Driving across the country without plates?

4eyes wrote: I have heard that cops in the N.E. are a bit more shiny happy persony than here in the south

I've never met more shiny happy persony cops than in Virginia. Maybe that's not the real South. To the OP, whatever you do, plan a route that bypasses Virginia.

What I have done when buying used from a private party is not technically legal but has kept me out of trouble.

I parked my other car in my own driveway and removed the current plate, and brought it with me along with the registration for that car.

I've also contacted my insurance agent and gotten a temporary proof of insurance covering the VIN of the car I am buying.

Then I've installed the current plate from my other car on the one I want to drive home, which eliminates 75% of the LEO attention you might get, and I've also driven and parked legally and carefully to avoid attracting the other 25%. On the one occasion I did get pulled over for speeding, I showed ID, the registration and insurance information for my other car (all in my name), the proof of insurance for the new car, and the signed title and receipt for the new car. The cop said that basically it wasn't legal but he felt it was good enough and sent me on my way with just the speeding ticket.

poopshovel wrote: Whatever you do, don't do the "Tag applied for" cardboard on the back. That says to cops "I'm running drugs, please stop and search my vehicle." - see also, running invalid plates. That E36 M3 will get you arrested.

I ran one of these for 8 months on my Jeep while out-of-state title issues were being resolved, and never had a bit of trouble.

Arizona trucks will be rust-free, but remember the desert sun plays hell on paint and interiors.

Florida trucks may be rusty. That salt air can be rough on cars.

If I were you, I'd look at the Southern bible belt states-- Texas, Lousiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Stay away from the areas close to the gulf and cars in those states should be rust-free. Plus trucks are more common than dirt around those parts, so it should be easy to find one you like for a good price. You could probably go north into Arkansas and Tennessee, too. About the only catch: folks in the south tend to USE their trucks, so be careful to find one that hasn't been rode hard and put up wet.

Tim ... thanks for that info! I was looking into the Texas climate in particular a few days ago. It varies greatly, depending where you are.

I also wondered about rust on Florida cars (or cars near the coast). I guess the parts of Louisiana and Mississippi that are farthest from the water are better (I'm wondering about flooded out stuff from Katrina etc)?