Buying a pickup out of state?

[tradosaurus]

Now that I decided to pry open my wallet and buy a truck I can't find one close to home. Anybody have experience buying a vehicle from out of state?
Thanks,
Eric

If you are looking at a diesel truck make sure you know if the emissions are deleted.

 

[JasperFrank]

I have the opposite problem. Trucks seem to last forever in the PNW, if far enough inland. We simply have no issues with rust. Been looking for an SR5, or other mid-sized older truck. But I want it to be a life long PNW truck. Which if not sold by a private party has gotten difficult. I'll ask the question at a dealer, and all of a sudden they don't know anything about where it came from. Real easy to tell, since plates in Oregon are issued for the life of the vehicle. Brand new plate--- its from out of state. Check the under carriage and sure enough, there is substantial rust everywhere. Then one can find the little tells, its a Montana or Idaho, or some eastern seaboard, area. During the great used truck famine of 2021-2023, I think dealers shipped in many a truck from these areas. Thinking the noobs in the PNW, not use to any rust issues, wouldn't check.

 

[D&D]

You North Easterners don't understand the concept of 'other state' in relation to speaking to someone from out West. Coming from Colorado... it completely blew my mind when I was sitting at a restaurant in Delaware across the road there were 2 different states. It’s just a perception thing. When you get to Kansas and further west... 'everything' is 'in state'.

You got me, being a property owner in Steamboat, Winter Park and Boulder makes me “out of the loop”.

 

[duffer]

I recently bought the wife a "new" used car from a dealer. Turns out the dealer was so incompetent that they had not bothered to get a lien release from the creditor that the previous owner had used. I bought the car not knowing this, and 3 days before the temp plate expired I called the dealer to find out where the Title was. They didn't even know they didn't have the title, or the lien release until I contacted them.

Doesn't matter if it's in state, or out of state. HAVE THE DEALER SHOW YOU THE TITLE OR LIEN RELEASE if you're buying used. If they don't have it in hand, go somewhere else.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I can't even remember when I last bought a vehicle locally, but at least 20 or so have been bought out of state in the past 15 years.

It has all been relatively effortless, until buying a used car a week ago. Guess I can blame it on being a bit tired after the 550-mile drive, and not used to the 99 degree temp they had at the dealer.

Anyway, I just wanted to hit the road and get back home and had overlooked a simple but important fact - I didn't get the title. Waiting for a call from the dealer on that subject.

Complicating things a bit is that I also didn't get a temporary tag. I'll be driving that car on Wednesday to an appointment nearly 100 miles away, and hopefully I can get a temp tag at the nearby MVD in the process.

Oh well, not everything in life can go perfectly smooth all the time.

 

[TheRetiredBear]

Now that I decided to pry open my wallet and buy a truck I can't find one close to home. Anybody have experience buying a vehicle from out of state?
Thanks,
Eric

CAR MAX! I did my research when I needed a specific vehicle to tow (Flat i.e. 4 wheels on the ground) behind my motor home. Searched all of the local dealers, new and used. Found exactly what I needed thru Car Max. I was skeptical at first, but the great thing is, when you buy a vehicle from them, you get a 90-day option to return for a full refund, with less than 1500 miles driven. Also, if the vehicle you want is not local (as mine was in Tx. vice Ms.) there is a shipping fee based on distance. But, if after all of your research on the vehicle, verifying the milage and condition through pictures and discussions with the vehicles local CM Representatives, you get it shipped. Once you get it and decide you don't want it, you're not obligated to accept it. You will only be out the shipping cost.

I was someone who said "I would never buy a vehicle sight unseen! But I did and I WAS pleased. More than that, my wife is too.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Well, I've sold vehicles to Car Max, but their pricing is usually up there on what they sell.

I could buy a new vehicle of the same make and model (looked at Challenger GTs for a while) for less than what they want for used ones.

Also wouldn't want to pay their shipping charges when I can go get the vehicle myself...which Car Max may not allow. Never did look into that.

 

[ericm979]

As long as you don't have special emission req's (CA), it isn't a big deal.

These days nearly all vehicles meet 50 state emissions. Back in the '90s there were a lot of 49 state vehicles that didn't meet CA emissions. You still should check though. It's on a sticker under the hood.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

That sticker makes all the difference.

 

[EmeraldCity]

Living in King County (SE of Seattle), I wanted an 8.1 GM gas engine with the Allison transmission. Could not find anything at a decent price near Seattle so I searched the whole West Coast.

First truck I found was in Vegas. Thought I did my due diligence and flew down there intending to buy it. But my own **** inspection detected underlying issues and blatant lying by the owner. Pissed me off and I rejected it and flew home. Few weeks later found one in Reno. Again had it inspected and talked to the owner numerous times. Felt good enough to fly there and it was exactly as described- even better! Bought it and drove back to Seattle area. Had to pay Sales Tax and other related fees. That was 2 years ago and it has been an awesome truck! Trailer two tractors to Texas!

Good luck with your search. Hoping you know how it have it inspected and/or do your own inspection. Rust is the one thing you do NOT want. Almost everything else can be dealt with easier.

Rich