Cross state process/registration (buy in NJ/PA/DE, register in FL)

CatPast214 | 2026-03-01 12:51 | 9 views

Snowbird here. I took an extended test drive of a MY and loved it - it's my next car. I'm a Snowbird / need to buy the car in NJ / PA / or DE (so I can drive it South in Fall) but register it in FL. Scenario 1: Can I purchase in one of those 3 states (NY or CT also would be options) and get temporary tags for 30/60/90 days (willing to drive to another state for a longer temp tag / earlier purchase date) and then drive down to FL to register? Scenario 2: Can I purchase the car in one of those 3 states and have FL registration / plates mailed up to me? Scenario 3: Can I purchase the car in one of those 3 states / send paperwork down to a friend in FL to register and Fedex my plates up to me? The NV based Tesla advisor who worked with me setting up the extended test drive tells me I must physically purchase in FL which makes it difficult as my trade-in is up North and I need the car up North to drive my dog back to FL (I won't put her in cargo on a flight). AI tells me buying up North / registering in FL is done all the time. Has anyone done this? Is Scenario 2 (best option to get me the car quickly) possible? I'd love to be able buy the day I get back North in Springtime and have it available to drive back South with the family and dog in the fall.

Comments (7)

Competitive_Yak_6247 2026-03-01 13:38

You’re asking very specific dmv questions about multiple states with a lot of variables . Not really anything related to Tesla . I’m not really following you . Wherever you are just buy the new car and trade yours in there. Register the car later in Florida . Or reregister it down there . Seems like you’re overcomplicating it with 5 states and , specific timing all trying to line up. Walk into a Tesla showroom and let them figure it out lol

CatPast214 2026-03-01 13:43

It's not a DMV question. It's a Tesla question. I know the DMV can give temp tags. My advisor tells me that Tesla will not support that / I must purchase and register in Florida. What I want to do is not complicated - buy up North and either have FL tags sent to me or drive it down to register. Again - the problem is my Tesla advisor tells me it is impossible to buy a Tesla in the NJ area, get temp tags, drive it to FL to get it registered.

Competitive_Yak_6247 2026-03-01 13:51

Tesla doesn’t have different Tesla rules for registration . So you got bad info from the advisor or how you think the dmv operates in the triangle of 3 states you’re trying to connect is wrong . Again id go to whereever you plan on purchasing a taking delivery and talk to them directly . It sounds like you asked a guy in Nevada about buying a car in 5 northeast states to resister in Florida . That can definetly be confusing since states have diffrent rules with dmv. Anyways sorry to not be more helpful . Good luck on your mission

CatPast214 2026-03-01 13:55

What she told me is that Tesla does all the arrangements to register the car and they won't do it between states....Not a DMV thing, but a Tesla thing. I've purchased multiple Subarus in PA and brought them back to NJ and the PA Subaru dealer had a 3rd party firm do all the DMV paperwork. My Tesla advisor tells me Tesla will NOT allow this - that they MUST do the paperwork for the vehicle and it MUST be purchased in FL.

Competitive_Yak_6247 2026-03-01 14:25

Im telling you that it’s not a Tesla thing lol. Thats incorrect information unless there’s some funky variable . Tesla registers cars to different states all the time just like every car dealer does. Search this sub you’ll see it happens allllllll the time . So again just stop dealing with that person giving you bad info and ask elsewhere in a state where u are planning on buying . You’ll be cruising in no time

NoBet8483 2026-03-01 15:04

So if you’re in PA, buy the car there. Register it there. Reregister when you get to FL.

yrg68556 2026-03-01 15:13

We just ordered a Tesla while living in California but needed to register it in Florida because we were about to move there. To register it in Florida, the two requirements were: 1. It gets delivered to a Florida address and 2. We provide proof of Florida residence for registration/tax purposes. We were told if we accepted the delivery in another state, we would have had to register it/pay the taxes for the state we received it in and switch the registration later. Basically, our understanding of the situation was that the initial registration/insurance had to match the delivery location of the vehicle.

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