Buying a Car In Nevada From Out Of State
When you buy an out-of-state car in Nevada, you’ll need to register it within 30 days of the sale or by the expiration date of the moving permit.
Written by Abbey Orzech
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
To secure your out-of-state car in Nevada, you must register the vehicle at a Nevada DMV within 30 days from the purchase date or the expiration date of the temporary movement permit provided by the car dealer.
The process of purchasing a car in any circumstance can seem a bit overwhelming, but buying a car from a state that you don’t live in can get even more difficult. Involving more paperwork and stricter registration criteria, buying an out-of-state car in Nevada requires a little bit of extra work.
So
Jerry
, the trustworthy insurance comparison app
that exists to make your life as a car owner easier, has gathered the requirements for buying a car in Nevada from out of state. We’ll go over what you’ll need to register your out-of-state car, how residents from other states can buy cars from Nevada, and of course, how to get the best deal on your Nevada car insurance
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversHow to buy a car out of state as a Nevada resident
You’ve found a dream of a car (or a dream of a deal), but there’s one hang-up—you live in Nevada and the car you want to buy is in another state. Now you have to consider if there are different buying rules, another way of registering your vehicle, and what about taxes?
Sometimes things just work out to where the car you need currently resides in another state. After all, the Tesla HQ in next door Palo Alto, California can be very enticing! Buying a car from a different state than your Nevada home is entirely possible, but the registration timeline is a bit more crunched. If your car dealer doesn’t provide you with a temporary moving permit, you’ll have 30 days from the purchase date to register your vehicle. If you do get a moving permit, you’ll need to register the car before the expiration date stated on the permit.
When registering with the NV Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you must go in person. Electronic submissions are not accepted for out-of-state transactions. Head to the DMV prepared to pay the difference in sales tax between the state you purchased in and the state you live in. If Nevada’s sales tax happens to be cheaper than the other state, you will not see a refund.
In addition to paying your dues in sales tax, you’ll also need to fill out a good handful of paperwork. Before making your trip to the DMV, have an authorized Nevada DMV representative or any law enforcement officer complete
Form VP15 Vehicle Inspection Certificate
confirming a proper inspection was performed. You yourself will need to fill out Form VP-222 Application for Vehicle Registration
with your information like your vehicle identification number (VIN) and personal identification.Once those forms are completed and ready for turn-in, head to your local NV DMV within your appropriate timeline and bring with your:
- Completed Form VP15 and Form VP-222
- Bill of Sale from your car dealer
- Proof of Nevada residency
- Proof of insuranceissued by a Nevada-licensed agency
- Odometer statement for vehicles less than 20 years old
- Vehicle title or vehicle lease agreement or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin or security agreement from loan/lienholder or purchase order
The DMV will also collect registration fees from you, but the exact amount you’ll pay will depend on the details of your vehicle. Use the
Nevada Online Registration Fee Estimate
tool to get an idea of what you’ll owe before your appointment. After all the appropriate documents and fees have been submitted and approved, you’ll walk out with your new Nevada plates and registration!
MORE: Title transfer in Nevada
How to buy a car in Nevada if you live out of state
Maybe you’re in the reverse group of people and wish to purchase a car from Nevada while living in a different state. Although the specifics of your transaction will depend on which state you plan to register the vehicle in, the car-buying process will be pretty similar. You’ll likely need:
- A valid Bill of Sale from the person you purchase the car from—check your state’s regulations to see if you’ll need it notarized
- In-person registration at your local DMV with the appropriate documents, personal identification, proof of insurance, proof of residency, an odometer statement, and fees
- Adherence to your state’s registration timeline
It’s also common to have to pay the difference in sales tax between your home state and Nevada, so be sure to check your state’s rules on sales tax for out-of-state purchases.
What if I don’t have a physical title?
Nevada’s Department of Motor Vehicles accepts the vehicle’s physical title upon registration, but if you’re not in possession of your new car’s physical title, you have a few other options.
When registering an out-of-state vehicle in Nevada, you must submit all of the required paperwork and fees and just one of the following:
- Vehicle title
- Vehicle lease agreement
- Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
- Security agreement from loan/lienholder
- Purchase order
If you have none of these options, you can request a physical title from the DMV where the vehicle was initially registered.
Tips for buying a vehicle out of state
Although it’s typically a bit more of a hassle, buying a vehicle out of state can get you access to a better sales deal or an exclusive car make, so it may be worth it. Keep in mind, though, that the process often requires different criteria than your standard in-state car purchase so remember these tips:
- Get a vehicle history report. Using services likeCARFAXcan help you get a more thorough history of your vehicle-to-be than your potential seller may offer up and will alert you to the car’s past issues.
- Wait until you’re back in your home state to get the vehicle inspection. Different states have different requirements for vehicles to meet. Getting your inspection done in the state you plan to register the vehicle will ensure it meets the standards.
- Consider getting an emissions test. Some states will require a vehicle to pass an emissions test before setting them loose on the streets.
- Brush up on your state’s vehicle sales tax laws. The state your vehicle will be registered to will determine your sales tax.
- Secure your car insurance before driving the vehicle. Buying a car out of state often means you’re driving that car back to your home state. It’ll be worth it to buy car insurance that meets your home state’s standards before taking that trip. Plus, you’ll need proof of valid insurance to register the vehicle.
How to save on car insurance in Nevada
Going through the process of a new car purchase can be confusing and stuffed to the gills with paperwork. The last thing you want to do is add even more work to the experience by having to search around from company to company for reasonable
Nevada car insurance quotes
. Luckily,
Jerry
exists to search through all the best quotes from over 55 of the top insurance providers so you don’t have to. Jerry is an insurance comparison app and the easiest and most effective way to find a
car insurance
policy that is customized for you. After providing you with a comprehensive cross-analysis of the best policies across providers, Jerry will handle the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick so that you don’t have to. So why do all that extra work when Jerry can do it better?“Jerryis an awesome tool to find rates personalized to your specific needs! I’m literally still sitting at the dealership and already finalized my new insurance so I can drive my new car off the lot.” —Charity R.
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