[Gaijin]

Just about to send in my Deposit check.
My bank has demanded that my title be switched to my home state.

My dream is to fly to Illinois, walk into the dealership and drive away in my new MCs.

What do I need to know to make this go smoothly?

TFL

[goin440]

I bought mine in Ohio but reside in Indiana. The transaction went smoothly at the dealership. You won't pay any Illinois taxes, but you will have to pay your state taxes on the sale. For me, both OH and IN have 6% sales taxes. I got a check (refund), then sent it all back when I retitled for license. The only trouble I had was licensing the car with an out of state title. The process took a few extra weeks and the bank was a bit unhappy (where's "our" title). A phone call cleared it all up though.

[stryder]

If you specify your location perhaps someone else will have 'imported' a car to your state. CA is especially popular, but its common for many states with waiting periods or no dealer.

[LordWinslow]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gaijin

Just about to send in my Deposit check.
My bank has demanded that my title be switched to my home state.

My dream is to fly to Illinois, walk into the dealership and drive away in my new MCs.

What do I need to know to make this go smoothly?

TFL

I live in New Hampshire, but bought my car from a dealer in Massachusetts. All went smoothly, I waited 2 weeks for delivery after getting the loan stuff taken care of, it helped me get everything put in order. I got insurance right away and got a temp plate from my DMV (This should help with the final registering of it, make sure to get all the loan, paperwork, and a copy of the window sticker. Also Mass as a rule will not put temp tags on your car if you are not registering it there, so check with the state your buying the car to see if you will need to bring plates or a temp plate.) Then on the Day, I took delivery, drove to my City Hall in Manchester, NH, paid registration, excise tax, Title fees. Put my old plates on and drove to a dealer near by (owned by the guys where I bought my car) to have it inspected. I know you will have to pay sales tax in the state where you are going to register your car, not where you bought it (luckly I dodged 5% in Mass, as NH doesn't have a sales tax). Also you may have to make extra trips to the DMV after you visit your town offices. (In NH you register your car where you live, and pay excise taxes to your local city/town, once that is done they give you plates, if needed, and year stickers (they also make it easy by making you register and inspect your car in the month of your birthday).

Just do your research, nothing would suck more than to try to pick up your car you can't because you forgot to get or do something.

Good Luck!

Winslow

[BruceK]

I live in Texas and bought my MINI in New York. It's really simple.

Generally, this is what happens:

1. You purchase the MINI in another state either by cash or financing. You don't pay sales tax in the state of purchase. You receive sales documentation from the dealer, which you'll use later to get the car registered in your home state.

2. You have previously arranged for the car to be insured with your insurance company based upon the VIN the dealership has provided to you. It may be worth it to actually insure the car before you purchase it -- the cost of a couple of extra day's worth of insurance is minimal -- so you can bring insurance documentation with you.

3. The dealership arranges to provide the necessary temporary 'in transit' registration legal paperwork for your new MINI allowing it to be driven back to your home state. This temporary registration paperwork varies from state to state is often valid for 2 weeks to one month - plenty of time to get the car home (and to do it legally).

4. You show up at the dealership having made sure beforehand that your new MINI is ready and waiting for you. To complete the purchase, you bring a cashier's check, money order, or you have previously arranged with your financing source to work with the dealer to sort out all issues. You don't want to travel out of state to the dealership only to be held up by miscommunication or missing financial paperwork. It pays to make sure each party has all the paperwork needed. Since you are buying a car that has never been titled, your dealer should provide the "Certificate of Origin" from BMW/MINI that you will use later to title the car.

5. You jump in your new MINI and enjoy your drive home - the first of many MINI adventures together.

6. After you arrive home you visit the local DMV with your documentation from the dealer and proof the car has passed a state inspection (where required). You pay sales tax on your recent purchase and are handed new license plates. The state arranges for the car's title to be sent to you (if you paid cash) or your lender if you financed.

7. Done.

[NEMINI]

Very nice Bruce (hands some rep. points over for that one)

[gtshnzr]

If your intent is to go to IL, why not go to Milwaukee? I got mine at International MINI, and drove it right back over the border. No hassles so far. They collected the IL sales tax, correct for my specific county, and then did the license applied for papers too. Just waiting on my Route 66 specialty plates, which will look way too cool on a black MCS. Call Kyle the motoring dude up there.

[Cat]

Call your car insurance company, give them the VIN number and get the insurance taken care of before you get the car.

In california you have to get the car smogged before you go to the DMV.

[BruceK]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cat

Call your car insurance company, give them the VIN number and get the insurance taken care of before you get the car. ..

Gee, that sounds very familiar.

[Cat]

Oh OOPS! Geez I hate being redundant. Guess my speed reading skills need a bit of sharpening! LOL!