Moving a car to Houston vs Buying car in Houston (Detroit: sales, insurance)

[hedgefundanalys]

I'm considering moving to Houston in the near future to take up a new job. I've been living in Chicago for the last 3 years and have never felt the need to own a car here. I have been visiting Houston fairly often over that time and realize that it would be impossible to do without a car in Houston.

I have found a used car I really like here in Chicago and was wondering how feasible it would be to buy it here and move it to Houston as opposed to buying a similar car in Houston. The sales taxes are fairly similar and I have been told that used cars in Houston tend to be much more heavily used. How problematic is transferring the registration in Houston and would I be made to pay sales tax all over again?

I am grateful for any input.

[bostoner]

Buy a car in Houston. Cars here don't have that road salt issue y'all have up there (says one who learned the hard way ).

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Buy a car in Houston. Cars here don't have that road salt issue y'all have up there (says one who learned the hard way ).

How did this affect you?

[Wysiwyg]

hehe most used cars in Houston are from the snowy regions, especially german cars. I bought 2 already and they're from Ohio and Boston. used cars here arrive in train loads

[MommiePreMed]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

How did this affect you?

I purchased a car from Ohio. The under carriage was so rusted that I had to have a new axle(? or what ever piece of he car that is straightened when having an alignment, I don't remember). The bolts were rusted into the metal. A $70 alignment turned into an expensive nightmare.

I would purchase a car wherever I could get the best deal.

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by MommiePreMed

I purchased a car from Ohio. The under carriage was so rusted that I had to have a new axle(? or what ever piece of he car that is straightened when having an alignment, I don't remember).

I am gonna guess that this was an import. Detroit iron isn't perfect, but rust is not the major problem for American cars.

[desertsun41]

While it is very cheap to register a car here, keep in mind that if you bring a car into Texas, the first time you register it you will have to pay a one time fee of $90 new resident fee for each car.

Also you will need to research this but many states have done away with having to pay sales tax on the purchase of a car if you buy it from a private party. Buying new or used from a dealer you will still have to pay the sales tax. For this reason it was worth it for me to just bring my car here and pay the new resident fee rather then buying a car here and paying 7% or whatever it is sales tax on it.

As far as insurance you will find it much cheaper here then Chicago I think you said you were from.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

I am gonna guess that this was an import. Detroit iron isn't perfect, but rust is not the major problem for American cars.

ok i dont get that. late model foreign cars use more aluminum parts which do not rust(detroit IRON does). you do need to inspect the rubber suspension parts if coming from the snowbelt. I recent bought a used BMW X5 (from Ohio) and I was really impressed by how they cleaned it up prior to being put on sale. Texans are so good at power washing! Everything looked brand new (actually the brakes are new), the underside has no dirt at all its too good to be true its creepy. its been 2 weeks now and still havent found any problems

[bostoner]

Originally Posted by MommiePreMed

I purchased a car from Ohio. The under carriage was so rusted that I had to have a new axle(? or what ever piece of he car that is straightened when having an alignment, I don't remember). The bolts were rusted into the metal. A $70 alignment turned into an expensive nightmare.

Same here. I bought a Honda from a guy from Illinois when I lived in Colorado. Rusted underneath. Years later I bought a Ford from a guy here in Houston who was from Ohio. Also rusted underneath. Learned my lesson!

[MommiePreMed]

Originally Posted by Zhang Fei

I am gonna guess that this was an import. Detroit iron isn't perfect, but rust is not the major problem for American cars.

I don't think that it is a major problem, because most people don't keep their cars for over five years anyway.

I have owned three cars, Toyota from Ohio, A Honda from North Georgia and a Ford from Texas. All cars were at least 5 years of age when I purchased them. Only the Toyota had rust issues.

I don't think that the problem is limited to foreign cars because I have heard similar complaints from people who have purchased northern owned vehicles.