Temporary Tag in Pennsylvania: How Long It Lasts and Rules

What is a temporary tag in Pennsylvania?

A tag is the license plate on your car. A temporary tag (PennDOT's name is temporary registration plate) is a cardboard plate plus a paper permit that serves as your registration while PennDOT processes your title and registration application. Dealers and PennDOT authorized agents (tag services) issue them. United Business Center is one of these authorized agents: we handle title transfers, registration and tags. Agents who only do limited work, such as card agents, do not issue new temporary plates.

The paper permit goes on the inside of the rear window. For trailers, motorcycles, mopeds and convertibles it is carried with the vehicle.

Is a Pennsylvania temporary tag good for 60 or 90 days?

PennDOT's current buyer and seller fact sheet says a buyer "may obtain a temporary registration, valid for 90 days, from an authorized PennDOT agent." The agent handbook says the same on the title form: a temporary registration plate is valid for 90 days. So the 60-day number you may see on other websites does not match PennDOT's current documents.

Where does 60 come from? State law sets 60 days only for a car bought in Pennsylvania and taken to another state, and otherwise leaves the length to PennDOT. Older rule text also mentions 60 days. Use the expiration date on the paperwork the agent gives you, and ask the agent to point it out before you leave.

Never count on a temporary tag being renewed. PennDOT's handbook says a temporary cardboard plate may never be reissued and that there are no exchanges.

Can I drive a car I just bought in PA without plates?

No. Pennsylvania law says nobody may drive a vehicle that is not registered in the state, with limited exceptions. The fine is $75 or double the registration fee, whichever is greater.

You also cannot use the seller's plate. PennDOT is clear that the seller must remove the plate after the title transfer and that it should never be given to the buyer. Your options are:

• A temporary tag from the dealer (dealer sale) or from an authorized agent (private sale).
• A valid Pennsylvania plate you already have on another vehicle, transferred to the new one.
• If you live out of state and are driving the car home: an in-transit plate from an authorized agent.

How do I get a temporary tag when I buy a car from a private seller?

1. Get insurance first. The agent needs proof of Pennsylvania insurance before issuing a temporary plate. PennDOT says no other forms or receipts are acceptable as proof.
2. Go to an authorized agent with the seller. The seller writes your name, address and the odometer reading on the title and signs in front of the agent. You complete the buyer section, including lienholder information if the car is financed.
3. The agent submits the application to PennDOT and issues the temporary plate. The agent keeps the application and cannot hand it to you.
4. Put the plate and permit on the car, and wait for the regular plate and registration card from PennDOT.

The agent may charge a service fee on top of PennDOT's fees, and it varies by agent, so ask for the total before you start. For the full purchase process, read buying a used car in Pennsylvania.

Call your insurance company before you buy. PennDOT says to contact your agent or broker within 14 days of the purchase to extend coverage, but the temporary plate itself requires proof of insurance at issuance.

What can I do on a temporary tag, and what can't I do?

• You may drive while the application is being processed, as long as the tag has not expired.
• You may not move the temporary plate to another vehicle.
• You may not exchange it or have it reissued.
• It does not replace the safety inspection. A used car must be inspected within 10 days of the sale unless it already shows a valid inspection sticker. See inspection and emissions in Philadelphia.

I just moved to Pennsylvania. Can I get a temporary tag?

Yes, but only when your out-of-state title is submitted with the Pennsylvania title application. PennDOT says new residents must apply for a Pennsylvania title and registration within 20 days of establishing residency. If a lender holds the title and will not release it, no temporary plate can be issued and your out-of-state plate must stay valid while you drive in Pennsylvania.

Details, documents and the VIN check are in moving to Pennsylvania and transferring an out-of-state title.

What happens when my temporary tag expires?

An expired temporary tag means the car is no longer covered by a valid registration, and the unregistered-vehicle fine described above can apply. If your regular plate has not arrived and the tag is close to expiring, go back to the agent who issued it right away. A PennDOT bulletin describes a process where that agent asks PennDOT for authorization to issue a new temporary permit, but it is not available when the delay is caused by a missing title, unpaid fees or a block on the vehicle record. The bulletin is from 2011, so confirm with the issuing agent that the process still applies.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a temporary tag good for in Pennsylvania?

PennDOT's current documents say 90 days for a temporary registration plate issued to a buyer. An in-transit plate for an out-of-state buyer is shorter (30 days according to a PennDOT bulletin), so check the date with the agent.

What is an in-transit tag in PA?

PennDOT says authorized agents issue in-transit plates to out-of-state residents who buy a vehicle in Pennsylvania. A PennDOT bulletin says the buyer needs a valid out-of-state license, proof of insurance and proof of ownership, and that the plate cannot go to someone with a Pennsylvania driver's license.

Can I use the seller's license plate?

No. The seller must remove the plate after the title transfer, and PennDOT says it should never be given to the buyer.

Do I need insurance to get a temporary tag?

Yes. Proof of Pennsylvania insurance is required before a temporary plate is issued.

Does a temporary tag mean the car passed inspection?

No. A used car must be inspected within 10 days of the sale unless it already has a valid sticker.

Can I get a second temporary tag if the plate does not arrive?

PennDOT's handbook says a temporary plate may never be reissued. In some cases the issuing agent can request authorization for a new permit, so go back to that agent before the tag expires.