If you’re looking for the perfect classic car, chances are, you might not find it close to home. Instead, you might have to look to all corners of the country to find the car you’ve dreamed of, which can bring its own complications.
However, don’t let the complications put you off. You could be waiting ages to find the perfect car in your own area and there are practical solutions to the problems associated with buying a car from out of state.
Here are some of the problems you might face and how you should go about overcoming them.
Logistics
The most obvious problem is logistics. Not only have you got the issue of traveling across the country to view the car, which can start to become expensive when you look at a number of cars, but you’ve also got the problem of getting the car back if you do buy it.
You don’t really want to be taking your classic car on a massive drive across country just to get it home, but there is a good alternative here. The right auto shippers will be able to ship your car home, saving it the wear and tear, and many are very experienced with classic cars.
Working with an auto shipper will ensure your car gets to its destination safely and on time, so you don’t have to worry about it.
Sales Taxes
As you will be registering your car in your home state, this means you will have to pay sales tax in your home state. This is something you will have to bear in mind when you’re buying a classic car out of state, because it can easily be mixed up.
If you’re buying through a dealership, it’s likely they will have processes to help you with this, but if you’re buying from a private dealership, you will have to take care of it yourself.
Inspections
Depending on what state you live in, you might have to get your car inspected to ensure it meets environmental and safety standards. Different states have different legislation relating to this so it’s important to know what is required of you before you’ve purchased your car.
Being that little bit older, classic cars might struggle to meet modern standards, so be aware that this can potentially cost you some extra money.
Benefits
Despite the complications associated with buying a car out of state, there are also some positives. Particularly for people looking to buy classic cars, the market is much bigger, which means you have a better chance of finding what you are looking for.
Car prices are also based on the local market, so there’s a possibility you might find the same car for cheaper out of state. If you’re looking for a particularly rare model and you’re not based in a big market, then the chances are you’re going to find it very difficult to find what you’re looking for, but by going out of state, you can bring back the car you’ve been searching for.
