you to register and pay any taxes required in the state you buy it. What happens in your home state is for when you get home. Arizona has a 10 day get out of the state tag.
Insurance... I would not drive it off the lot without at least liability insurance. Even if there is no legal requirement in the purchase state, that's just common sense. Operator's License... This will follow your home state's requirements. This is the one you're currently licensed in. In Arizona, anything (other than an RV) stickered at or over 26,001 lbs. GVW, or has air brakes, requires the operator to hold a full CDL. Even though I've never driven truck for a living, but due to AZ requirements, I hold a Class A CDL (with Medical Certificate) plus doubles/triples endorsements. If you're bobtailing, it can be a Class B until you hook a trailer stickered at over 10,001 lbs. GVW. In AZ, all leaners permit drivers must be accompanied by a full CDL holder. Now many states do not require anything other than a standard drivers license if you are not operating commercially. With others, they require a Non-Commercial Class A license. If you do not stop at port of entries or weight stations (which I never do) and stay near the speed limit, an LEO may never bother you. On the flip side, if you happen to get involved in a situation, be it your fault or not, without holding the proper operator's license endorsements, you could be in a bunch of trouble, both legally and financially, especially if someone was seriously injured. In many instances, your insurance company will take a walk if you do not have the proper endorsements leaving you holding the entire bill. I'd check with your home state and get the proper license endorsements prior to doing anything besides sitting behind the wheel of an HDT and making Voom/Voom noises. You can probably give the forum a bit more information on where the truck is, how it's equipped, where you want it to go, the time frame involved, and you'll probably have a host of people volunteer to help out and keep you legal. That's what we do around here, help out. |
| Gunship Guy 12 January 2009 05:47 PM |
I drove ours from St Louis to FL with the plates that were on it when I bought it. It was still registered as commercial. Once I got to FL I mailed the plates back to the original owner and had the registration changed to MH (motorhome). I drove it with the "Private RV Not For Hire" signs on it (for whatever good those do) and did not stop at any scales. I took my chances not being harassed by the law...and I wasn't. |
| krs2fer 12 January 2009 05:55 PM |
Thanks for all of the good answers. I'm not as worried about getting it home now as much as I was before I asked the question and you all took the time to answer. Thanks it was a big help.
Sometimes after reading things on this forum about full timing I feel more confused then before I read anything. Now all I have to do is screw up my courage and buy a truck... |
| Louh 12 January 2009 06:53 PM |
Bought mine in Oklahoma. The dealer i bought it from (A Better Used Trux) gave me a temporary 30 day registration and I got it insured and drove it home. Problem is that it is still a HDT and not a MH at that point. Makes sense to me that you would still have to have a commercial class A license with air brakes endorsement. (or class b with air brakes but still commercial). Fortunately I had one at the time. I don't know how you could pass it off as a MH if pulled over. Seems to me that until it is officially changed at the DMV, it's still a truck regardless of your future intent on how to register it. Insurance or not, "private motorhome" and "non-commercial" stickers or not, it is still a commercial truck until registered otherwise. Putting the stickers on it doesn't change the status of the registration. Not saying I wouldn't do it without a commercial license. Just be aware that you would most likely be driving out of class. If pulled over, I bet you may not be able to continue. I would think that trying to convince the Officer that it was a MH wouldn't go over so well. At that point I would also worry about having the wrong kind of insurance(non commercial) to match the registration of the truck? Log book? I know some states you can have a non-commercial truck that is still not a MH. I don't know how that would work. So like said before, I would really check into it. I guess maybe I stress too much due to my past experiences here in CA?
Back in the Northridge earthquake of 94? there was a lot of demand for truck drivers to work hauling all the debris. My friend who owns a trucking company would put just about anyone in a truck. One of the guys got pulled over no taillights and was found to only have a class B permit with airbrakes while driving a 10 wheel dump. They cited him for driving with a temporary permit, no taillights, and towed the rig. I think they gave him 30 min. to get someone there to move the truck off the road but they couldn't find anyone in that time frame. Maybe the officer was unreasonable? I don't know. Just be careful. I agree with above. Let some people know and maybe they can help you get it to where you want it to go. I have done that before for someone to help them get it a few states over and have seen many here help in transporting trucks. If you are anywhere over near here I would be willing to give you a hand. |
| BRU 12 January 2009 07:17 PM |
I had a driveaway co. get mine. They had all the permits and delivered it to my door. |
| Louh 12 January 2009 07:24 PM |
Now there is a good idea. Let them deal with the headache, the insurance, license, log books etc. Stress free to your door!! |
| Louh 12 January 2009 07:51 PM |
Hey, I am off work for a while! Will drive for good food and a plane ride home! |