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Hello i think of buying a car for first time can someone walk me trough this process, are laws same for each state should i pay some tax when buying/selling it, should i change registration of vehicle and how i do it, how much technical inspection cost, what else should i know?
When you buy a car in the US, you typically just need to show up with money and the dealership will handle the tax, tags, registration (not typically needed on new cars) and license, and can handle financing if you finance through the company. If you buy out of state, things can get more complicated, and you may need to go to the DMV to register the car after you get the title or sales title.
To buy a car in the US, start at New Car Prices, Used Car Pricing, Car Reviews by Edmunds Car Buying Guide and research the vehicle. You will get a true market value there that will show you what others are paying for the car. Once you know what the car's invoice price is (what the dealer pays), plus any special rebates of cash back, or marketing allowances, you will have an idea of what price you can get for the car. Subtract any rebates, cash back, marketing allowances from invoice to know what dealers pay. MSRP is a meaningless number unless you don't mind overpaying for a vehicle.
Contact at least 4 dealerships and ask for the Internet sales manager. Explain to them that you are looking for x car, with x option, x color, etc, are calling multiple dealers, and ask for their best price. Ask for the price plus tax, titls, and license if you can - this is known as the "out the door" price - what you will end up paying in total. Once you get everyone's best price, call dealerships with higher prices and tell them you have a lower offer from another dealership. Call around to each dealership until you get your lowest price. Agree to it via fax or email, and then set foot on a dealership lot with a copy of that fax or email. The only other time you should step on a lot is to test drive a vehicle, and never test drive and buy the same day.
Once you have a price, stick with it. Once you get past the sales manager with the price, you'll have to face the finance person. They will try and sell you services, warranties, etc - 99% of the time its not worth it. Don't be afraid to walk out of a dealership. They will also try and play games with monthly payments if you finance - always stick with the price of the vehicle you originally agreed with - this is what you'll pay in the end.
Umm my budget is just around 2000$ i am not looking for new car and no intention to buy at dealership since prices usually higher than when buying from e.g. newspaper where private people sell their cars.
Still interested what taxes i should pay etc.
P.S.
I heard that there is some law that forbids people selling cars to each other its something like you can only sell it to dealer, is that true?
What state are you going to be doing the buying in? For $2000 you would generally be paying cash for an older car, in general you'll just get the signed-over title and a bill of sale, in general, sales tax will be due and you'll have to pay it before you get your first registration.
You *can* get a decent car for $2000, but you will have to look around. Now if you are in the rust belt, it will be a lot harder. Look in Consumer Reports, check a car issue (April I think) from a few years ago, look at the cheaper recommended used car models.
Assuming you are not in rust country, older Toyotas, Hondas, VW's of the 1980's anyway, older pickups both imported and domestic, air-cooled VW bugs, 1960's-1970's Detroit iron, there are a lot of good old rigs out there. There is also a lot of just damn junk out there.
Avoid cars that have been owned by kids, who have put "big" radios in and then clumsily removed them, damaging the wiring harness in the process, and/or have hung rediculous wings, lowering springs, etc. and have in general beat hell out of and not taken care of maintenance.
You are probably not going to be getting a car that has all it's maintenance up-to-date for $2K. Be prepared to spend a little more on the car when you get it. Don't be put off by worn tires, bad muffler, etc - these are wear parts and you'll be changing them during a few years of ownership anyway. Pay attention to getting a reasonably rust-free body that has not been in a serious crash, a car that has not been flooded (look out for ex-Gulf Coast cars) and a reasonably sound engine. Even an engine that's smoking a little can still have plenty of life in it if you operate it sensibly, don't ask too much from it.
To the best of my knowledge, it's legal to sell a car person-to-person in all 50 states.
Umm my budget is just around 2000$ i am not looking for new car and no intention to buy at dealership since prices usually higher than when buying from e.g. newspaper where private people sell their cars.
Still interested what taxes i should pay etc.
P.S.
I heard that there is some law that forbids people selling cars to each other its something like you can only sell it to dealer, is that true?
You are VERY wise to rule out purchasing from a dealer! Private sellers are the way to go.
Most States have a sales tax to be paid when titling/registering a car, whether purchased new or used. The tax rate will vary however. Here in Virginia it is 3%...so you would pay $60 on a $2000 car.
Most States' Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMV) have very good websites...go there and you'll probably learn everything you need to know.
Motor Vehicle regulations vary so much from State to State, you really have to check the particular State you're in.
Going to buy car in Alabama, btw whats the signed-over title?
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
Assuming you are not in rust country, older Toyotas, Hondas, VW's of the 1980's anyway, older pickups both imported and domestic, air-cooled VW bugs, 1960's-1970's Detroit iron, there are a lot of good old rigs out there. There is also a lot of just damn junk out there.
What you mean by "rust country".... you really think i going to buy 1980 car for that money?! I looking for something at least of year 1990+, plus i heard its hard to find spare parts for older japanese cars.
By rust country I mean the Northeast/Midwest where you won't find any older cars.
Around here you can find older rigs in good shape. Alabama too. Actually Alabama is one of the easier states to buy a car in, from a paperwork point of view.
Not all car models got uniformly better every model year. Better a 1982 VW product in good shape than many/most GM cars of the 1990s with 3.4 L V-6 (don't quote me on which V-6 it is, but there is at least one that blows head gaskets) Or certain Ford Taurus models, with similar engine issues and transmission issues.
But you suit yourself, if you want to buy the newest thing you can find within your budget, without paying attention to which makes/models are properly engineered and will hold up, are easy to work on, go ahead, be my guest. You'll find these deals at small independent used car lots that advertise as "walking man's friend" and "buy here, pay here".
By rust country I mean the Northeast/Midwest where you won't find any older cars.
Whats the reason for this?
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
Not all car models got uniformly better every model year. Better a 1982 VW product in good shape than many/most GM cars of the 1990s with 3.4 L V-6 (don't quote me on which V-6 it is, but there is at least one that blows head gaskets) Or certain Ford Taurus models, with similar engine issues and transmission issues.
I believe used parts for 90-95 fords are cheap for example new engine or gearbox, and easier to find than for 80-89 models. Btw you sure you not joking this old cars (unless you speaking of some sport car because i looking for mainstream with not more than 2.0l engine), they are basically waiting to break you could replace half of car to and it will still not be reliable (in terms of breaking) and its hard to find older than 90 without rust on the body especially on archs, doors, sills etc... and find one in good condition is much much harder, am i wrong? Btw they look old and ugly too, saloon is all old and scratched and it looks like your back in 70's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
But you suit yourself, if you want to buy the newest thing you can find within your budget, without paying attention to which makes/models are properly engineered and will hold up, are easy to work on, go ahead, be my guest.
Well lets start from this point i dont believe that any car is badly engineered except chineese french and russian (heard alfa romeo is junk as wlel) cars. In europe people say Ford's and Opel's are crap all tend to buy VW Audi BMW Mercedes, but most of them never owned ford's or opel's or they expected to dont make any maintenence and then sell it after few years like many do, sure car will break in this case.
humidity accelerates rust on metal. snow(and the salt they treat the roads with) also does. cars are made of many metal parts and they just dont hold up over time in climates like that.
as far as ford, ive owned two mid 90s fords and didnt like either.
1993 ford escort wagon cost us somewhere around 12k$ and we spent at least 3k$ in maintenance every year. terrible.
1995 ford windstar was better, but still had transmission problems and the car didnt do well when we ended up in a front end collision(car pulled out of a driveway blind and we tboned it, the driver[my grandmother] sustained injuries from the airbag deploying a bit violently, nearly breaking her arm from impact and causing a lot of trauma that effects her to this day about a decade since the accident)
as far as ford, ive owned two mid 90s fords and didnt like either.
Could be just bought in bad shape, although i don't know about US fords i speak of European ones, looking at pictures of ones you owned, they looked kind of ugly to me.
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You'll find these deals at small independent used car lots that advertise as "walking man's friend" and "buy here, pay here". 
