How to Sell a Car Interstate

How to Sell a Car Interstate

Selling a used car on the second-hand market can be hard enough at the best of times. Now add the complexities of selling it to a buyer who lives in a different state, and you are faced with a whole new set of rules and complications that will give you a headache. The obvious solution is to sell your car in the state you live in, but if this is not possible, we have prepared a comprehensive guide on everything to know on how to sell a car interstate.

Knowing how to sell a car interstate is easy when all you need to do is say sell my car. At Torr Automotive, our team can help you sell your car hassle-free. Contact us at 1300 286 844 or get in touch online.

Our Tips for How to Sell a Car Interstate

Selling a car interstate is certainly doable, and if you live near a border, not uncommon. There are a few things you will want to know and keep in mind before selling your car interstate.

Inspections

When selling a car interstate, it may not be possible for the buyer to do an in-person inspection before they pick it up. You will want to clearly showcase the condition of the car in the listing so that there is less of a chance that the buyer pulls out of the sale upon arrival. If the buyer is coming to pick up the car, you can be flexible and allow for an inspection.

Don’t limit your options when selling to just one interstate buyer, as they may not go through with the sale. If they are arranging for transport of the vehicle, make sure that you have their agreement to buy the car as is in writing to protect yourself.  

Registration

Registrations cannot be transferred from one state to another. When selling in your home state, you can easily transfer the car’s registration into the buyer’s name. Interstate sales don’t provide you with the same ease. The best course of action is to surrender your registration plates when selling the car and have the buyer apply for an unregistered vehicle permit to drive the car home.

Doing this will help to protect you as your name is no longer associated with the car. It puts the onus on the buyer to re-register the vehicle in their home state. This means you won’t be getting any road violations from the car after the sale, and you may even get a slight refund on your registration.

Paperwork

The paperwork required when selling a car interstate can be confusing, especially with the different rules throughout the country. Polishing up on the required paperwork for the sale of a vehicle within your state will help you to understand what is required. Even if the rules differ when selling interstate, being prepared and cautious is never a bad thing.

A common rule is that a registered vehicle must be sold with a roadworthy certificate. However, if you have cancelled the registration to sell the vehicle interstate, this may not be required. The buyer could still ask for a road worthy certificate, as it will be required for them to re-register the car in their state. You aren’t legally required to provide one, but it could be a selling point to have it included.  

Scams

When selling a car online, fake buyers will often claim to be living interstate and offer to arrange a bank transfer and transport of the vehicle. They will then ask you to chip in and pay for the courier or insurance for the transport. Once you pay, they will stop communicating, leaving you with the car and out of pocket. To stay on the safe side, you should never pay anyone when selling your car.

Trust the Experts

If selling your car interstate sounds like too much of a headache the team here at Torr Automotive can make the car selling process easy and stress-free. Being expert car wholesalers, we are well versed in selling cars across the country, so let us worry about how to sell a car interstate. To guarantee an easy selling process, contact our team at 1300 286 844 or get in touch online.