Make the most of your shopping experience by creating
an account. You can:

Access your saved cars on any device.
Receive Price Alert emails when price changes,
new offers become available or a vehicle is sold.
Close
My Garage
Not registered? click here

What You Need To Know When Buying A Car Out-Of-State

Buying a vehicle out-of-state involves a little more work and steps than purchasing from your local dealer. While you may be able to find a better deal or a very specific vehicle that isn’t available locally, you’ll want to do extensive planning before you take the plunge.

Aston Martin | Akron, OH

One of the first things you’ll want to do, according to Car and Driver, is get a vehicle history report. This can be easily requested from the dealership or may even be readily available on the dealer’s website similar to our vehicles here at Perfect Auto Collection. The vehicle history report will help you identify any red flags that may be present with the vehicle. The report will also aid in your negotiations to make sure that you get a fair deal. The vehicle history report can tell you if there are liens on the title that will need to be satisfied before you bring it home. Otherwise, you may be legally responsible for them.

Regardless of how good the vehicle history report may look; we advise you to get a PPI or Pre-Purchase Inspection. This is the second step on our list. The PPI will identify any issues that may have not shown up in the history report. You’ll want to use a local mechanic that is independent of the dealership to ensure that you get an unbiased report. If possible, you’ll also want to make sure that the vehicle passes your state’s emissions test. Your state’s department of motor vehicles can provide information regarding the required inspections tests for your vehicle. 

Next is sales tax. The state you will pay sales tax to depends on whether you reside in a reciprocal or non-reciprocal state. For instance, if you live in Pennsylvania and purchase a vehicle from Perfect Auto Collection here in Akron, Ohio, you will pay Pennsylvania the sales tax on your vehicle. However, if you live in one of the 7 reciprocal states (Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, or South Carolina) and purchase from
us, you’ll pay sales tax to Ohio (the state you purchased in). Most of the time, you can work the sales tax into your deal vs paying it outright if you wish. Your local department of motor vehicles or your tax professional can also provide you with more information on this.

Like we mentioned on our page What To Bring When Purchasing A Vehicle, you’ll need proof of insurance. This is no different when buying a car out-of-state. Depending on your current policy, you may have a provision that covers new vehicle purchases for a certain amount of time before you officially add it to your policy. However, without this, you’ll need to add the new vehicle to your policy right away. Also mentioned on our page, New vs Pre-Owned: Which One Is Right For You?, if you finance your purchase, your lender may have specific insurance requirements for the new vehicle. You’ll want to make sure that your policy meets those requirements so that your loan can be funded. Since you’re purchasing in a different state, it’s important to review your policy and make sure that it meets your state’s insurance laws.

Want more information? Contact our team! At Perfect Auto Collection, 80% of our business is done with out-of-state customers, so we have a lot of experience and can make sure that you go through all of the proper steps. We’re always happy to help whether you buy from us or not.

What people say about us

One of the BEST experiences I’ve had buying a car online. Corey was phenomenal in keeping me updated with the car, its feature and transporting the... vehicle since I was buying from out of state. He hooked it up with warranty packages, extra key, enclosed transportation. I purchased my 2021 Mercedes S580 from perfect auto and I will be buying a lot more cars from this dealership. Shipping was fast and communication was on point. A+ I’ll be returning soonread more
Amazing place! I searched for six months looking for that perfect Mercedes SL550. The condition of this car was so nice it was crazy! I made the... deal over the phone and then drove from Pittsburgh to Akron to see it. Within 5 minutes I knew it was a done deal as in person it was NICER than online! They sent me on my way with a paint protection package, a full tank plus snacks!!! Top flight operation with impeccable cars! Highly recommend.read more
Awesome Collection of Vehicles
Perfect Auto Collection is different. I’ve bought my fair share of cars from dealers in IL, IN, MI, OH, and all over the Midwest. Most are the same.... Predictably doing everything they can to make car buying difficult. The team at Perfect Auto Collection is different. They made our car buying experience enjoyable, easy, and tailored to our needs. I would buy from them again and again and I didn’t even mention the amazing collection they curate for their buyers.read more
Beautiful Display of awesome automotives, Very nice people to deal with.
Awesome. If you guys are in the area check it out
very accommodating dealer ship
Perfect Auto Collection was a great find. I was in the market for a gently used luxury sedan with as much horsepower as possible. My searches... brought me to Perfect Auto Collection. When I visited their facility, I was impressed by the selection and the personnel. They had many awesome vehicles that fit what I was looking for, and I did end up purchasing one. The product specialist, Hayk, was a pleasure to work with, very responsive and knowledgeable, and very professional. Also, the sales manager and finance professionals were top notch. I've already been telling friends and family about this jewel of a collection on Tallmadge Ave., and I would recommend them to anyone looking for amazing and well-priced options.read more
I purchased a vehicle a few years back and recently left a review regarding issues I was having with it. Aram reached out same day and resolved my... issue within 24 hours. Ilona was also very nice throughout the process. I was very satisfied with how they handled things and I appreciate them taking the time to help and not brushing me off, especially since I bought the car so long ago.read more
js_loader