I am looking at a 2005 SRT it's in MO so it's too far to drive. I have had it inspected and know what will have to be attended to. I suggested to the seller to have a lawyer be the go-between for the sale. I figure wire the lawyer the funds, the seller gives the lawyer the title, and when the car is picked up the funds are released. Does anyone see a problem with that or have a better suggestion?

Thanks
Nelson

 

I'm not so sure why you think a lawyer is the answer here and it sounds like you are inventing a VERY expensive way to buy and ship the car. You better be DAMN careful who you hire to transport the car, cause some of them make it clear: they are NOT responsible for damage in shipping, that is between you and your insurance company - that was made clear to me when I was working out how to get the Arizona car home.

So.........
Do what I have done twice: Buy a one way airplane ticket and go get the car. I lived where you do: In the ATL half of Georgia. One time I flew to Arizona and drove 2200 miles home (That was a fun vacation) the other time, I flew to Orlando and drove home the 5 hours in one day.

But do it NOW, before winter sets in. Missouri weather is top-down weather SOME days in November, but by end of the month you do run a LITTLE risk of winter ice/snow/salt.

 

What license plates did you use to drive the car back? As I don't know who this gentleman why would I just send money to his bank? Did you register the car first so you had plates?

thanks
Nelson

 

You can fly in,Meet the owner at airport, buy the car if it's what you want & drive it home, no problem with plates, insurance or title as long as you have the owners signature & date on the sellers line I bought a car in Florida this way and what a fun drive home .

 

Are you driving on his insurance and plates?

 

No you take off his plates, you and the car you bought are covered by your insurance company, you have a grace period to register the car and get it home . Check this out with your insurance company and your state highway patrol for the legalities

 

thanks I will check on that

 

When did I say you should send him ANYTHING?

In EVERY state, there are provisions for purchase of a car. This is easy. But I disagree with others telling you to talk to YOUR state - you should talk to MO and see what THEY want. Once they issue you a temp tag/title, your state WILL honor it. PERIOD.

In my last case:
In Arizona, I bought the car with cash in the form of a cashier's check. We went to the bank and then DMV together. The DMV charged me $15 for a 30 day "temp title" that was taped to the back window, this authorized me to drive home to Georgia. Since the car was paid for, I had documents showing I had an Arizona title coming in a few days. Already had insurance, just stopped by my agent's office and gave them the VIN and a check for six months' coverage. As others have said, you need not do this, you can insure the car later but I dislike doing that.)

Funny thing: I did not pay sales tax in Arizona cause I was not an Arizona resident and was removing the car from the state, so they said I owed no tax.

Got home, applied for the Georgia title and that was that.

Funny thing: Did not pay sales tax there cause I bought the car in a different state and the lady said that I was "moving a car into the state" and when I bought it was not relevant cause I bought it out of state.

Make some phone calls, get insurance on it before you travel, check to see what MO wants from you to issue a temp title/tag and go up and get it. Generally, to tag/title it requires the seller provide a clear title signed over to you and you must prove who you are and pay the temp fee. Some states do make it more complicated than that, but Arizona was easy. When I bought the SE in FLorida, she just let me drive home on her plate - but even then, I got insurance on the car before I left home - thats just how I do things, I want a piece of paper showing I am covered.

 

Thanks I will check

 

You didn't have to pay Georgia Sales Tax to get the Georgia title? In Ohio you do when buying out of state, with several other papers required.

 

Pizzaguy is right. I am an officer in Georgia and you have a 7 day grace period to register a private party sale in the state. If the state you are buying the car in allows you to keep the old tag I would just leave that on for the drive home and have the signed title and bill of sale with you in the car you should be fine. Obviously get your own insurance as you will not be covered in an accident by the old owners policy

 

Thanks. I am searching MO DMV site but I have only found info on if you are a MO resident buying an out of state car.

 

As others have said, most states won't charge you sales tax if you make a cash purchase. Sales tax is typically paid in the state you register the car. One favorable aspect I like about living in SC is there is essentially no Sales Tax on the purchase of a car. There is an IMF (Infrastructure Maintenance Fee) charge, or Sales Tax (depending on what you purchase & I've never paid the SC Sales Tax on any car I bought). Most people pay the IMF charge & it is 5% of the Purchase Price but can not exceed $500! And SC gives you 45 days to register the car from date of purchase. The new SC owner has to pay the County Personal Property Tax on the car before applying for registration at a DMV office. SC DMV won't even talk to you without a copy of that tax receipt. Tax on my 2007 Coupe is less than $50 per year. Keep in mind everything I've stated is for the purchase pf a car that the existing owner has a clean title to - no lien! If a lien is involved, there are service firms that act as 'go-betweens' between old & new owner to insure a secure transaction that protects all parties.

As far as driving the new car bought out of state to your home, as long as you have paperwork that's been properly executed & signed by all parties, you shouldn't have any issues. If stopped by any police, just show the paperwork. And like some have stated, I'd contact your insurance provider and have the new vehicle insured with an effective date matching the date of sale. That way you know you're covered.

 

It amazed me. The lady said, "We didn't tax you when you MOVED here, you are simply moving a car into the state - when and where you bought it is of no consequence to the Spalding County Tax office".

Now, to be honest, when I bought the SE in FLorida, I lived in FOrsyth County and they taxed me at 1/2 the rate of what I'd have paid buying the car IN the State. So you see, it seems there is no "hard and fast rule" as the COUNTY is taxing you, not the STATE (in Georgia, that is.)

 

I agree with you because when I went to the DMV the value of the car was like $6000. So yea the sales tax will be low.

 

Here in Michigan, the dealer collects the sales tax on the price of the vehicle. When I bought the SRT6 and the Maserati out of state (IL and MO) I still had to pay MI sales tax on the dealer price when I registered it. For the few cars I bought from a private seller, you fill in the back of the title with the "price you paid". I would never recommend under reporting that price (wink), but they never asked for a receipt or cancelled check.

Also, when I bought from an out-of-state dealer, I provided the insurance coverage but they slapped on a 30-day paper plate each time. I then registered it when I arrived home.