How to Buy an Interstate Car
- 1). Check that the car passes all of your own special state requirements. Information on the legality of titling an out of state car can generally be found on your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) homepage. For example, California DMV may require that an out of state car be certified to pass California-specific emissions standards, and not just certified to pass federal emissions standards.
- 2). Run the car through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) before handing over any money for it. The NMVTIS service, provided by approved website car history checkers, will tell you whether the car was stolen, its odometer readings, any brand applied to the vehicle and salvage history if applicable. This service costs between $2 and $7 as of January 2011.
- 3). Confirm that the previous owner has signed over the car's title to you by filling in the appropriate transfer of ownership section on the title and signing the document. Ensure the odometer reading is noted on the title. If the out of state title does not have a space for this, fill in the details on the appropriate DMV form from your home state for an odometer reading.
- 4). Pay the sales tax in the state where you buy the car. Keep the sales receipt. In your home state, you may be required to pay extra sales tax to make up the difference if your home state tax rates are higher.
- 5). Fill out the application for title and registration of the new car for your home state. For example, in Virginia, this is called "Application for Title and Registration" (VSA 17A).
- 6). Provide proof of residency to your home state's DMV. The DMV will list acceptable forms of this proof, but they can include a recent utility bill, a recent bank statement, a driver's license, voter registration card or recent tax return. Give the DMV the car's out of state title.
- 7). Provide proof of purchase price if required. Depending on your home state's DMV rules, this can be in the form of the bill of sale, a buyer's order, or a notation by the seller of the sale price on the title.
- 8). Pay any fees necessary to the DMV. For example, the state of Virginia fees include a $10 titling fee and a $40.75 registration fee as of January 2011. These fees can be paid by cash, check, credit card; by mail or in person at the DMV. Proof of sales tax already paid in another state can exempt you from paying Virginia sales tax.
Source...