How To Buy A Car Out Of State
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You might find yourself in a situation where you live in one place but want to purchase a car from another. This isn’t uncommon, and there can be great reasons to do so. Maybe you want that nice luxury car you’ve had your eye on but can’t get locally, or you found a great deal on a car in a neighboring state.
No matter the cause for your search, buying a car out of state can be an excellent idea under the right circumstances. There are a lot of caveats in doing so, however, so we’ll walk you through how to buy a car out of state and what all that entails.
Why It Might Be a Good Idea to Buy a Car out of State
There are plenty of situations where it just makes sense to buy your next car in a state that isn’t the one you currently reside in. If you’re a vintage car lover, for example, this can oftentimes be the only way you can get your hands on that nice antique set of wheels you’ve been dreaming about for ages. The rarer and older a car model gets, the less available it is, so after a point, you just have to take whatever you can get your hands on. You might find that the only options available for purchase are across the country even, making buying the car you want out of state not just a good way to get it, but the only way.
Another great reason to buy a car out of state is that the bottom line for the whole deal is cheaper than it would be if you bought locally. The popularity of different makes and models fluctuates in different parts of the country, and the costs go along with it. The car you want might be extremely popular in your area but not so much in other states, potentially making it cheaper to go elsewhere.
States also tend to price vehicles differently according to their own rules and have separate manufacturer incentives, which could sweeten the deal of an out-of-state car further depending on your own state’s regulations. With so many potential cost savings and the process of buying a car out of state being easier than ever through car search tools like CoPilot, it can definitely be worth it to buy a car that isn’t local. You’ll want to make sure all your savings aren’t eaten up by the costs that come with this process, though, so let’s get into that.
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Possible Complications to be Aware Of
Even if you’ve found an amazing deal on an out-of-state car, it may not be as sweet as you think. There are several costs and fees associated with buying a car out of state, so make sure to do proper research before deciding to go through with it. There are also some logistical issues you might have to overcome before getting the car and having it ready to drive in your state. Here are some of the biggest obstacles you might encounter:
- Distance. You’ll have to get that car from the state you bought it from to the state you live in in some way or another. If you’re buying it from a neighboring state or some other close location, you might be able to just drive the car over. This could require you to get a temporary registration card from the state of purchase, but you’ll then be able to take it home with no worries. In the event that the state is too far away or you don’t want to drive it, certain dealers will be able to have it shipped to you. These shipping costs can make or break the deal if they’re too expensive and negate the savings you’re trying to get, but some dealers offer discounts or cheap shipping options, so talk to the seller and see what they have available.
- Emissions regulations. Each state has its own standards for emissions coming from a car, and not all cars are legally drivable in every state because of this. Make sure to brush up on your state’s emissions laws and find out whether or not your desired car meets them. Some vehicles will tell you that they can pass the emissions tests for every state, so if yours says this, you’re good to go. If not, you’ll have to dig a little deeper and find out.
- Paperwork. Buying a car out of state makes the paperwork required a little trickier. We’ll get into this more later, but be aware that there will be a bit of an initial hassle in sorting out all the legalities of your new purchase.
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How to buy a car out of state
Now that you know what to look for before jumping into a purchase let’s actually get into how to buy a car out of state. Your first step will be to make sure the car you want to buy is a worthy purchase and that it’s in good condition.
Obtain a vehicle history report and scan it for any red flags (for example, if the car has liens, you’ll have to get those figured out before getting the car), and have a trusted mechanic inspect the car first-hand so that they can give it their seal of approval. If you don’t have one, or the state is too far away to have a mechanic you know take a look, have a local mechanic in that area look at it for you and reach out with the results.
Next, you must work out the taxes, inspections, and registration for your new vehicle. You’ll pay taxes on it according to the state you live in or are registering the car in if that’s different. To ensure your car is able to be driven legally, take it to your DMV, and they can tell you what the necessary inspection tests are as well as the paperwork you’ll need.
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Get your inspections done and return to the DMV with the results and the other documents you need, such as the relevant sales records, proof of your residency, and a photo ID. Once this is finished, you can register the car. You might have to register your car within a short time period, so do this as soon as possible. You’ll need to get the title as well, and it’s worth looking into whether your new car needs a special title since it’s out of state, which could add costs.
The final step is insuring your new car. Before you make your purchase, read up on your car insurance policy and see if they offer a grace period on changing your insurance or if there are any additional costs for insuring this new car.
You might need to have coverage for the car you’re buying before you actually buy it, so we recommend calling your insurance company and getting a quote to have everything sorted out before the purchase. Once you have your insurance coverage figured out for your new car, you’re all set! You officially know how to buy a car out of state and be legally compliant while doing so.
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