Texas: issues/fees for buying out of state?

[gongju]

Does anyone know if you live in Texas if it's a big hassle to purchase your car from another state as far as paperwork and additional costs are concerned? Would I have to pay car registration from where I purchased the car as well as Texas registration fees as well? A friend of mine had mentioned something about additional taxes and whatnot associated with this so I was just wondering if anyone had any input. Thanks!

[Pete The Greek]

You will pay taxes, registration, and plate fees in Texas when registering your vehicle.

[gongju]

Right, but do I also have to pay those fees if I purchase out of state, for say California, even if I intend on registering the vehicle in TX?

[foosh]

Originally Posted by gongju

Right, but do I also have to pay those fees if I purchase out of state, for say California, even if I intend on registering the vehicle in TX?

No, you only pay the sales taxes and registration fees to the state who will be issuing title and tags, in your case, Texas. You will pay no more than if you bought it in Texas, except perhaps whatever it costs you to get it home. So many cars are now sold to out-of-state buyers, dealers know what to do.

[gongju]

Sweet, thank you!

[firewired]

I have bought quite a few cars out of state. The above is true, and if you pay any taxes out of state they will subtract that from any taxes due in Texas (Arizona does this for some reason.)

[kevinD]

and you'll have one additional paper to fill out for bringing a car in from out of state. no additional cost though.

[Georgeair]

Depending on the state, you may end up paying sales tax in the state you buy the car, but they should send the taxes to the state you're registering in along with the title application and related info. If they overcharge you, you'll have to get it back from either the dealer (if they don't sent it all) or the state you're in (if they do).

In the end you only pay once, and only in the state you live in.

[JC919]

Originally Posted by gongju

Does anyone know if you live in Texas if it's a big hassle to purchase your car from another state as far as paperwork and additional costs are concerned? Would I have to pay car registration from where I purchased the car as well as Texas registration fees as well? A friend of mine had mentioned something about additional taxes and whatnot associated with this so I was just wondering if anyone had any input. Thanks!

I live in Houston, TX but bought my car used from Sandia BMW in Albuquerque, NM September of last year. In the end I had to pay about $4500 to register and title the car here in Texas, as well as for sales tax on the vehicle (included in that $4500). From my knowledge, you only pay registration in the state of your primary residence.

In the end I got my e92M for thousands less than any available in Houston or Dallas at the time. One has to remember that this was before the bottom fell out of the market so these cars were going for around $70-72K here.

[gongju]

Originally Posted by JC919

I live in Houston, TX but bought my car used from Sandia BMW in Albuquerque, NM September of last year. In the end I had to pay about $4500 to register and title the car here in Texas, as well as for sales tax on the vehicle (included in that $4500). From my knowledge, you only pay registration in the state of your primary residence.

In the end I got my e92M for thousands less than any available in Houston or Dallas at the time. One has to remember that this was before the bottom fell out of the market so these cars were going for around $70-72K here.

But you didn't incur any additional costs as a result of buying out of state though, correct?

[kevinD]

no, as stated shipping is your only additional cost of out of state purchase.

[JC919]

Originally Posted by gongju

But you didn't incur any additional costs as a result of buying out of state though, correct?

That was it, and I drove it back so no shipping.