I'm moving to KY 7/31, but will be purchasing a vehicle here in NC this week on Monday or Tuesday. Does anyone know how the state taxes and registration can be handled to make the transfer between states any easier?

I will be financing through the dealership most likely, so I've figured so far that I will pay the 3% sales tax in NC for the vehicle. Is there anyway to have the title registered in KY at the dealership since I will only be in NC for two more weeks?

I'd really prefer not to pay registration fees in NC and then have to pay them again in KY in two weeks or so. Can anyone explain the best way to go about this?

I don't want to wait and purchase in KY since their sales tax is 6% on vehicles and I have found a vehicle I want here in NC.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

7/12/2009 11:24:43 AM

through a dealer plus financing you'll have to do the initial 30 day registration and titling here in nc, which means paying taxes + registration. the only way i know around any of this would be if you were purchasing private party or didn't have the need for financing. the state doesn't give a shit that you'll be gone in two weeks, they want their money regardless.

7/12/2009 11:40:55 AM

drive the vehicle for 1 year before you register in KY?

7/12/2009 12:26:07 PM

I have to register the car in KY within 15days of moving there according to their DMV website. Just wanted to see if there was a way around it. But I guess I'll just suck it up and pay the registration fees for a 30day tag and be on my way at the end of July.

Thanks for the help.

7/12/2009 1:52:36 PM

you don't have to do shit. they just hope that you will

7/12/2009 2:15:10 PM

Been in CO for 3 years now with a NC plate

7/12/2009 2:44:14 PM

yep, I've been down to Florida for 2 months now and still has NC plate.

7/12/2009 5:35:11 PM

Yeah, the law says you have to register the car there x number of days after you move there, but there's just about no way for them to properly enforce this (outside of looking for people who were too lazy to go back to their home state to renew their vehicle's registration, pay taxes, & get an inspection).

Of course, if you get caught, you lose more money in fines. If you want to be absolutely safe just sell whatever car you have now here in NC, use a rental for a week until you find something you want in KY, then enjoy the new car.

7/12/2009 5:43:17 PM

unless they can prove you've taken up permanent residency in ky, there's not much they can do. it'd be a real stroke of bad luck to even be questioned about it though. so, basically, as long as you can keep some sort of address in nc (family member, friend, etc.) you're fine. i wouldn't push it past that year mark though, because after that point your job kind of gives you away with taxes and what not.

7/12/2009 9:53:21 PM

check the ky taxes first, nc is great with 3%, tn was 16% sales tax

the money you save it taxes buying in nc will probably be worth registering it twice

7/12/2009 9:59:58 PM

^ He said it was 6% sales tax in KY for vehicles, so it may make more sense to go with an NC purchase. I guess it depends on how much car you're buying.

DETAILED FINANCIAL ANALYSIS FTW. I'd just buy it in the state I was moving to if I wanted a new car, as I am not a fan of jumping through any hoops or waiting in more DMV lines than I have to in order to take care of some car related shit.

7/12/2009 10:14:15 PM

[jewfail]

7/13/2009 2:37:56 PM

thanks to the internet, it's common practice for people to buy new vehicles out of state to save on taxes/sales price. my sister did it a few years ago with a new 4 runner and the difference was something like $2-3k even after travel expenses, etc.

7/13/2009 8:16:53 PM

just dont register it

7/17/2009 10:18:58 AM

hell - just steal one then you don't pay shit.

7/17/2009 12:37:46 PM

16%?? Was some of that county tax? Here in east TN it's 9.75% on vehicles in my county

7/17/2009 12:50:28 PM

yeah, it varies heavily, its even more than that in the nashville or memphis areas

7/19/2009 1:42:06 PM