I'm considering buying a used car from an individual in Lombard. The car has not been driven for approx 15 months although it has been run in his driveway occasionally. I'd like to have a Glen Ellyn mechanic check it out. It is currently insured by the owner. The problem is that the plates are expired so I can't legally remove it from his driveway. Does anyone know if there is a temporary permit or something else that I could buy (cheaper than the $78 it would cost to renew his plates) to transport it from Lombard to G.E.?

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Yes, maybe I could have a family member follow me closely (the closest legal distance, of course) to block the view of the plates!

Just make sure it's not a 2003-04 Jeep Liberty following, they been know to do crazy things!

Actually that is good advice. Call Lombard and GE PD first and let them know what you are doing.

Lombard police said it would be at the discretion of the officer. Glen Ellyn police advised that it is illegal to drive without current plates.

and who here had not done an illegal thing!

Go for it!

and actually, I think plates are $100.00 now.

I went through this 8-10 years ago, but forget the details... as I recall there was a 10-day temporary tag for $10 or so — but the seller (owner) had to do the paperwork.

I poked around the DMV web site but found nothing... you might be able to dig deeper. Or call them

I had Ted at the Village Garage (Five Corners) check out three cars I was thinking of buying... he rejected the first because of a leaky head gasket (boy, was the seller p.o.'d) and the second for having “air bag” shocks and springs that could be expected to fail soon. He blessed the third — and it's been great for over eight years.

Oh — the reason you don't want to drive a car with expired plates is because that will be the moment you get into some sort of stupid accident — and the insurance companies won't cover it.

As much as I admire Lupe's spirit of adventure, I'll check into the 10 day temp tag. I couldn't find anything on the DMV website either so I'll call. Thanks everyone.

Don't most cars come with an extra plate?

I think Ted is right (as usual! ), I had to get a temp for my husband's truck due to expired plates but not passing emissions - so they issue them weekly - $10.00.

I had to go to Lombard, I think Wheaton will do it too.
I can't find the link for some reason, but I went through it for several weeks. Paid cash. Middle line to the left of the doors. They take you quickly. (in Lombard) (312)793-1010 maybe they can give you a heads up, but I think it's $10.00 for seven days but it's your own plates already. New car( well new to you) - temp plates

So long as the owner has liability insurance, the car is covered . . . out of date tags or not.

No cop in the world will give you a ticket if you explain the situation. Besides, it isn't your car. Can they even ticket you, the driver, for driving a car that doesn't belong to you for a tag violation? I suppose that they can. I would definitely not drive it if there is no insurance. Why don't you call your insurance agent and ask him/her as I have a feeling that not one of us knows what they are talking about?

Yep, it's fully insured thru mid September so I'll be able to drive it with the temp tags. Lupe brings up another good point - I'll have to see if it needs an emissions check.

DEFINITELY look into that Ozzie! Otherwise you could be sitting on $1,500 + worth of necessary work needed just to make it legal to drive (hello o2 sensor!)....

The temporary tags are fabulous. I had the same problem with my old car and the emissions test. Needed almost $2,000 worth of work (or so I was told) to make it EPA acceptable. Ted (at Village Garage) informed me that my computer just needed to be updated and reset. In the meantime, I was able to obtain temporary tags from Lombard (went in about once a week, VERY helpful people there when it's not busy) and it only took about 5 minutes after the first time.

Stopped at Village Garage this AM. A gentleman walked in ahead of me and asked the man behind the counter (mid 60's, glasses - is this Ted?) if his car was ready. He was told that they had not had a chance to look at it yet. When the gentleman asked if they would start on it in the near future, the man behind the counter responded with "When do you want it - today?" He then offered that he was not being a smart a$$ but they were very busy and they didn't know when they could start on that car. After that confidence-inspiring display, I decided to explore other options.

Well that's lovely. Perhaps it wasn't Ted who I saw....

FYI: 3-D in Lombard on Roosevelt at Highland (I believe) has also proven to be highly useful.

Or if you're interested in going a little further North....I now go to AAC (Addison Auto Care) on Fullerton, just West of Addison Road. We take our fleet vans there for work now. When my tire popped yesterday, I called around and they were the cheapest to balance and mount a new one on my old rims for me. $99 out the door....and they offered my first oil change for free, just to get me in as a maintenance client.

Just to clarify, I don't know who the guy was behind the counter. I hope it was not Ted.

I would suggest that you check on the emissions test prior to purchasing. First they get pretty nasty about it and will suspend drivers license. Secondly, we just had to pay $600 to get one of our cars to pass.

I know some people hate the place, but we have had good luck with the Firestone on Roosevelt.

Thanks, South. Once I get a temp tag next week, I'll get a mechanic to look at it and run it thru the emissions location.

Ozzie . . . I have to ask . . . what kind of a car is it?