Madison County Clerk Mike Cavil advises buyers on how to legally drive home a used car

Madison County Clerk Mike Cavil urged residents in a recorded "Mike's Minute" message to make sure they have a vehicle’s title and proof of insurance before visiting the DMV to receive license plates for a recently purchased car.

Cavil said the first step is to "get the title from the person you're buying the car from" and bring that title along with the vehicle keys to the DMV. "You're also going to need insurance before you come into DMV," he said, adding that once those steps are completed "you'll walk out with a brand new set of plates to drive back to that location, put on the vehicle, and drive away."

The clerk framed the guidance as a common-sense way to avoid legal and safety problems, explaining that having current insurance and valid plates protects buyers if they cause an accident when leaving the seller’s property or are stopped by law enforcement. He noted the advice is especially timely during the spring car-buying season, when people often use tax-return money for purchases.

Cavil closed the brief message by encouraging listeners to share the guidance with friends and family.

The message provided step-by-step practical instructions but did not reference any specific state statute or local ordinance; residents with questions about particular circumstances should contact the Madison County Clerk's office or their state DMV for additional details.