Buying a car as a non-resident

"Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore" (reivax-rotciv)
11/20/2019 at 09:08 • Filed to: None

Hi Oppo.

ASKING FOR A FRIEND:

If someone that lives in the UK wants to buy a car privately in the US, how would that work?

It seems that the buyer would need a title in his name to export the car (maybe I’m wrong here).

But to title the car, the buyer would need an address in the US (which is not possible).

How would that work? I guess I did not understoond the buying/selling process in the USA...

Thanks for thehelp

DISCUSSION (11)

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 09:36

I’m pretty sure you do not need an address to title a vehicle. You’d go to a local DMV with the signed over title and title it in your name but not register it (the registration part I think you do need an address) and then ship it home.

If you plan on driving it while here you’d need a temporary registration, which I couldn’t tell you what’s needed for that.

All of this changes state to state as well.

Your best bet is to call a local DMV in the state you plan on buying a car from and ask.

Thomas Donohue > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 09:40

I assume you are buying a car here that is not sold in the UK? And the friend is not located (even temporarily) in the US? You probably have bigger import issues than just buying the car.

I believe in some states y ou can buy and title a car with a foreign address, you just can’t register it unless you have a US address and plan to insure/drive it here.

Then again, I don’t really know.

https://www.cfrrinkens.com/international-car-shipping/import-car-from-usa-to-uk/

Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore > Thomas Donohue
11/20/2019 at 09:46

The ideia is that he will go to the USA, buy the car, drive/tow it to the port and export it.

The UK part of registration etc is sorted, we’re just trying to understand the US bit.

Thomas Donohue > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 09:52

As long as you have the original title, a bill of sale (proving you bought it), and some ID/passport I’d think you should be able to ship it out.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 10:00

It takes about five minutes to incorporate an LLC in some states and you can use a PO box as an address.

Wacko > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 10:03

I have to ask what car is sold in the US that someone not from the US would want.?

nermal > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 10:13

Is this a new car or a used car?

Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore > Wacko
11/20/2019 at 10:35

Wow, most of them. Co mpletely different markets. If you go for Mustangs here, in example, there isn’t a lot of options. Camaro would be the same. IF you think about Crown Victoria, Caprice, and any 60s 70s cars,the options in UK are very limited!

Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore > nermal
11/20/2019 at 10:36

Used

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Oppenheimer - not missing my shitboxes anymore
11/20/2019 at 10:46

Depends on the state, call them to find out before they head out, even local and different title clerks in the same area can vary widely in what they want to see .

In my experience, they, or an agent acting on their behalf will need to go with the current owner to DMV, county clerk, etc or whoever handles titles to have it deregistered and transferred out of their name, inspected by sheriff to verify it is not stolen, leins, etc before it can be shipped out. Do not expect to able to drive the car to a port, it will not be titled or registered at that point.

Sold a car to Sweden, it was a headache. Not a migraine, but definitely not something I would attempt again without an agent that specializes in that sort of thing .

ranwhenparked > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
11/20/2019 at 10:48

Well, I know you can get temporary tags in one state with an out of state address, wouldn't expect that would work any differently with a foreign address.