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What to Bring When You Buy Your Car
There are just 3 or 4 things you will need to bring with you to help us close the sale for you. The list below will help you by your knowing what you will need to bring with you at the time of closing.
Note: The tag, registration, title and sales tax are not included in any advertised prices for our vehicles.
Valid driver's license: Bring your operator's or learner's permit. We can copy it for you. Out-of-State buyers: We'll need yours, too.
Your old tag, or the registration for that tag: If you have not had a vehicle previously registered in the State of Florida, please skip to section 3. If you have had a vehicle previously registered in the State of Florida, please read on... Some dealers may forget to tell you this but, you can save over $300 transferring your old tag to your "new" vehicle. You will be able to drive away after purchasing your vehicle with your old tag on your newly purchased car. We will give you a document that will legally allow you to drive your newly purchased vehicle with your old tag while the registration process is being completed (within 30 days). If you do not have an old tag, no problem- we will issue you a complimentary temporary tag, sometimes called a "paper tag," that will be good for 30 days until we get your new license plate for you from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Out-of-State buyers: If you choose to drive your car home, instead of having it delivered to you via transporter, we will issue you a complimentary temporary tag. Whether you have it shipped home or drive it home, you will take care of your own registration, title transfer, and tag in your home state. You will pay sales tax here at your home state rate* (*almost all states- ask for us for details).
Proof-of-Insurance specifically listing the car you are currently purchasing: YES, your insurance company DOES cover your newly purchased vehicle without you having to report it for up to 30 days BUT, in order for us to register your "new" vehicle with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles THEY REQUIRE US to provide them with your Proof-of-Insurance. It must list the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle you just purchased. This MUST be done in order for the State of Florida to process your new registration and tag (if a tag will be needed). Most major insurance companies these days have toll-free lines with operators on duty 24 hours a day/7days a week. So, even if your agent's office is closed your insurance company can usually fax your Proof-of-Insurance to our office in advance to help expedite the closing. In order to help expedite the process, if you do not already have an insurance company you are happy with, we can recommend major companies that are easy to work with. Many of our customers have had success starting new insurance right over the phone with our local Geico agent in Gainesville, Ken Castellani. His numbers are: Office:352-375-AUTO (352-375-2886) and Fax: 352-376-7961. Tell him you were referred by Carrsmith. Please have your insurance company fax your proof insurance to us 24/7 at 352-375-4400. Out-of-State buyers: You will need proof of insurance too. We recommend you take care of this before you fly down to pick up your vehicle. You can have your insurance company fax your proof insurance to us 24/7 at 352-375-4400.
Money to cover your registration, tag, title, and sales tax: These funds are NOT included in the advertised price of the vehicles you see listed on our website, or elsewhere. These funds go directly to the State of Florida. We keep the price of the car, and the tax and tag money goes to the state. This is the case with all licensed Florida auto dealers. For the privilege of being a licensed dealer in Florida we have the uncompensated privilege of collecting your tag and tax money, then seeing to it that it gets to the State of Florida to run the government (we see this as being a part of our civic duty ;-).
SALES TAX: You will pay the sales tax rate for the place where you live. Florida State sales tax is 6%, plus your county SURTAX, if any. In addition to the state sales tax of 6% our county, Alachua County, has a surtax of .75% on the first $5,000. So, for an Alachua County resident sales tax is 6.75% for the first $5,000, and 6.0% on the remaining balance over $5,000. For example if you are an Alachua County resident and the price of your car is $6,000, you will pay $337.50 sales tax on the first $5,000 and $60 sales tax on the $1,000 remaining balance over the first $5,000; for a total of $397.50. Some Florida counties do not have a surtax. If you live in one of those counties, you will pay an even 6.0%. So if you live in a Florida county without a surtax, you would pay just $360 in sales tax for a $6,000 car. We charge sales tax on every car. You pay the exact the amount required by the State of Florida.
REGISTRATION, TAG & TITLE: The amount for your registration, tag and title varies based on whether you need a new tag, you are transferring a tag from another vehicle, and whether the tag you are transferring has a current decal. Fees are based on the weight of the vehicle, your birth month (month of tag renewal), etc. The exact amount is determined the day your vehicle is registered, which must be within 30 days of your purchase date. You will pay an estimated amount at the time of closing. We will refund any overage collected in the estimated amount after the new vehicle registration has been processed by the state. If the estimated amount collected at the time of closing was short, you will make up the difference when you pick up your new tag and registration from us. You ultimately pay the exact the amount required by the State of Florida. If you choose to transfer a tag it must be, or have been, in your name (not a friend, or a family member) and from a previously owned car or light truck. You cannot transfer a tag from a mobile home, motorcycle, etc. Transfers may be as low as $88, depending on the weight of the last vehicle registered under that tag, whether or not the tag is expired and if not, how many months are left on the decal before it expires, etc.
ESTIMATED AMOUNTS FOR REGISTRATION, TAG & TITLE: The estimated amount we collect is as follows: NEW TAG: $395. TRANSFER WITH EXPIRED DECAL: $150. TRANSFER WITH CURRENT DECAL: $88. You ultimately pay the exact the amount we send to the State of Florida. For verification, the exact amount will be be shown on your registration from the State of Florida, which you will receive after your paper work has been processed through the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Out-of-State Buyers Registration & Sales Tax: You will take care of your registration, tag & title yourself in your home state with your state Department of Motor Vehicles, after you return to your home state. However, you will pay your sales tax here. Bring proof of residency- your driver's license will do. We will charge you sales tax at your state rate, or the State of Florida rate- whichever is lower. We will provide you with a document you will use to prove to your state you have already paid the tax. Residents of 96% of the states will pay sales tax only once, in Florida. However, residents of Arkansas and Mississippi will pay sales tax twice, in Florida and again in Arkansas or Mississippi. Currently, the State of Florida has reciprocal sales tax agreements with every state except Arkansas and Mississippi. Therefore, if you are from either Arkansas or Mississippi, you will pay sales tax twice when buying a car in Florida. Reciprocal sales tax agreements between states do no change often. However to be safe, before traveling traveling to Florida to pick up your car call us to confirm whether or not your states has a reciprocal sales tax agreement with Florida.
Shipping vehicles to Out-of-State buyers: We encourage buyers to come and get the vehicle themselves or send someone they trust to get it- this saves trucking hassles. The price of shipping a vehicle out-of-state is not included in any advertised prices or any other pricing you get from us. Shipping arrangements and the cost of shipping is the responsibility of the buyer. The vehicle must be paid for in full before the shipper arrives to pick up the vehicle. There are many choices of transport companies that are easily found on the internet. We are not responsible for the vehicle once it is in the possession of the transport company. We recommend you make yourself aware of their policies, including damage policies, when choosing your transport company.
When you are ready to buy, or if you have any questions, please contact us at:
email: carrsmith@carrsmith.com
or call us at 352-373-1150.