OK used car buying

We’re looking to buy a used vehicle in OK. My question is about the process in OK since we’ve never bought here.
1. Can I expect that an individual and/or dealer will sign and hand the title over on the spot?
2. Is it beneficial to meet the seller at the tag agency to make sure everything is in order?
3. Can I use my old tag (from a car we gave to our out-of-state kid) on the “new” vehicle?

Thanks for the help

 

1. Maybe, if you pay cash to a private seller. Dealer will send the title, they will likely process it through the state DMV. If you have a loan or lean, then the title will be sent to you.

2. No. If the private seller does not have the title in hand. Then walk away. If they have the title, examine it, look for lean holders on the title or co-signers, verify the seller is the owner. Match the seller's ID (driver's license with picture) to the owner's name on the title.

3. No. A tag is identified to that specific car.

I don't know specifics about OK DMV laws, but what I have stated is universal.

 

Thanks. Yeah, OK specifics is what I’m looking for.

 

Also believe in Oklahoma, you keep your tag now, when you sell your car. Then use it on your next one. So you will have to get a new tag from the tag office, if you dont currently have one.

 

Another point. The "tag" is tied to the registration. The Title is not related to the "tag". Title is tied to the owner and loan holder.

You can not just move a "tag" from car to car without changing the registration.

 

Knew it was something weird. They just changed it in the last few years right? Have had my Tacoma for a while, but bought a camper and believe it was the same.

 

Thanks all. We have the tag from our last car so I will use it if I can. I may call a tag agency tomorrow to see what they say about it.

 

OK resident here. Below is my experience with person-to-person transactions.

The reverse side of a vehicle title in OK has spots where a transfer of ownership can be written down. (Purchaser name, address, actual price, odometer reading, etc. signatures of seller and buyer)



If the timing works, meet the buyer, during business hours, either at a tag agency or a bank (where one of you is a member so you don't have to pay for a notary to help you make the signatures official). Some people will say you don't need to notarize the form, but if you're visiting from out of state then do everything by the book so you don't have to make a trip back.

On the front page of the title, under the section "This vehicle is subject to the following liens:", make sure it is blank, or if there IS a lien listed, the seller must present you with a lien release document from the lien holder (such as the bank that carried the loan). (if there is an active lien, and the seller intends to pay it off with the funds from selling you the vehicle, it's up to you to determine trust and then arrange how that will work out)

As others have said, the seller of the vehicle needs to keep the license plate since that's how it works now. Yes this means you could end up driving back home without a plate, but as long as you have the vehicle title showing you literally just bought it, then you aren't guilty of anything.

 

Oklahoma also has a free bill of sale form that you can print and have the seller sign. Makes things a little more official if you are driving home without a license plate.

 

Well, for the record our old expired tag was not a problem. They gave us a fresh sticker, collected their fees and taxes and we were on our way.

 

OP, glad you didn't have a problem with purchase and the tag.
Just a side note on purchasing cars in Ok. I live in Moore and the last two cars we purchased were from dealers in Dallas. I was able to find more options and saved around $1000-1500 each time. The only issue that you need to be aware of is that in TX they charge the sales tax at the time of purchase. In OK you pay the sales tax when you register the car. Each time I paid the sales tax to the dealer and then they wrote me a check for the amount of the tax.

 

Do the TX dealers know how to calculate sales tax the same way as OK tag agencies? I know for used vehicles there is a formula they go by if the sale price was below market value.

 

Some may, but the TX dealers will charge TX state sales tax. My experience is that TX does charge less sales tax on vehicle purchases than OK as well.