Car shopping is a tricky business, especially when the car you really want or need is only available outside of your home state. But buying a car in Arkansas from out of state involves additional paperwork that can complicate the process.

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How to buy a car out of state as an Arkansas resident

As an Arkansas resident,

buying a car in-state

is pretty straightforward. But what if you’re buying from a dealership or private seller in a different state? Who do you pay taxes to, and how do you get the car registered?

This process is heavy on paperwork, and it can’t be done entirely online, either—you’ll need to visit your

local Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles

(OMV)—also referred to as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

in Arkansas, you’ll need to present the following documents:

The car’s existing title or a Manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO)

An official release of lien or permission to issue a

replacement title

bill of sale

odometer disclosure statement

is required if the vehicle is less than 20 years old. Otherwise, only a bill of sale is required.

Proof of insurance

You’ll also need to pay

sales tax

, plus

vehicle registration

and

title transfer

fees.

If you’re buying the car from a dealership, that dealership should help you through all of this paperwork and process most of it for you. If you’re buying your car from a private seller, they’ll need to work with you and do their part to move the process along.

It’s also important to note that some states consider license plates state property, and they’ll have to be returned to the DMV when a vehicle is sold to avoid fines or other penalties. So before moving forward with a vehicle purchase, be sure to review

license plate laws

for that state and follow them accordingly.

In some cases, that means you might have to seek out temporary plates for your drive back home to Arkansas.

If you’re having trouble with any part of the process as it relates to titling and registration in Arkansas, it doesn’t hurt to call the

Arkansas DMV

at (501) 682-4692 and ask them for guidance.

MORE:

Selling a car in Arkansas

How to buy a car in Arkansas if you live out of state

What if you don’t live in Arkansas, but you just found the perfect car there? In this case, you’ll want to check with your own state’s DMV to ask about the process.

Regardless of what state you live in, you should be prepared to present these commonly-needed documents:

Your vehicle’s bill of sale, which will need a notary’s signature in some states

Your

driver’s license

Proof of residency

Proof of insurance

Other documents may also be required, like an odometer disclosure form, smog test certification, etc.

You may also need to pay

sales tax

in your home state, or the difference between the sales taxes in Arkansas and your home state, depending on where you live. Most states will also expect you to pay various title, registration, and tag fees.

It should be noted as well that Arkansas doesn’t require vehicle inspections like many other states do, so you may need to get this vehicle inspected in your state for the first time if it’s a requirement.

MORE:

How to transfer a car title when you move to another state

What if I don’t have a physical title?

If you’re buying a car in Arkansas from out of state but don’t have a physical copy of the title, the seller can contact the DMV in their state to obtain a copy.

If you’re not from Arkansas and you buy a car there, the seller can fill out a

vehicle registration application

. This can be done at any Arkansas state revenue office, or mailed to:

Department of Finance and Administration

Special License Unit

P O Box 1272

Little Rock, Arkansas 72203

If you’re financing the car, you’ll also need the lender/ lienholder to fill out an official release of lien or permission to issue a replacement title.

You may need a temporary registration and

car insurance

to legally drive the car home while waiting for this paperwork to go through, a process that typically takes around three weeks.

Driving without car insurance

is illegal in most states, even if you’re still waiting for the title to transfer or for registration documents to process. Plus, it keeps you protected in case anything unexpected happens on your trip back home.

Tips for buying a vehicle out of state

There are plenty of reasons to consider buying a car from a different state—you can save money, you can find rare vehicles not available where you live, and more—but there are some challenges that can accompany this process beyond what we’ve already covered.

If you’re buying a car in another state, these tips can help you through the process:

Vehicle history is critical, especially when you’re buying the car from a private seller. You’ll want to look at

CARFAX reports

and other services to make sure the seller is being honest about what exactly you’re getting.

Transporting the vehicle is an important consideration, too. Will you travel to the state where the vehicle is located and drive it back? The travel expenses can add up, but it might be cheaper than paying to have the car shipped.

Arkansas residents aren’t required to have vehicle inspections, but if you’re buying a car from Arkansas and live elsewhere, you’ll want to consider your state’s inspection requirements.

Some states require emissions testing, though Arkansas does not. This isn’t a problem if you live in Arkansas and you’re buying a car from out of state, but if you aren’t an Arkansas resident, this is something you’ll also want to consider.

If you aren’t an Arkansas resident, take the time to understand the vehicle sales tax laws in your home state, where you’ll be expected to pay sales taxes on the car. If you're from Arkansas and buying an out-of-state car, you’ll typically pay Arkansas sales taxes.

Don’t drive the car until it’s been insured.

Arkansas car insurance laws

require drivers to have

liability insurance

. Most other states also require car insurance. And the last thing you want is to get into an

accident while uninsured

MORE:

How to get car insurance before buying a car

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How to save on car insurance in Arkansas

Buying a new car is often some combination of exciting and stressful. Those scales can get tipped toward the stressful end when you add in paperwork and navigating requirements for two different states.

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