It can feel daunting to buy a vehicle remotely. People can think of all sorts of reasons why it’s a bad idea:
- What if the car is a lemon?
- What if it is in worse condition than advertised?
- How can I pay for the car if I’m far away?
- How will this car get to me?
Each of these points is easily solved, and you can often get a much better deal with out-of-state classic vehicle purchases. Let’s get to the details.
Can I get a better price by buying out-of-state?
Can I Get a Better Price by Buying Out-of-State?
Here are some factors that you might be able to take advantage of when purchasing a classic car out-of-state.
1. Population density. Classic car prices are often much lower in bigger cities like Los Angeles and New York. There are more collectors, which means more awesome classic cars.
2. Pure chance. Someone may just happen to be selling your dream car for an insane value, four states away. You don’t know why; nor do you care. You just want to jump on the deal before it’s gone.
What is the best place to buy a classic car?
Where is the Best Place to Buy a Classic Car?
1. Buy a classic from a classic car dealer.
2. Buy a classic vehicle from a private seller.
3. Buy from a website such as Cars and Bids or Hemmings.
4. Buy on PrivateAuto with our easy self-serve technology
You’re better off buying from a private seller. Skip the dealers (and their markups and fees) and go to the source.
Many classic car sellers choose to sell their classic car via auction format. That’s because it’s difficult for a seller to establish how much their car is worth via standard methods like a vehicle value calculator or Kelley Blue Book value. By choosing to sell via auction, sellers can see how much buyers are willing to pay.
As a buyer, you’ll pay hefty fees on other auction websites, often as much as 5% of the vehicle’s purchase price. On PrivateAuto, you’ll pay a $150 closing fee, and that’s it.
The advantages of PrivateAuto go far beyond lower prices. Other car-buying websites let you find a car and leave you to navigate the cumbersome purchase process on your own. PrivateAuto gives you a complete self-serve technology stack to handle every part of the transaction.
From instant payments to secure communications, we give you the power to drive the deal on your terms. That’s why we’re the best place to buy a used classic car online.
If you find your dream car on another website, that’s fine, too. Our DealNow feature allows you to start a deal anywhere and finish it on PrivateAuto. Just create your own personal dealroom, invite the seller, get the deal done, and send payment. It’s so easy, you’ll never want to buy a classic car any other way.
Shop classic cars for sale by owner to start your journey.
How can I buy a classic car out-of-state?
How to Buy a Classic Car Out-of-State
When buying out-of-state, you don’t even need to travel to the current owner’s location. Whether you’re buying a classic luxury car or a one-of-a-kind Porsche 911, purchase your next car out-of-state from the comfort of your home with these steps.
1. Find your dream classic car and place your bid.
2. Have your funds ready (if you need to apply for financing, you can do so right in the PrivateAuto app; when approved, your profile will show “Verified Funds” so that the seller knows you mean business).
3. Get a vehicle history report (included in the seller’s PrivateAuto listing if they’ve opted for Premium).
4. Arrange a trusted classic car inspector to act as your agent and schedule a meeting between the inspector and seller. PrivateAuto has integrated Lemon Squad into our tech stack, so you can order a vehicle inspection as a step within your PrivateAuto dealflow.
5. Order car transport. PrivateAuto has integrated with RunBuggy, so you can schedule secure vehicle shipping from within the PrivateAuto app as part of your transaction flow.
6. The inspector will perform a pre-purchase inspection and test drive the car on your behalf.
7. After the vehicle inspection turns up no issues, you and the seller sign the bill of sale in the PrivateAuto app.
8. Pay for the car. Transfer funds to the seller instantaneously via PrivateAuto Pay (works any time of day, any day of the week).
9. The seller signs the vehicle title over to you and hands it to the inspector, who will send it to you by certified mail.
10. The inspector ensures the car is loaded onto transport and shipped off to you.
11. You insure the vehicle. You can compare policies and get car insurance from your PrivateAuto dashboard, thanks to our Insurify integration. Or, you can call your insurance company and have them add the car to your existing policy.
12. You receive your car and finish the title transfer at your state’s DMV or equivalent organization. At the same time, you’ll register it in your name, get new license plates, and pay any applicable car sales tax.
13. Enjoy your classic car!
PrivateAuto brings unprecedented ease, security, and convenience to the private purchase experience, especially with out-of-state vehicles.
Is it smart to buy a classic car without seeing it?
How to pay for a classic car out-of-state?
Understand your state’s requirements
Do I need an escrow service?
Do I Need an Escrow Service?
When you use PrivateAuto, we give you escrow-like control and protection. Unlike an escrow service, PrivateAuto Pay is free and instantaneous.
- No more waiting for “regular business hours.”
- No more forking over hundreds or thousands in escrow fees.
- No more coordinating between you, the seller, and the escrow agent.
With PrivateAuto Pay, you act as your own escrow agent. Here’s how PrivateAuto Pay protects you in a PrivateAuto auction:
1. You and the seller each link your banking institution to their PrivateAuto Pay account. You fund your PrivateAuto Pay account and the funds are verified to the seller.
2. You win the auction and the PrivateAuto app takes you and the seller through a series of confirmations and asks each to sign the official bill of sale electronically.
3. The PrivateAuto app confirms to each party that the other party has signed the bill of sale. At this point, you are safe to transfer the money since the seller is bound by a legal agreement to deliver the vehicle.
4. The app prompts you to release funds and you initiate the payment.
5. The seller instantly gets confirmation that funds have appeared in their PrivateAuto Pay account. This works on nights, weekends, holidays, or anytime.
6. The seller signs over the title.
No escrow fees, no hassle, and no wasted time. It’s the ultimate way to handle a private sale.
What should I ask the seller?
How to ship the classic car to me?
How to stay safe when buying out-of-state?
Title and Registration
The previous owner will have signed the title over to you when you purchased the car. Now you need to finalize the title transfer with your state. At the same time you do so, you will register the car in your name.
Here are some of the most commonly required documents that a state’s DMV will require:
- A completed vehicle title transfer and registration application form
- Proof of auto insurance
- Proof of identity (driver’s license or government-issued ID card)
- Bill of sale—done through the PrivateAuto mobile app with e-signatures
- The original title (or a duplicate title, if the original one had gotten lost)
- An odometer disclosure statement—required by some states
- A highway safety inspection—required by some states
- Payment for your state’s car sales tax, if applicable
Paperwork requirements will vary from state to state, but you should expect to bring the following documents:
1. Valid driver’s license
2. Proof of auto insurance
3. A bill of sale
4. Completed certificate of title
5. Emissions test certificates
6. A completed registration form
In most states, you will have 30 days to register the car.
While you are registering your vehicle, you will also apply for new license plates.
Looking to sell your car? Create a listing on PrivateAuto and connect with interested buyers today!
Emissions Testing
How to Stay Safe When Buying a Car Out-of-State
1. Don’t exchange personal contact info with strangers. PrivateAuto lets you message within our app so your details stay private.
2. Don’t release funds to the seller until the following occurs:
a. The inspector confirms the condition of the car is as expected
b. The inspector confirms the odometer reading
c. The seller signs the bill of sale in the PrivateAuto app
3. Deal with trustworthy vehicle inspectors only.
4. Use PrivateAuto Pay to transfer funds so your banking info stays safe
Follow these guidelines, and your out-of-state car buying experience should be a good one.
How Much Does Car Transportation Cost?
Rates are based on the following factors:
1. The distance between the pickup location and the delivery location
2. Vehicle type: larger vehicles usually cost more to transport
3. Whether the transport is land-only or across the ocean (for example, to Hawaii)
4. Shipping method (open-air carrier vs enclosed transport type)
5. Whether you need the shipment expedited
6. Your pickup and drop-off dates—certain dates may incur extra cost
7. The specific details of your vehicle, such as dimensions, weight, and other criteria
8. Functionality: inoperable vehicles cost more to ship
Average costs of open car shipping tend to be in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. To know how much your car will cost to ship, get a free car shipping quote from RunBuggy today!
Classic Car FAQ
Are classic cars good for daily driving?
Classic cars can be suitable for daily driving, but it depends on the specific car and its condition. Some classic cars, such as the Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Mustang, are known for their durability and can be driven daily with proper care.
Are online car auctions safe?
PrivateAuto has created an online auction service that is safe, secure, and convenient. We verify the identity of buyers to weed out fraudsters. We verify funds so that your winning bid isn’t a tire-kicker. And we allow you to get paid securely via PrivateAuto Pay.
Do classic cars use more fuel?
Classic cars can use more fuel than modern vehicles due to their older technology and less advanced engine designs. Some classic cars are more fuel-efficient than others like the Citroën 2CV, Fiat Nuova 500, and Austin-Healey Sprite.
What is the best classic car to invest in?
The Ferrari 250 GTO is considered one of the best classics for investment, with multi-million dollar auction sales and continual price appreciation. But the Mercedes-Benz 190 and Toyota MR2 Mk1 are a good investments as well.
What is the rarest classic car?
The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S NART Spider is one of the rarest, with only 10 examples produced. It has sold for over $25 million at auction.
How to research classic car pricing?
Figuring out what a classic car is worth takes some digging—you can’t just pop the vehicle identification number into our value calculator or the Kelley Blue Book like a regular car! But getting to the bottom of fair pricing is doable with the right research.
First up, get super detailed on exactly what make, model, and year you’re dealing with. A 1969 Mustang is different than a 1970, and a base model Coupe varies big time from a Boss 302.
Then dig into recent sales listings on all auction websites—this gives you the ballpark range.
Better yet, auction your car yourself with our self-serve, low-cost auction technology—and find out what the market is willing to pay.
How much does enclosed car transport cost?
Enclosed car transport costs more than open transport. According to Motor1, expect to pay around $1 per mile for vehicles shipped within the continental US—roughly double what open transport averages.
How do I know if a classic car will meet emissions standards?
Most classic cars do not need to pass emissions testing, as vehicles older than 1975 are exempt under the Clean Air Act in the United States.
If I buy a car in another state, where do I pay sales taxes?
When purchasing a vehicle in another state, you will pay the sales tax to your home state at your state’s rate.
How to report an out-of-state vehicle purchase?
When you register your new-to-you car in your home state, you will need to provide the out-of-state title and seller’s bill of sale as documentation. Some states also require a vehicle identification number (VIN) inspection to verify the car’s identity before registration.
Be prepared to pay the applicable registration fee, license plate fee, and sales tax. The full registration and titling process can take several weeks. Some states issue temporary license plates while the paperwork is being processed.
Reach out to your local DMV for specific regulatory and documentation requirements. Follow the proper procedure to avoid penalties and ensure your out-of-state purchase is correctly taxed and titled.If you want to sell your classic car, you can get way more for it by going directly to a private buyer than you could with a dealer trade-in.
Classic car dealers have to buy low so they can mark your car up and make a profit. When you sell directly to the end user, you capture that extra profit.
PrivateAuto gives you dealer-like convenience in the palm of your hand, so you can sell your classic on your terms.
– Never give out your contact info
– Steer clear of car scams with identity verification
– Act as your own escrow service with our escrow-like safeguards
– Get paid instantly, up to $1M, with no transfer fees
Even better, you can list your car on other marketplaces. If you find a buyer, you can use our DealNow feature to invite the buyer to a fast-tracked dealflow that gives you all the advantages of our transactional infrastructure.
Create your listing on PrivateAuto now and see how easy selling your classic can be.
Are there penalties for not reporting out-of-state purchases?
You should always report your out-of-state purchase as such. If the DMV finds an unreported out-of-state vehicle through audits or VIN checks, consequences can include:
– Fines from $500 to over $1,000 depending on the state
– Suspension or revocation of driver’s license
– Possible criminal charges for tax evasion
– Seizure or impoundment of the illegally registered vehicle
Save yourself the trouble. Do it right from the start by fully reporting your out-of-state purchase when registering the vehicle. Paying applicable taxes is a small burden compared to large fines and legal issues.
What should I ask a seller when buying a car out-of-state?
Age is what makes a classic car a classic. Typically, a car needs to be more than twenty years old to gain “classic” status. Other factors that make a car a classic include design significance, unique engineering, limited production, and collectibility.
What makes a car a classic?
If you want to sell your classic car, you can get way more for it by going directly to a private buyer than you could with a dealer trade-in.
Classic car dealers have to buy low so they can mark your car up and make a profit. When you sell directly to the end user, you capture that extra profit.
PrivateAuto gives you dealer-like convenience in the palm of your hand, so you can sell your classic on your terms.
– Never give out your contact info
– Steer clear of car scams with identity verification
– Act as your own escrow service with our escrow-like safeguards
– Get paid instantly, up to $1M, with no transfer fees
Even better, you can list your car on other marketplaces. If you find a buyer, you can use our DealNow feature to invite the buyer to a fast-tracked dealflow that gives you all the advantages of our transactional infrastructure.
Create your listing on PrivateAuto now and see how easy selling your classic can be.
What is a cheap classic car?
Affordable classics can include the Mustang, Camaro, Charger, Corvette, BMW 2002, MG, Triumph, and older classic trucks.
What are the four types of classic cars?
There are four main categories of classic cars:
1. Antique cars: typically manufactured before 1918 such as the 1908 Ford Model T and 1913 Duesenberg Model J.
2. Vintage vehicles: produced between 1919 and 1930 like the 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
3. Classic cars: older than 25 years as the famous Chevrolet Corvette, 1989 Mercedes-Benz, and the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet.
4. Classic sports and muscle cars: known for their performance and design. Examples: 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, 1970 Dodge Challenger, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro, or Porchse 911.
Do classic cars retain value?
Unlike standard vehicles that depreciate steadily, well-maintained classic cars can retain or even gain value as they age.
Each year makes them rarer, especially for classics in original condition or restored to their former glory.
What are the pros and cons of buying a classic vehicle?
Just like any vehicle out there, purchasing a classic car comes with its own set of pros and cons.
Pros
Classic car enthusiasts like to own these vehicles for the following reasons.
1. Value
2. Uniqueness
3. Nostalgia
4. Simple mechanics
5. Low insurance costs
Cons
A classic car comes with the following disadvantages.
1. Unreliability
2. Fuel efficiency
3. Expensive part
4. Rust and corrosion
5. Lack of safety features
6. Comfort and convenience
7. Insurance limitations