Originally Posted by RED DOG

Mark, I've bought many vehicles from out of state. It sounds like you're trying to buy a car that's currently in Florida, right? If you're buying from a licensed dealership, they are required by law to collect the sales tax amount as due in your home state where the car will be registered. Usually they complete the entire transaction including collecting the sales tax, application for title, buying new plates or transferring your existing plate, etc. Florida will then forward the monies to your home state and provide you with documentation proving that you have indeed paid the sales tax and all the other fees.

If you're buying from a private seller, you just pay them for the car and when you get it to your home state go register it there paying the sales tax etc. at your local DMV (or whatever it's called in GA).