Hi everyone! Has anyone ever purchased a vehicle out of state? We are looking at a vehicle in PA from a private seller. Just wondering how all of this stuff works and making sure there isn't anything we are forgetting???? I think we have everything covered, but want to make sure we don't miss anything!
From what I understand: We can go pick up the car and either drive with a current plate from another one of our vehicles or we need to get a 30 day tag from that state. Then once we come back have it inspected pay sales tax register it and change title in Ohio. Anything we are missing??? We have been working on it over the past several days and I think I am getting more confused about everything??? Just want to make sure we got it all covered!
Thanks!!

 

Make sure all the numbers match the documents. All the T's are crossed & all the i's are dotted.

A friend bought an Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite from PA & when he went to have it inspected he found out that the engine number was listed as the VIN number on the title. He did eventually get it worked out, but it was a royal pain in the boot. I'm sure you will be fine, just take the extra time to make sure.

 

Another option is to call a dealer near the border and ask them. I am sure Pittsburgh Mini has sold Minis to Ohioans before and from what I hear they are very easy to work with. Lastly if you have the VIN I think you can get an Ohio temp tag before you buy the car.

 

Regulations vary, so I checked with my county's automobile department to be sure of the details before buying in another state.

 

I picked up my Mini from Towson in MD and they covered everything from the temporary plates to ordering Ohio permanent plates for me. The temporaries were valid for 60 days, and the permanents were first sent to them. The dealer then forwarded on the permanents to me. Other than taking a month to get the real plates, the transaction was flawless.

 

I bought my cabrio in Los Angeles and drove it on the seller's plates all the way to Ohio. Along the way, I got pulled over, and I showed the bill of sale to the offier and there was no problem. After I registered the car in Ohio, I sent him back his plates - no problemo.

 

I bought mine from a private party in Texas and drove it back to Ohio. I was concerned about driving such a long distance on either his plates or mine, so based on my research I discovered that what I needed was a 10 day, 1 way trip permit. basically it was a temporary tag from Texas good for 10 days. Otherwise, he just signed over the title, took be to the DMV for the tag, I wired the money, and was off for the 1,000 drive home.

 

OK how did we get this far without asking the obvious question. What are you buying???

 

+1

 

Hopefully we will be bring home an M3 sometime this week.

Thanks for all the help everyone!!! I think we almost have everything ready to go. Now we are deciding on how to get there.....rental car....airplane....my family even offered to drive us....9 hours!!

 

I heart Bugeye Sprites!!! Glad he was able to get it all worked out!

 

Well that is exciting. All M3's are good, but some are better than others we need more details! I hope it is blue, M3's were just ment to be blue.

 

Yep they are sweet little cars. It was just one of those things about the number snafu on it's title. All better now, but at the time my friend was very pissed about it. Here's a quote of what he had to say about it. "!!##*!!**!!!#$$***!!"

Can't wait to see the M3. What flavor M3 is it?

 

I bought my mini from MA (I live in PA) and here's the painful learning process I had to go through (since the dealership sucked).

In order to pick the vehicle up you have to have plates, so if the state you're picking the car up from offers temporary tags, that cuts out a huge hassle. I think PA does (MA does not). Otherwise you need to get the Title but to get the title you have to pay for the car first which can be a gamble if you've never actually physically SEEN the car. Once you get the title you have to take it to your local state and get tags then take them with you to get the car.

Oh and if you fly and they're not going to pick you up at the airport, you might want to check fares for taxi and such with the distance you're traveling. From the airport to the dealer in MA cost us $50 (I could have gotten a limo for an hour for not much more)

 

I agree M3's do look amazing in blue. We actually were looking at a blue one and a white one and decided to go white.

Is that an exact quote! Oh my ....

It is an Alpine white coupe, so I guess it would be vanilla flavored!

Thanks for the tips. It has been a lot of work, but I think we are squared away and ready for pick up. We will be in PA on Thursday to pick up the car!! He is meeting us at the airport, sounds like that will save us some $.

 

Are you going to drive it over to breakfast Saturday?

 

OK OK we are getting closer. What year? I am just trying to make sure I get just the right amount of jealousness. Depending on how old it is you might be getting a slower car than the 335 you guys had

 

Hey Kim you could surprise 6speedJ with a set of bonnet stripes. Counterfiet MINI FTW.

 

We were planning on drving the Mini....but if I can get it counterfieted maybe....

2008 with DCT which is suppose to be faster than the standard manual.

I really like that idea!!! Maybe some sweet CF ones to match the roof!!

 

Jealousness has now been cranked to 11!!!

I am interested to hear your views of the BMW DCT, having tried the VW version I am not a fan but I love the concept. Of course I also hate VW suspension so maybe that bias just caried over to the tranny. And that car looks bonkers hot in white with the carbon roof.

Just an FYI: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/...09-CAR-review/

Talk about a mean looking machine lowered on black wheels is a very nice look for the new M3's.

 

Is it a faux pas to drive the M to the MINI breakfast?? If not we might, I think Jason will be ready to get some miles on it. Like that 9 hours back from Philadelphia tomorrow won't be enough...

 

We'll let you know about the DCT. The 335 was a manual so I guess it will be something a little different.
Thanks for the article link! Jason enjoyed reading it!!!

 

If you bring that new car to breakfast we may have to put Allen into restraints for his own protection.

Have a great trip guys! Take the back roads home.

 

Thanks Chuck! I wish we could take the back roads but unfortunately we have to high tail it back to Ohio in order to go to work on Friday.

 

ummm I can't think of a better car to hightail it in.

I will let you watch Digs for 30 minutes, but only if you let me borrow the M3 for the same amount of time. I love Tom Sawyering people