Buying a pickup out of state?

[oosik]

I bought my 2018 Ram Power Wagon in late Dec of 2018. It arrived in Jan of 2019. It was "found" at a dealership in Montana. Trucked from Montana to Spokane. I have never purchased a vehicle other than at a local dealership.

I have always purchased new vehicles. There is enough problems with new that I don't have to take on problems that may come with used. I have most often got exactly what I want and have paid the price.

 

[Ricn]

Bought a very nice used F-550 in texas, no tax added. Flew down doing paperwork and was on the long road home in 2 hrs. With diesel cost i still saved a bunch over prices in my state paying tax at home.

 

[chim]

Last new vehicle we bought was an Olds Alero in 2002. Live in PA bought in DE, paid PA sales tax and had to get a PA inspection.

 

[etpm]

After talking with some folks over the weekend it was pointed out to me that I needed to avoid buying the pickup in a state that salts the roads. I was in Denver and noticed heavy salt corrosion in several places, like I would see living right on a coast. So the nice Nebraska truck is out of the question, since they salt the roads there. It looks like I will be shopping on the west coast since I live in Washington and all three coastal states rarely salt the roads on the Pacific side of the mountains. I don't know if Eastern WA and OR salt their roads much. Guess I need to do a little research.
Eric

 

[Torvy]

After talking with some folks over the weekend it was pointed out to me that I needed to avoid buying the pickup in a state that salts the roads. I was in Denver and noticed heavy salt corrosion in several places, like I would see living right on a coast. So the nice Nebraska truck is out of the question, since they salt the roads there. It looks like I will be shopping on the west coast since I live in Washington and all three coastal states rarely salt the roads on the Pacific side of the mountains. I don't know if Eastern WA and OR salt their roads much. Guess I need to do a little research.
Eric

That's a good rule of thumb, but each truck is unique (owners).

I grew up about 15 miles from MN. They heavily salt the roads. If we had to go to MN in the winter, the vehicle got a thorough underbody wash as soon as we got back to SD.

TX used dealers bring a lot of trucks down from the NE and pass them off to unsuspecting buyers. You probably will have to crawl under and look. A Carmax store in DFW area had a seemingly nice TRD Offroad that met our other requirements. I look a quick look underneath and it was badly rusted.

Caveat Emptor.

 

[ttour]

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

I just purchased a 2008 Chevy for a second work truck. I live in Tennessee and the truck was in Kentucky.. i don't know I what you are asking .

 

[Dadnatron]

Don’t understand the question. I’ve bought vehicles in different states and the only minor problem has been titling (who is responsible for collecting/remitting the taxes). Other than that, pickup or delivery options.
I bought a car in Maine and met the dealer in the Burlington, Vt airport lounge. Signed paperwork and off I went. Flew into Columbus, Ohio where dealer picked me up at airport. Signed paperwork, stopped in WV to have upfit done and drove home. Bought another truck in South Carolina, upfit done in WV, then drove home.
Personally, I buy where and when I want based on the vehicle I want and price. Warranty work (if needed) gets covered. If the local guys really wanted my business, they’d make comparable or better deals.

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. Its just a perception thing. When you get to Kansas and further west... 'everything' is 'in state'.

 

[Fxfymn413]

I assume you are talking used. If it's new go with a Costco type purchase plan and have the dealer locate the vehicle you want. It's up to them to get it to you.

My main advice for buying used is pictures lie. You absolutely need to put eyes on it before you buy.

 

[rzimmermann]

I have purchased cars in Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin. I avoid states that collect sales tax as I live in Missouri which collects it when titling. I don't want to pay twice or try to go through the pain of collecting tax from the state I purchase the car from.

 

[alexpops]

As long as you don't have special emission req's (CA), it isn't a big deal. Make sure the right amount of sales tax is collected by the out of state dealer or you'll need to pay it when you go to register. Had that happen when I bought in Alabama & registered in Florida. You may need to wait a few days to apply for the title/registration depending on how your state does it. In FL, I had to wait almost a month for the official paperwork to get to my county office as they wouldn't use the bill of sale copy I had. The temp tags should allow you to drive it back home & wait out the paperwork without a problem.

 

[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