You can find your ideal car at any time in your life. It could be a brand-new model with your perfect set of luxury features or a used classic you’ve had your eye on for years. However, the ideal vehicle may be in a distant region.
Finding hidden gems in other states is much simpler, thanks to the Internet. However, there are still obstacles to overcome before you can call this car your own.
There are several potential costs when purchasing an automobile from another state, including temporary registration fees and transportation back home.
Here are the five steps to take before buying a car out of state.
1. Verify The Vehicle Is Real And Belongs To The Seller
Online con artists use the promise of a high-demand vehicle at a bargain price to steal money from unsuspecting buyers. The sale should only go through if you inspect the car yourself or send a reliable third party.
When dealing with a trustworthy car lot, this issue rarely arises. You should inquire about the dealership’s hold policy if additional purchasers emerge and put a damper on your plans to purchase the vehicle.
2. Carry Out Your Investigations
Independent third-party inspections can shed light on the vehicle’s condition that the seller may not be able to provide. Use this as bargaining leverage as well. When shopping for a loan or insurance on a classic car or other pre-owned vehicles, you may need to pay for a professional estimate of the vehicle’s value.
After that, you should check the VIN with a service like VINCheck or Google the number. Getting a vehicle history report from CARFAX or AutoCheck is another good option for learning about the car’s complete past.
After researching the vehicle’s title and history, you may have second thoughts about buying the automobile out of state. The National Insurance Crime Bureau keeps a running tally of what to look out for, from stolen vehicles to flood-damaged cars with fake clean titles.
Also Read: Can You Get Auto Insurance Without A Permanent Address?
3. See Your Insurance Broker/Agent
Calling your insurance agent before buying a car in another state is important. You don’t want to ruin the experience of making a once-in-a-lifetime buy, so ensure you have adequate protection.
You can check with your insurance agent about your potential coverage while driving across state lines. Either way, you need to call them the day after you buy the automobile, at the latest, to get the new vehicle added to your insurance policy.
Insurance is crucial. It helps you have peace of mind. You are assured that in case of an accident, you can get a new car and pay medical bills.
4. Facilitate Transportation Arrangements
To return the vehicle yourself, you’ll need to fly or make other transportation arrangements to get there. Also, you choose to employ a professional driver to make the trip for you.
Many companies provide car shipping and transportation services. You should not only go with the cheapest option when hiring a company to move your car; instead, make sure they have insurance first. The insurance caters to any damage that happens during transportation.
You should also consider the car’s value when deciding whether to move it enclosed or open; the former will provide greater security, but the latter may be more expensive. There are several reliable auto transport companies that can meet your transportation needs.
5. Attend to Tax and Registration Matters
Find out if you need a temporary registration in the state of purchase before making the trip to pick up the car. When you do this, you avoid getting pulled over by the police for not having a license plate.
You may only have 30 days from the moment your car arrives in your state to get it registered. Your overdue sales tax is typically paid at this time.
Final Thoughts
Buying an automobile from another state follows many of the same guidelines as purchasing a car locally.
However, it can be more challenging to assess the vehicle’s condition in person when purchasing from another state. Avoid becoming duped, have the automobile inspected by someone else if you can’t drive there yourself, research the tax and insurance consequences, and make plans to pick up the vehicle or deliver it.
You can reap the benefits of purchasing a vehicle in a different state with the right amount of preparation.
