Buying a car...

[Karaoke 0]

Hi, I have an IR1 visa, waiting for my green card, got SSN, and got temporary Driving License. Can I already buy a car or do I have to wait for final driving license? Can I put the title under both me and my USC spouse, or do I have to put it only in the name of ONE person?

Another question: I want to buy from a private individual. Will I have to pay sales tax to anyone or declare anywhere how much I paid for it?

What do I have to do exactly to buy it? Do I get the present owner's title in my physical possession? what if the car had more than ONE owners? I think the present owner only has his own title.

Please help!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi, I have an IR1 visa, waiting for my green card, got SSN, and got temporary Driving License. Can I already buy a car or do I have to wait for final driving license? Can I put the title under both me and my USC spouse, or do I have to put it only in the name of ONE person?

Another question: I want to buy from a private individual. Will I have to pay sales tax to anyone or declare anywhere how much I paid for it?

What do I have to do exactly to buy it? Do I get the present owner's title in my physical possession? what if the car had more than ONE owners? I think the present owner only has his own title.

Please help!

That will depend on your state. Driving and car registration and car sales tax is a state regulation.

Where I live you get the owner to sign the back of his car title assigning it to you. You take that car title to the tax office for you county of residence. They give you a form to fill out stating what you paid. They charge state sales tax on the car and a fee to register it in your name. You can tell them any price you paid if you want to lower it a bit (where I live) but if it's some ridiculously low price they have a general guideline price they will look up. You will get a new title in your name in the mail in a few weeks. In my state we also can register in two names and must show proof of insurance in order to be able to register it.

Every state can have their own requirements.

[Karaoke 0]

thanks, found a lot of useful info here: http://www.dmv.org/

One thing I am still not clear about. I guess you have to get insurance before you drive the car... but how can I get it if I haven't bought the car yet? Can you insure the car even if you haven't yet registered it as your own?

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Hi, I have an IR1 visa, waiting for my green card, got SSN, and got temporary Driving License. Can I already buy a car or do I have to wait for final driving license? Can I put the title under both me and my USC spouse, or do I have to put it only in the name of ONE person?

Another question: I want to buy from a private individual. Will I have to pay sales tax to anyone or declare anywhere how much I paid for it?

What do I have to do exactly to buy it? Do I get the present owner's title in my physical possession? what if the car had more than ONE owners? I think the present owner only has his own title.

Please help!

There should only be one title and it must be titled to the seller. If multiple titles appear or the title does not have the seller's name on it or the title disappears or is mutilated, run.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

thanks, found a lot of useful info here: http://www.dmv.org/

One thing I am still not clear about. I guess you have to get insurance before you drive the car... but how can I get it if I haven't bought the car yet? Can you insure the car even if you haven't yet registered it as your own?

Well insurance is state regulated as well. We've had long discussions here before about how some are charged enormous prices because they have no US driving experience. Perhaps they are also young drivers. Many others say no significant cost to add their foreign fiance. So you probably should work out coverage before buying a car...basically whether you can get covered immediately and before you get a permanent US driver's license. I think these are the basic questions you need to answer and the order of doing things.

1. What does it take to get a driver's license in my state?

2. Which insurance company in my state will give me coverage at what rate with what license? Pick a local agent.

3. How do I register a vehicle and what do I need to show...driver's license? proof of insurance? sales receipt?

4. Pick out the car and make a deal. Tell them you must arrange insurance before closing the sale. Get VIN #.

5. Call insurance company with details..make, model, VIN#... and get it covered.

6. Pay for the car.

7. Go apply for car title in your name.

DMV.org - -You've got to wonder if they diligently update their website for every state in a timely manner. You should verify any information with the actual state agency after getting an idea of the rules on dmv.org. Google for "driver's license your state" and find a website actually for the state government. States will use different terms. Dept of Motor Vehicles may not exist everywhere. For example, in Texas you get a driver's license from the Dept of Public Safety and you register a car through the Dept of Transportation.

Edited February 27, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[baron555 934]

but how can I get it if I haven't bought the car yet?

Can you insure the car even if you haven't yet registered it as your own?

You need to arrange for the insurance prior to final sale and receipt of the car. You know the make, model and year of the vehicle. Shop around and select the insurance company. You just tell them that you will be buying it. When you do take receipt call them immediately and they will want the VIN number off the vehicle and then they will work up the final price and send you a copy of the insurance statement, insurance cards to carry with you to show to the police (if you have to) that you do have insurance, and they will send you the first payment bill.

Doing it this way allows you to have insurance as soon as you start driving it from the sellers place.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

but how can I get it if I haven't bought the car yet?

Can you insure the car even if you haven't yet registered it as your own?

You need to arrange for the insurance prior to final sale and receipt of the car. You know the make, model and year of the vehicle. Shop around and select the insurance company. You just tell them that you will be buying it. When you do take receipt call them immediately and they will want the VIN number off the vehicle and then they will work up the final price and send you a copy of the insurance statement, insurance cards to carry with you to show to the police (if you have to) that you do have insurance, and they will send you the first payment bill.

Doing it this way allows you to have insurance as soon as you start driving it from the sellers place.

Hell, I've called and gotten insurance from the seller's driveway with insurance.com. That way you can still compare rates even at the very last second. I just took the 1-800 number with me.

[Jasman0717 9]

I think any car place would be more than happy to sell you a car no matter what.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Yes, my point was find out what company you want to insure with and give them make/model of what you think you are going to buy before you close the sale. That way you don't figure out after the fact that you can't afford the insurance or you can't get covered with a temp license.

If you already have insurance on a car and buy a new one, then you have a grace period where they automatically cover the new one whether you've called them or not. But if you have no insurance, then you want to make sure you can get it, given your immigrant and temp license status.

[aidan80 9]

You might want to have a look at this website. It's a government website that will let you check the VIN on the car same as car fax without costing $30!.. I think I paid $2 or $3 to check out my car.. with one previous owner. It'll help if you've a few cars in mind you want to check... if your hunting around a lot of used car places or from private parties then car fax might be a better deal.

Good luck, it's an insane.. stressful mad thing buying a car!

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth wants me to buy her a car but she doesn't want a used one, that would be below her

Karaoke, what a name Claudeth loves to sing

[aidan80 9]

Claudeth wants me to buy her a car but she doesn't want a used one, that would be below her

Karaoke, what a name Claudeth loves to sing

I was riding a bike (the kind without an engine) to work in Florida when the weather channel was saying... 95 feels like 105 and I'm originally from Ireland. I sweat just thinking about going outside in the summer over here! We saved up our money, I kept on paddling for a few more months and we bought a very decent used car. A used 98 Mercury Tracer, ran fine very clean only a few minor issues but otherwise in very good shape. We paid inc taxes, title, tag.. etc about $2,850 for it from a private dealer and no car payment

[Karaoke 0]

Ouch!! Too late! I already paid for Autocheck!!!!

You might want to have a look at this website. It's a government website that will let you check the VIN on the car same as car fax without costing $30!.. I think I paid $2 or $3 to check out my car.. with one previous owner. It'll help if you've a few cars in mind you want to check... if your hunting around a lot of used car places or from private parties then car fax might be a better deal.

Good luck, it's an insane.. stressful mad thing buying a car!

[Karaoke 0]

Did you get a good deal with that website even if you are a foreigner's driver?

Would it help to add my spouse (US citizen with 15y DL, but never been insured in US...) to the contract? Would it be detrimental?

I'm quite worried about what crazy price they will quote!!

Any advice on any insurance company that doesn't rip you off (yeah right!!) especially if you are a "new" driver in this country???

but how can I get it if I haven't bought the car yet?

Can you insure the car even if you haven't yet registered it as your own?

You need to arrange for the insurance prior to final sale and receipt of the car. You know the make, model and year of the vehicle. Shop around and select the insurance company. You just tell them that you will be buying it. When you do take receipt call them immediately and they will want the VIN number off the vehicle and then they will work up the final price and send you a copy of the insurance statement, insurance cards to carry with you to show to the police (if you have to) that you do have insurance, and they will send you the first payment bill.

Doing it this way allows you to have insurance as soon as you start driving it from the sellers place.

Hell, I've called and gotten insurance from the seller's driveway with insurance.com. That way you can still compare rates even at the very last second. I just took the 1-800 number with me.

[Jasman0717 9]

I was just watching a Cal Worthington commerical. I can't believe he is still alive and kicking