So, I have been told you need to take your license plates off if you sell a car to an individual. However, how does this work in terms of the buyer driving off with no plates? When they go to transfer the title will the county tax office give them new plates? Thanks in advance.

Yes

BlueHeeler said:

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So, I have been told you need to take your license plates off if you sell a car to an individual. However, how does this work in terms of the buyer driving off with no plates? When they go to transfer the title will the county tax office give them new plates? Thanks in advance.

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They purchase a trip permit online and print it out before they get the car from you. It costs $5 and is good for 5 days

https://permit.txdmv.gov/Permit/VTPermit

always smart to fill this form out once you sell the car

https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-346.pdf

but take the plates so the toll road doesn't send you a bill

Thanks for the replies. Do yall go deposit the money before letting them leave with the car to make sure there is nothing counterfeit?

Also, it is better to go up the county tax office with them and make sure they transfer it before turning over the car? Most everything I read says the VTR is sufficient. However, I would just rather avert having some catastrophe happen and be liable for it.

Just trying to make sure I cover all my bases.

Thanks in advance.

You can get a bill magic marker overnight on Amazon to check the bills for counterfeits. Or any office supply store should have them.

Yeah if it's big number I would do the deal at the bank and let them cut the cashiers check in front of you or transfer if you have the same bank. If cash just do it att the tax office and let them get plates there.

When selling my Tundra the guys didn't speak English and pulled $10K in cash out in my work parking lot so I told them to meet me at the bank the next day. I parked in the garage, backed into a spot, and removed the plate from the back (no front cause mu freedoms). Deposited cash & handed keys over.

I sold my daughter's car to a 19yo and since I trusted him & his dad, I just took the $5K in the Kroger parking lot and left the plates on. She got unpaid toll notices from HCTRA & CTRMA and I had to go through the process of submitting the transfer with the state and then sending that to each one to get them to leave her alone.

I'll always keep the plates now.

I write up my own bill of sale (templates online) for both parties to sign and have a copy - just to help cover my ass (and the buyers). i.e. vehicle sold as-is, odometer is true, free of liens, etc.

Cash/counterfeit pen...or cashiers check AT the issuing bank.

I've sold a couple cars to Ags through TexAgs. I should have...but didn't bother with the plates. Get the car off your EZ tag account and make sure you immediately submit that form (VTU-346) which will cover you if they run tolls or go on a crime spree. Which one guy actually did run some tolls on accident, but apologized and took care of it.

I sold my wrecked truck to the guy at the body shop (liability coverage only). I left the plates on. A year later the toll road guys started sending me bills for whoever was driving it around the Houston beltway. I submitted the DMV form then and told the toll road guys I didn't own it. Took a few months of continuing to receive bills before they finally caught on.

Take the plates. Submit the sale form.