Buying car out of state and driving it back

[gregoryp]

looking at buying a car out of state and driving it back. Anyone have any recommendations from past experience? I'd like to fly out exchange money and title and hit the road. What do you do about license plates? Any recommendations on giving a private seller a deposit and then how to pay when you get there? Don't really want to lug a big stack of cash through the airport, but for the seller that seems to be the most secure method.

[CountD]

Depending on the state they may have a TRANSIT plate. Which would be good for you.

Also:

1) Insurance - get it insured in your name
2) Don't carry the cash. I can't blame people for not taking cashier's checks anymore. What is also an option that I have done is that once you are there and you CONFIRM the car is legit, has the legit VIN and legit paperwork you can have it wired from your bank to his/her account.
3) Check the tires. How old are they? Get new ones if old or suspect.
4) Check the oil. Maybe get it changed.
5) Always carry a fire extinguisher and basic kit of basic tools and belts
6) With your transit plate/insurance/etc you are good to go and enjoy the ride.
7) It's one of the best ways to buy a car - an adventure for sure.

[Unobtanium-inc]

You can't take more than $10,000 on a plane, ask me how I know.

I was lucky, the time I was detained. About a week before another guy in the business had warned me about carrying cash. He was stopped in the mid-west with a backpack full of money, en route to CHicago to buy a Jag, the cops seized his money, it took 3 months and about a third of it to hire a lawyer to get it back, and needless to say he lost out on the car. He told me to have a detailed itinearary. So when I got grabbed at the airport and taken away, the cops started grilling me, I calmly asked if they wanted to see my trip itinerary. They looked a little surprised but said ok, I should them every stop, what I was buying, who I was buying it from, I even showed them where I was stopping to have lunch with my Dad's twin brother. They said I had all my ducks in a row and we all ran to catch my flight like old friends. One did ask me if I worried about all that cash, this was when my hair was down my back, I hadn't shaved in three days, and it was 8AM before my coffee, I said, "Do I look like I have more than $20 on me?" They laughed and said, no I didn't.

---Adam

[gregoryp]

Thanks for the feedback. Didn't know you couldn't carry cash on a plane, they always ask if you are carrying more than 10k when you come through customs flying internationally. I assumed since they asked it was legal, but want to make sure you weren't up to no good with it. My usual response is " I wish", usually gets a laugh. I'll look into the transfer plate. I talked to my bank, but to wire money I have to go to my branch in that state because I have to sign the wire transfer form, so I'll have see if there is one there. With all the current scams I'm nervous about anything but a face to face deal, but 98% of the cars I've considered buying over the last year have been out of state.

[Arne2]

Indeed, I was looking into this a few months ago, and the plan I came up with was to get a cashiers' check made out to myself, and pre-arrange with a bank local to the seller to be able to cash it with the seller present.

In the end, I decided to pass on that particular car, as the seller could/would not confirm the status of the title prior to my arrival.

I've done this a couple times. Each time, I took a cashier's check, made out to the seller. They didn't have any problem with it. You could also arrange to meet them at a time when their bank is open to verify the validity of the check. I would not take cash.

I always drove home with their plates. Most insurance companies give you 30 days to report a new vehicle, so insurance should not be a problem. Just get a dated bill of sale to establish when you bought the car. Or call your agent before you head home.

I've had some really great times driving a new car home. Last one was from KC to Seattle.

Terry

[word]

Drove my car from Salt Lake City back to Dallas. Flew out with a cashiers check and an emergency tool kit just in case. Used his plates for the drive home but I had the car insured under my name and a bill of sale so I had some proof it wasn't stolen if I got pulled over. First thing I did was check the tires tread and psi then the oil and hit the road. It was a very memorable drive and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Patrick3000]

The last car I bought long distance about two years ago took cash a trailer and my 17 year old son Patrick who is a 6.1 185 lb linebacker. If I were buying today a wire transfer and immediate possession of the car is the way to go. Keep in mind that the police can impound a car that is not registered (i. e. driving on the PO plates).

GLWYS

[Matt Monson]

You can fly with more than $10k. You may just be detained and questioned. But there is nothing illegal about it. I've done it several times in the last 5 years.

[johnvan8]

Yes I remember reading a customs declaration form (international flight) that "Carrying over 10k is legal, but NOT declaring it is illegal"

[maninblack]

The restriction is only on traveling out of the country. There are no laws preventing you from flying anywhere domestically with large amounts of cash. I regularly fly with between $50k and $100k cash in my computer bag (for the exact same reason - buying cars). I have never been asked so much as a single question and TSA is specifically limited to asking questions only if they have other reasons to suspect criminal activity. Even then they'd have to call in other law enforcement as they have no legal authority.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by pmax

Don't be this guy.

There is a LOT more to that story.

[brianvb]

There is no limit to the cash you can carry across the Can/US border . It's clearly signed at the border . You must declare over 10k$ of course.

[COLB]

It may be legal, but you are definitely vulnerable to the judgment of the police/tsa. It doesn't take much questioning to cause you to miss your flight. I like the idea of a cashiers check made to yourself then cashed at a local bank.

[GT3DE]

Just have the money in one of the big national banks like Bank of America that has branches everywhere. Go see the car, then if a deal is happening go to the local branch and get the cash or wire or whatever the seller wants.

It is also best to go with seller to local DMV and transfer the title to your name as a "transit title" and they will give you temporary tags. Works same in USA and Canada.

[RacerX1166]

Definitely investigate the transit tag in both the state in which you'll make the purchase as well as your own. When I lived in PA, I was looking to purchase a car in MA and it wound up being a hassle (until the PPI turned up things the seller didn't want to concede on). Anyway, PA had plates available for out of state folks purchasing a car there but didn't offer tags for residents to use on out of state purchases. MA had no provisions for any sort of temp/transit tags.

[r-mm]

Done it several times. I usually get the cashiers check for a few grand below agreed prince in case of glaringly misrepresented items. Have Always used sellers plates and my own insurance. Bring a fedex envelope and make the address out to seller to let them know they'll get plates back in a hurry. Make sure your aaa gold membership is paid up in case of trouble on the road! Also, if the seller is older or less experienced let them know ahead that today a "cashiers check" looks like a piece of paperfrom a laser printer. Cuz thats what it is.

[aabarth]

My long distance purchase was easy.
Fly in, owner picks me up at the airport with the car. I had previously looked at it and had a PPI done.
We drive to my bank and get a cashiers check.
We walk across the parking lot to his bank where he deposits the check and signs over the title.
I drive home happy !
On insurance, AAA covers you for new purchases. You have a few days to do the paperwork and they send you a bill later.

[touringteg]

California has a one way trip permit. I flew from Canada to San Jose with a draft over 10k. Was questioned by customs but perfectly legal to carry over 10k in currency.

[gregoryp]

Lots of great advice as usual. I spoke to the seller last night and he would prefer a wire transfer. I'll post back if it all works out and how things went.
Thanks.