Whether you have just purchased a brand-new car or a car that is previously owned, you probably want to put tags on it as soon as you can so that you can begin driving it. If this is the case, then you might be interested in temporary tags, since it might be common in your state to use temporary tags for a month or another short period of time after purchasing a car. You'll probably want to know the things listed below about getting temp tags for your new-to-you vehicle so that you will know what to do.

Your Dealer Might Help You

First of all, if you are purchasing your vehicle from a new or used car dealer, you should know there is a good chance that the dealer will help you with securing temporary tags for your vehicle. If you purchased your car from an individual, or if your dealer did not assist you with this process, however, then you will obviously need to go through the process yourself. Although pretty much any car owner should be able to handle the process on their own, some find that it's faster, easier, and more convenient to get their temporary tags with the help of an experienced car dealer.

You May Need to Take Some Steps Beforehand

There might be certain things that you will need to do before you can secure your temporary tags. You might be required to have the vehicle inspected, for example, and you will probably need to be able to prove that your vehicle has insurance. This varies from state to state, so find out about your state's requirements to secure a temporary tag.

There Will Probably Be a Cost

Typically, you will have to pay something for your temporary tags. Of course, this varies based on the laws in your state, and in some cases, it varies based on things like how much your new-to-you vehicle is worth.

You Should Be Mindful of When They Expire

Temporary tags are supposed to be temporary, as their name suggests. This means that your temporary tags will probably have an expiration date, and you will need to make sure that you have your permanent tags in place prior to the expiration date. When you visit a license plate office to get your temporary tags, the people who work there should be able to tell you more about what you will need to do to secure permanent tags for your vehicle.