3 Things You Should Know Before Buying Vehicles from Out of State

Whether you’re a dealer or a private buyer, there are tons of benefits to buying a vehicle out of state. Deals can be very hard to find if you’re in a hot market, and you might be able to get a much better price simply by going to a neighboring state or one farther away. There are some challenges associated with doing this, however. You might come across unexpected obstacles and buying a vehicle that you’ve never seen can be risky if this is the way you want to go about it. Here are a few things you should know before you buy a vehicle out of state.

Contact a Transport Company First

If you are thinking of picking up the vehicle yourself, think again. Even if the car is a few miles away, you may not be able to leave the state with the vehicle without jumping through all kinds of hoops. Some states will even require that you register the vehicle in the state before you can drive it out, which is something that won’t make sense to a lot of buyers.

The best option is often to have the car hauled away from its location and brought to you so you can register it back home. So, we suggest you call a few companies and get quotes so you can add them to your total costs. If you’re looking for a great service, you can check out this haul away auto transport service.

Know if the Car Will Pass Inspection in Your State

Another thing you have to know is that not all states will allow you to drive your new vehicle there. More and more states are enacting emissions rules, and you might have trouble if you want to buy an older vehicle that isn’t up to standard. If you live in a state like California, for instance, then there’s a strong chance that your car won’t be drivable there if it’s older and hasn’t been modified to meet emission standards. So, know about these requirements before you move a vehicle.

Get as Much Information on the Vehicle as Possible

Knowing a vehicle’s true condition when you’re out of state is difficult but you should be able to get a good idea if you follow a few steps. First of all, you should check the vehicle’s history through the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). It is one of the most reliable databases for used vehicles and you’ll at least get some general background information about the vehicle.

Everything else is about communication with the seller. A good seller will be more than happy to answer any questions that you have and provide additional images or even video of the vehicle, so don’t be afraid to ask for information. You can tell a lot by listening to a car’s motor, so ask them to start the vehicle and show you a video. You could even ask them to record them driving so you can get a virtual drive test.

You can get a great deal by getting a vehicle out of state, but you could easily get taken advantage of as well. So, be careful and take the time to vet the vehicle and the owner before you complete any transaction.