Buying a pickup out of state?

[dfkrug]

In Ca you pay your local sales tax and get it smog checked if all the paperwork is in order... If it is not you can have a real headache like my car from WA with the lost transfer papers.
The cost of transporting vehicles has risen significantly. so be sure you are factoring that cost in too.

Bought my new Hyundai Ioniq HEV from a dealer in Denver in 2021. Even after shipping it for $800, I saved a bit versus the dealer here in San Jose. A one year old new car at the dealer was even more.

I never argued price; I just wanted something in a nice color. Most cars sold in CA are earth tones (white/gray/black), and the dealer did not want to find one in a color for me.

I did have to smog it, even tho it was new and certfied for CARB. Not all new cars have CA smog certification. Don't import those! Our DMV requires you bring in the car and show them the VIN and cert sticker. Something like 11 other states follow the CA smog rules.

No way out of the sales tax, but our state will credit the buyer for any sales tax paid to the other state.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

In MD, if you move in with a car you already own registered in another state, you get to contribute the sales tax amount on the value of the car.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I almost bought a new truck in NC, was 2-3k less than same vehicle in MD. But ended up going with different truck.

 

[etpm]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was concerned about the sales tax issue but didn't even think about emissions. I don't think WA will give me grief about emissions but you never know. So I will be asking the auto license place about that. I did see a truck in Nebraska but I would need to fly on short notice which could really jack up the ticket price and the dealer would need to be close enough to the airport to pick me up.
Eric

 

[dfkrug]

You can also consider what I did a dozen years ago. I bought a car from a dealer in St Louis area. It was used, with only a few thousand miles on it. I paid an inspection service $100 to go to the dealer and do an inspection.

I got the inspection report immediately, and then had the car shipped.

I would not pay a private party this way, in advance of taking possession. This is one time you want to buy from a dealer.

 

[BlueKnife]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was concerned about the sales tax issue but didn't even think about emissions. I don't think WA will give me grief about emissions but you never know. So I will be asking the auto license place about that. I did see a truck in Nebraska but I would need to fly on short notice which could really jack up the ticket price and the dealer would need to be close enough to the airport to pick me up.
Eric

Does Washington do emissions testing? Some states do, some don't, some do only in certain areas, some only for certain categories of vehicles. Idaho doesn't do any. Ohio, where I used to live, does it in certain counties for vehicles under 10,000 GVW. I had a Toyota Tercel and a Ford Ranger both plated for 10,000 GVW for that reason.

 

[CliffordK]

In Oregon it is relatively easy to purchase out of state and register here.

No sales tax here.

It used to be Washington was tax exempt for Oregon customers. Then they changed so that one is supposed to keep one's receipts and file them for a refund at the end of the year.

For out of state vehicles, one must have a VIN inspection at the DMV, or by a local police officer. In state vehicles don't require the VIN inspection, or really any inspections.

Here, a few metro areas have SMOG. Portland in the north, and Medford/Ashland in the south. I've been in Grants Pass when the fog rolled in. I think they have a special type of weather inversion down there.

You won't pay sales taxes in Oregon, but I'm pretty sure Washington has a way to capture them when you bring a tax free vehicle in.

Whidbey Island, WA is way up near the Canadian border. I think Canada and the USA largely have the same DOT rules, but importing a vehicle from a foreign country can be a whole different can of worms. Much easier if you purchase a vehicle that is 25+ years old.

 

[5030]

At least in Nevada, if you buy a used vehicle from a private party then there is no sales tax collected - no matter which state you bought the vehicle from.

But if your state collects sales / use tax, when you go to get plates and transfer the title, you will be liable for the taxes that have to be paid or you remain plateless....lol

One thing about the Gummit and that is, they always get their pound of flesh, no matter what.

 

[CliffordK]

One thing about the Gummit and that is, they always get their pound of flesh, no matter what.

Or a half a pound. There are some sellers that will put any amount the buyer desires on the bill of sale, especially if it is a cash sale.

Sellers have offered, but it has never been an issue for me, so I just ask them to list the price paid.

 

[dodge man]

One thing that might make a difference, we have a local sales tax added on to the states sales tax. It’s 2.75%. It’s pretty significant on a big purchase and I’m pretty sure if you buy out of state or out of town they don’t collect it. I know the John Deere dealership built a new store out of town, I wonder if that had anything to do with it.