What to Consider When Buying a Car Out of State

Step 2: Have the car inspected

It is important to have the car inspected before you buy it. You want to make sure there are no issues with the car and that it is 100% ready to drive without needing any repairs.

It is smart to search for a mechanic near the dealership before going, that way during your test drive you can head over for the inspection.

Step 3: Pay sales tax

You can’t escape your state’s sales tax by buying a car in another state. Whatever state the car is garaged in, is what the taxes and fees on the vehicle purchased are based on. Make sure to pay all fees before registering the car, in order to be on the safe side, since most states require it.

Step 4: Review inspection requirements for the state you live in

Be sure to visit your state’s DMV website prior to purchasing the car to gather information about all of the state’s inspection requirements regarding safety, emissions, and the odometer.

Most likely you will have to visit the DMV after purchasing your vehicle to take care of paperwork and to receive your official title and registration.

Step 5: Register the car

You must pay for new registration for your new vehicle. It is very important to find out how many days your state gives you to register a new vehicle, it could be as short as 30 days.

Step 6: Insure the car

Contact your insurance provider and explain the situation. All insurance providers are different and have different policies. Make sure to get your vehicle insured as soon as possible.

Step 7: Obtain the title

Make sure the car is correctly titled as this is a crucial step especially when dealing with insurance providers and financing. States have different rules when it comes to titling so be sure to do research before beginning the process.