Buying a car privately in Maryland… tips?

[Anonymous]

I’m going to buy a car from a neighbor I trust… what are the steps I need to take? Car is 12 years old…

[Anonymous]

i think md still requires a safety inspection for registration?

so i would get that done, and then they would need to sign the title over to you.

[Anonymous]

The Maryland website is mostly useful:
https://mva.maryland.gov/Pages/buying-a-vehicle-in-maryland.aspx

The big thing is to have the title signed over to the new owner (there is a process to order a new copy if the owner can't find it).
Depending, you may need a Bill of Sale document (see the website)

My big hurtle has been the Maryland state inspection. Unlike other states, the MD safety inspection is required only when buying a car. There is no annual safety inspection. However, the inspection is very strict and costs $100 or so. Make sure that buyer/seller agree on what to do if something big comes up in the inspection.

[Anonymous]

We bought a car recently. It was super easy. Title was signed over. Plus, we put together a very simple bill-of-sale document. Brought both to the MVA. Did the inspection. Et voila.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought a car recently. It was super easy. Title was signed over. Plus, we put together a very simple bill-of-sale document. Brought both to the MVA. Did the inspection. Et voila.

So order of events...

buyer hands check to seller, and seller signs over title.

Buyer brings signed title and bill of sale to the MVA (or a Tag and Title place? Do you need an appointment? Do you need the seller to come with you?)

MVA gives you the new registration and tags, you pay the tax there?

Then you can drive the car away from the MVA - when do you put the car on your insurance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a car recently. It was super easy. Title was signed over. Plus, we put together a very simple bill-of-sale document. Brought both to the MVA. Did the inspection. Et voila.

So order of events...

buyer hands check to seller, and seller signs over title.

Buyer brings signed title and bill of sale to the MVA (or a Tag and Title place? Do you need an appointment? Do you need the seller to come with you?)

MVA gives you the new registration and tags, you pay the tax there?

Then you can drive the car away from the MVA - when do you put the car on your insurance?

- hand over money
- get signed title and bill of sale
- make an appointment at the MVA (there are offices that have limited services, such as registration (but no diver’s license))
- get car registered (I believe you pay taxes there)
- get the car inspected

I don’t remember when I called the insurance to add the car. We already had insurance for our other car. If in doubt, call your insurance sooner than later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a car recently. It was super easy. Title was signed over. Plus, we put together a very simple bill-of-sale document. Brought both to the MVA. Did the inspection. Et voila.

So order of events...

buyer hands check to seller, and seller signs over title.

Buyer brings signed title and bill of sale to the MVA (or a Tag and Title place? Do you need an appointment? Do you need the seller to come with you?)

MVA gives you the new registration and tags, you pay the tax there?

Then you can drive the car away from the MVA - when do you put the car on your insurance?

- hand over money
- get signed title and bill of sale
- make an appointment at the MVA (there are offices that have limited services, such as registration (but no diver’s license))
- get car registered (I believe you pay taxes there)
- get the car inspected

I don’t remember when I called the insurance to add the car. We already had insurance for our other car. If in doubt, call your insurance sooner than later.

You can’t register a car without insurance. You can’t drive a car without insurance. You must call insurance to add the car to your policy before you go to MVA to register the car.

[Anonymous]

I would bring the car to a trusted mechanic to inspect prior to purchase - this way there are no surprises

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We bought a car recently. It was super easy. Title was signed over. Plus, we put together a very simple bill-of-sale document. Brought both to the MVA. Did the inspection. Et voila.

So order of events...

buyer hands check to seller, and seller signs over title.

Buyer brings signed title and bill of sale to the MVA (or a Tag and Title place? Do you need an appointment? Do you need the seller to come with you?)

MVA gives you the new registration and tags, you pay the tax there?

Then you can drive the car away from the MVA - when do you put the car on your insurance?

- hand over money
- get signed title and bill of sale
- make an appointment at the MVA (there are offices that have limited services, such as registration (but no diver’s license))
- get car registered (I believe you pay taxes there)
- get the car inspected

I don’t remember when I called the insurance to add the car. We already had insurance for our other car. If in doubt, call your insurance sooner than later.

You can’t register a car without insurance. You can’t drive a car without insurance. You must call insurance to add the car to your policy before you go to MVA to register the car.

Thanks! I think I finally figured it out.

1) buy the car and get the title signed over to me.
2) owner removes tag and gives me keys - at that point car is not really legal to drive.
3) I then contact my insurance co and give them information to add new car to insurance by adding car vin number, and pay and get proof of insurance.
4) bring all paperwork (title, proof lien was paide off, purchase agreement, certificate of inspection done by buyer) and proof of insurance to DMV or Tag and Title place, to register car, pay tax, and get new Tags. Put tags on newly registered car and now it is legal to drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would bring the car to a trusted mechanic to inspect prior to purchase - this way there are no surprises

Please do that. It's like a home inspection for a house. Kind of important...