Purchasing a car in another state

[College3.0]

For those of you who live in the U.S.

I'm looking to go out of state to pick up a Yaris for sale... not much available on the market locally. Is there anything special I should know about buying a car out of state? How would the sales tax work, do I pay for the state where I reside, or where I purchase? The car is at a dealership.

Just looking to get preliminary data before planning a trip. Thanks for any help.

[Leegamer]

Never bought a car at an out of state dealership, but when I bought from private parties I registered it in my state and paid the sales tax there.

[Dodge Aries K]

You'd need to pay the tax in the state you live in. Some out of state dealerships will collect tax and registration for your home state and some will not. It all depends.

[NYC-SE]

It varies by state. Check out the websites for the DMV of both your home state and the state where you plan to purchase.

[justanotherdrunk]

do I pay for the state where I reside

yes

[nortonfb]

My suggestion would be have the car inspected BEFORE you go.
If the seller is honest they will agree, Cost is about $125 for dealer inspection.
Find out about how & where to get temporary plates or if one is needed.
Also if an inspection is needed prior to transfer. What is required for insurance on the vehicle your picking up?
I have purchased a few cars and a bike out of state. It's better to hand;le the mundane stuff on the phone, not when you want to start driving home.

[Brynmor]

If you're buying a car out of state, the big thing to check is how your home state handles registration and taxes. I’ve done it before, and I had to pay my state’s sales tax when registering the car. Some dealerships will handle it for you, but private sellers won’t, so you’ll need to sort it out yourself. Also, make sure you get temporary plates if required.

If you're looking to save on taxes, some people register vehicles in Montana since they don’t charge sales tax. I came across this site (https://1dollarmontana.com/buying-a-car-in-montana-from-out-of-state/) that explains how Montana registration works and why it’s a popular choice. Worth checking out if you're open to alternatives.