Buying a Car in Oregon From Out of State
Buying an out-of-state vehicle as an Oregon resident? Buying a vehicle in Oregon from out of state? Here’s what you need to know!
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
If you’re an Oregon resident, you most likely won’t have to pay sales taxes on a car you purchase outside of the state. However, buyers from other states purchasing a car in Oregon will have to pay the sales tax of the state where it’s being registered.
By the time you’re finishing buying a car, your head’s probably swimming with numbers, and all you really want is to have a snack and take a nap. If you’re buying a car in a state that’s different from where you live, then the process is likely to be a little bit more involved on top of that.
Here to help dispense with some of that annoying red tape is
Jerry
. We’ve got what you need to know about buying a car in Oregon if you’re not a resident—or what to do if you live in Oregon and bought a car out of state. And that’s not the only loose end we’ll help you tie up while we’re at it! Make auto loan refinancing easy with PriceProtect™
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 an Oregon resident
You live in Oregon and have been looking for the perfect car for a few months. Then one day you finally find it—but it’s in another state. Well, never fear! Jerry is here to help you sort out all the details, from where you’ll need to pay taxes to how to get your new ride registered in Oregon.
With the prevalence of car-buying websites, it’s not unusual to find the ride of your dreams in another state. This is particularly common in places where there are big metropolitan areas clustered around state lines, like with Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA. Although the process is a little bit more complicated, it’s not too bad at all.
The requirements are pretty straightforward, and you’ll need to start with getting your new vehicle titled in Oregon. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A completedTitle and Registration Application
- The original title, ownership document, or if it’s a new car, the Certificate of Origin
- Original lien releases from any previous interest holders (if applicable)
You’ll also need all the regular documents that are required when you register a car, like your ID and proof of insurance.
So, what about other taxes? If you live in Oregon (or one of the adjoining states), then you know that Oregon has no sales tax. As an Oregonian, does this benefit follow you when you’re buying a car in another state? Well, maybe. According to some sources, car dealerships are required to charge the sales tax of the state where the vehicle is sold—this is mentioned in reference to California in particular.
However, according to the
Oregon Department of Justice
, Oregon residents buying a car in another state do not have to pay sales tax, provided that the dealership fills out the specific paperwork for Oregon residents. Make sure you do your research about the tax requirements for Oregon residents in the state where you’re buying your car.You can
make an appointment
or walk into an Oregon DMV location to complete the transaction. If you prefer, you can mail all your paperwork (make copies first!) to: - Oregon DMV
1905 Lana Ave NE
Salem, OR 97314
If the vehicle you’ve purchased has a lien on it, Oregon’s DMV site states that you will likely have to contact the lienholder, and they will assist you with the registration process.
How to buy a car in Oregon if you live out of state
If you live in another state but want to buy a car in Oregon, the process is basically the same—you’ll just need to follow the specifics of the state where you’re registering the car.
While it’s true that a lot of people who live in the states adjoining Oregon come over to buy big-ticket items and save on sales tax, this benefit doesn’t quite translate to the purchase of a car. Even if you buy a car in Oregon, you’ll still be responsible for paying your state’s sales tax when you register it.
What if I don’t have a physical title?
If you don’t have the physical title, then you’ll need to
apply for a duplicate one
. If the original title was issued in a state other than Oregon, you’ll need to contact the appropriate agency in that state to get a copy. MORE: How to register a car in Oregon
Tips for buying a vehicle out of state
Buying a car out of state isn’t terribly hard, but it is a little more complicated than buying one on your home turf. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will make sure everything goes smoothly:
- Always get a vehicle history report. Knowledge is power! This is particularly vital if you’re buying a used car from a private party. A CARFAX report will tell you the full history of the car, including any accidents, title issues, or past damages.
- Get your vehicle inspection and emissions test in your home state. The inspection requirements that you’ll need to meet are dependent on the state where the car is registered, not purchased. Depending on the vehicle’s model year and where you live, you may be required to have anemissions testdone if you’re registering a car in Oregon.
- Make sure you know your home state’s vehicle sales tax laws. When you buy a car out of state, you pay the sales taxes in your home state, not in the state of purchase.
- Buy car insurance before you leave the dealership. No matter where you buy your car, you’ll need to have car insurance that meets Oregon’s minimum requirements. Make this task the easiest one of all by using the Jerry app!
MORE: Car loan in Oregon 2022
“Buying my first car was stressful since I’m 19 and it was from out-of-state. But getting car insurance wasn’t, thanks toJerry! The process was simple, easy, and quick! Thank you guys!” —Carl I.
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