Flying Out of State to Drive Back Tacoma Advice

Does anyone have any recent experience shipping a vehicle? I did some searching around on here, but most threads were older or the OP didn't follow up with their end results. I've read some hit and miss reviews online about various transporters so I'm hoping some of you can share your experiences (positive or negative), cost, distance, and the shipping company you used. Any info is helpful. Thanks!

**Edit**
I've decided after talking to many shipping companies that I'm going to fly out and drive back a Tacoma I'm buying out of state. I'm looking for advice from others that have done this. I will be buying from a private seller so the main thing I am trying to get figured out is the Tags/Plates. My local MVD told me I need a transit tag/temp tag from the state I'm buying it from to drive it back to my state. I've read of others online that have just left the sellers plates on and just mailed them back once they return to their home state. I'm looking for experiences some of you may have had doing this.

 

Bump for edits to OP. Decided I'm going to fly out and drive back. LMK what some of you have done.

 

I drove my trade-in and drove the Taco back. Took my mom, sister and niece along so it was a mini vacation. Most major dealerships (Toyota I think qualifies) will handle the paperwork for you. You'll pay your taxes to your home state and get it registered there. You'll get a dealer tag until your plate is mailed.

 

This is correct.

/end thread

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm buying from a private seller so the dealer tag does not apply for me.

 

Probably should have put that in the original post

 

Edited accordingly

 

Try posting it to uship.com. Random people bid on picking it up with a trailer and driving it to you. I used that to get some quotes for shipping big diesel welders

Edit: Nevermind everything keeps getting editted

 

In that case you'll need to work with the DMV in the seller's state. They'll know what to do to get you legal to drive it home. You'll still get your plate from your home state and a temporary to use until then.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can figure out.

The logistics are the tough part. I won't have much time from the time I land to when the DMV's close. The next day will be a Saturday meaning they will probably be closed.

 

I flew to Texas to buy my truck and drove back to Tennessee.
I kept the Texas plates on the truck for the drive back and simply shipped them back once I got my Tennessee tags.

You're overthinking this

P.S. always lowball the DMV on the price you pay so they don't kill you on taxes.

 

This is what I was thinking of doing as well. I guess I'm mostly looking to see if others have done this as well and how it worked out for them.

 

Yep. My seller was very easy to work with and I simply mailed the plates back a few days after I got home.

 

THanks for the input Ron. The seller was a little hesitant to leave the plates on so we ended up finding a nearby AAA that I'm going to get a temp tag from for the drive home. I'll be doing a drive that is similar to what you did, PA to NM. When you did that drive from OH, did you go through Indianapolis, St. Louis and Ok City? I'm wondering how the freeways and traffic were going through these large cities.

 

Thanks for the info. That's very helpful. Did you make any overnight stops along the way? Also, did you pass through a lot of tolls?

 

Nice. I’m hoping to knock out a decent amount the first day but I’ll see how I feel after the flight. Thanks for the info. That is all very helpful!