Buying car in US

[UncleMike]

Hello, i assume this is US forum right?

Can someone walk me trough buying used car what kind of taxes i will have to pay, should i change registration, plates, make insurance make technical inspection as i buy anything else i need to know?

What are the biggest sites where i can brows cars for sale and prices in US, e.g. theree www.mobile.de in germany is there any analog in US?

P.S. Also heard in US you cant sell your car to someone else unless you are car dealer is that true?

[Cookie Monster]

craigslist and autotrader are the biggest sites to look through for new/used cars...

And who told you you cant sell cars if you aren't a car dealer?

[Soup DeVille]

Any person can sell their personal property to any other person. The US has no qualms aout letting a German national buy a car and have it shipped to them.

Meeting the requirements for importing a US car into germany may be quite another story.

[TBR]

Hello, i assume this is US forum right?

Can someone walk me trough buying used car what kind of taxes i will have to pay, should i change registration, plates, make insurance make technical inspection as i buy anything else i need to know?

What are the biggest sites where i can brows cars for sale and prices in US, e.g. theree www.mobile.de in germany is there any analog in US?

P.S. Also heard in US you cant sell your car to someone else unless you are car dealer is that true?

It isn't, though you can't sell a certain number of cars within a certain time period (not sure on the specifics obviously).

Generally when you purchase a used car you have a substantial amount of time to register it in your name. When you register it you end up paying small amount in actual registration (under $50 in most states I'd imagine) and then sales tax (for most states). Then each year you simply have to get the car inspected (sometimes this entails a simple checking of lights/horn/tires, other states require road tests and emissions tests, in Texas the fee is under $20) and re-registered. I don't really know about insurance seeing as how whenever I have bought a car we have just added it to our current policy the next day (or day of in the first case).

[Soup DeVille]

It isn't, though you can't sell a certain number of cars within a certain time period (not sure on the specifics obviously).

Generally when you purchase a used car you have a substantial amount of time to register it in your name. When you register it you end up paying small amount in actual registration (under $50 in most states I'd imagine) and then sales tax (for most states). Then each year you simply have to get the car inspected (sometimes this entails a simple checking of lights/horn/tires, other states require road tests and emissions tests, in Texas the fee is under $20) and re-registered. I don't really know about insurance seeing as how whenever I have bought a car we have just added it to our current policy the next day (or day of in the first case).

If he's buying a car and having it shipped, he shouldn't have to worry about registering or insuring it, although I would recommend him having the title updated with his name on it.

[TBR]

If he's buying a car and having it shipped, he shouldn't have to worry about registering or insuring it, although I would recommend him having the title updated with his name on it.

I assumed he was buying it to drive in the US since the post didn't state otherwise and didn't ask anything about shipping.

[Soup DeVille]

I assumed he was buying it to drive in the US since the post didn't state otherwise and didn't ask anything about shipping.

And I assumed the other way.

Which is it, Mike?

[UncleMike]

craigslist and autotrader are the biggest sites to look through for new/used cars...

Yep but there's just adverts and you should click it to know price etc, is there other big sites that have nice filter and options you can select for example i want to see all cars "in price rnage 2000-3000usd, of years 1990-1995, with abs and anibags, rear axle, sedan" and get list of cars that match this criteria, you can in european sites.

There is this choice on autotrader.com but i found no private adverts there, only dealers and auctions.

[ifcar]

Autotrader doesn't have auctions, and there are private sellers, too. You'll see more dealers, simply because more dealers have cars to sell. Go towards the last pages of the results, and you'll find the cheapest cars in the cheapest listing (private sellers are more likely than dealers to not pay for the "premium listings" that show up first).

Another site that you can filter the results with is cars.com, by the way.

[UncleMike]

I am buying it to drive in US although possibly in i buy it in other state and drive back to mine.

Then each year you simply have to get the car inspected (sometimes this entails a simple checking of lights/horn/tires, other states require road tests and emissions tests, in Texas the fee is under $20) and re-registered.

Why would you re-register car if you not changing the owner for it, is registration time limited? And about technical inspection is it same for all cars once a year, or newer cars get inspection once two years?

I don't really know about insurance seeing as how whenever I have bought a car we have just added it to our current policy the next day (or day of in the first case).

How much car insurance cost i mean its differs from engine size like in europe?

Autotrader doesn't have auctions

Well probably its was just name they chosen for themselves "American Public Auto Auction".

[Soup DeVille]

My mistake then, Mike.

This differs by state, although the general rule is that the sale must be recorded and the title transferred in the state which the car was previously titled and registered. In my state Michigan) for example, the new title will cost approximately $14 plus 6% of the sale price for tax.

You will have to have the car insured before it can be registered, although it need not be full collision insurance. The state only requires personal liability/property damage insurance (PLPD). The registration in itself is another nominal fee, and is generally good for one year. Some states require inspections yearly, some once every five, and some Michigan) none at all.

I've tried for years to figure out a pattern on how insurance companies set their rates, but have failed. To be sure, higher value cars cost more  to insure than cheap ones, and performance cars cost more to insure than commuters, but there's no real set formula like you have in Europe in regards to displacement classes.

[Galaxy]

Since you have no driving record of any kind in the US you will be considered a high risk to the insurance companies. You're best bet is to see if a German insurance company has a US subsidy. Perhaps Alliance?

Da du keine Historie  als Autofahrer in Amerika hast werden dich die dortigen Versicherungsfirmen dem entsprechend wie ein Fahranf?nger  einstufen. Du solltest sehen ob eine deutsche Versicherung ein Tochterunternehmen in den USA hat. M?glich ware dies bei der Alliance.

[Soup DeVille]

No driving record is a good thing! Insurance companies base a lot of their rates on demerit points- and there's no real record keeping on how long a person has been licensed between various states.

[Raza]

Yep but there's just adverts and you should click it to know price etc, is there other big sites that have nice filter and options you can select for example i want to see all cars "in price rnage 2000-3000usd, of years 1990-1995, with abs and anibags, rear axle, sedan" and get list of cars that match this criteria, you can in european sites.

There is this choice on autotrader.com but i found no private adverts there, only dealers and auctions.

Autotrader.com allows you to do all that.

[Madman]

Autotrader.com allows you to do all that.

So does www.cars.com and www.automart.com

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[UncleMike]

This differs by state, although the general rule is that the sale must be recorded and the title transferred in the state which the car was previously titled and registered. In my state Michigan) for example, the new title will cost approximately $14 plus 6% of the sale price for tax.

Whats the title is? Its paper like technical passport of the vehicle in europe? Btw i hears you should pay tax in the state where you going to register the car for example if i am from New York and bought car in Michigan i should pay tax in the new york DMV?

Some states require inspections yearly, some once every five, and some Michigan) none at all.

I heard to ensure or register car it must be inspected first?

[TBR]

"I heard to ensure or register car it must be inspected first?"

It must have a valid inspection for whatever state you are registering it in.

[Soup DeVille]

Whats the title is? Its paper like technical passport of the vehicle in europe? Btw i hears you should pay tax in the state where you going to register the car for example if i am from New York and bought car in Michigan i should pay tax in the new york DMV?
I heard to ensure or register car it must be inspected first?

The title is the legal document stating who owns the vehicle.

The sales tax in all cases that i know of needs to be paid in the state in which the sale takes place.

In states requiring an inspection, the inspection must be done before it is registered. The car may however be insured without the official inspection being done.

[giant_mtb]

"I heard to ensure or register car it must be inspected first?"

It must have a valid inspection for whatever state you are registering it in.

Except some states, I think.

[MX793]

The title is the legal document stating who owns the vehicle.

The sales tax in all cases that i know of needs to be paid in the state in which the sale takes place.

In states requiring an inspection, the inspection must be done before it is registered. The car may however be insured without the official inspection being done.

Sales tax issues can get a little strange if you buy a car from a private party.  When you buy from a dealership, they collect the sales tax as part of the transaction.  When you buy from a private party, sales tax must be paid seperately.  In NY State, if you buy a car from a private party, you need to provide some sort of sale receipt (a signed piece of paper from the seller with the price is usually sufficient) to the DMV when you register and they will ask for you to pay the sales tax before they will issue you license plates.  The sales tax paid will be whatever the tax rate is for the county in which you live, not where you bought the car from.

[The Pirate]

Sales tax issues can get a little strange if you buy a car from a private party.  When you buy from a dealership, they collect the sales tax as part of the transaction.  When you buy from a private party, sales tax must be paid seperately.  In NY State, if you buy a car from a private party, you need to provide some sort of sale receipt (a signed piece of paper from the seller with the price is usually sufficient) to the DMV when you register and they will ask for you to pay the sales tax before they will issue you license plates.  The sales tax paid will be whatever the tax rate is for the county in which you live, not where you bought the car from.

And (again, NYS) if you purchase a car from a member of your immediate family, the taxes are waived.

[dazzleman]

No driving record is a good thing! Insurance companies base a lot of their rates on demerit points- and there's no real record keeping on how long a person has been licensed between various states.

If you can't demonstrate that you have been licensed and/or on somebody's insurance policy for the last 3 years, you will be charged higher rates, at least in my state.  Those are among the questions they ask when giving a quote.

So whether your licensing date was in the past 3 years, OR you have held a license for longer, but were not listed on anybody's policy (most commonly parents' family policy) for the past 3 years, if either of those situations is the case, you'll be charged for insurance as an inexperienced operator.

That's at least how it appears to work in my state.

[rohan]

I've tried for years to figure out a pattern on how insurance companies set their rates, but have failed. To be sure, higher value cars cost more  to insure than cheap ones, and performance cars cost more to insure than commuters, but there's no real set formula like you have in Europe in regards to displacement classes.

Easy
4 door 4 and 6 cyls are usually cheapest
2 dr 4 and 6 cyls are about the same but quite a bit higher than 4 drs
4 dr v8's are higher
2 dr v8's are the next highest
convertible 4 and 6 cyls are next
convertible v8's are the highest
and then they add in the cost and the value of the car to replace- if it's a new car it's a higher premium if it's an older car it's cheaper.  And yes I know that's not always true but it's pretty much standard.

[rohan]

No driving record is a good thing! Insurance companies base a lot of their rates on demerit points- and there's no real record keeping on how long a person has been licensed between various states.

Yes there is- you just have to look for it.  Your Ops code (license number) has the date of issue right in the numbers.

[rohan]

"I heard to ensure or register car it must be inspected first?"

It must have a valid inspection for whatever state you are registering it in.

Not always true.  Michigan, IN, OH (correct me if I'm wrong Bing) and many others only require inspections if the car is being issued a title because it was salvage- rebuilt- assembled by owner- combined with another vehicle- or anything else that resulted in substatial damage to the car.  Every car out there doesn't get inspected-

[rohan]

The title is the legal document stating who owns the vehicle.

The sales tax in all cases that i know of needs to be paid in the state in which the sale takes place.

In states requiring an inspection, the inspection must be done before it is registered. The car may however be insured without the official inspection being done.

Not quite- it gets paid where it gets registered.  Most states make you pay a fee to transfer it out of the state - here is't designated as a "foreign" title - but you pay Michigan sales tax. 

[UncleMike]

About "sales tax" i read many replays at yahoo answers people saying if you bought car in another state than u live in you pay sales tax in your state's DMV when u get there.
Or probably u pay in state where you buy it, but rates and laws are of your state?

[TBR]

I bought a car in Louisiana but paid taxes in Texas, no one said anything (and, to further complicate things, the car had a Montana title).

[dinkeldorf]

Don't know if it's useful but many Canadians, even expats like me, are taking advantage of the relative weakness of the USD. Do you have an idea what type of vehicle?  New or used? That helps narrow it down regarding prices, insurance and taxes.

I would suggest buying near new in Arizona, Colorado or California for good deals. Kiss warranty goodbye for Europe. This link here details someone that's done it : http://www.radlhammer.com/car.htm

[Soup DeVille]

Easy
4 door 4 and 6 cyls are usually cheapest
2 dr 4 and 6 cyls are about the same but quite a bit higher than 4 drs
4 dr v8's are higher
2 dr v8's are the next highest
convertible 4 and 6 cyls are next
convertible v8's are the highest
and then they add in the cost and the value of the car to replace- if it's a new car it's a higher premium if it's an older car it's cheaper.  And yes I know that's not always true but it's pretty much standard.

There are exceptions to every one of those rules. Find a Honda Civic and a Ford Focus, make them as much alike as is possible, and the Honda will still cost significantly more to insure because of its supposed higher theft rate and replacement cost.