Is the used car market NYC expensive?

I've never heard of cars in a certain city costing more than elsewhere. Look up the Kelley Blue Book value of the car and don't pay more than that.

and if you can't get a good deal in NYC, then go to NJ. You will pay less sales tax so right there you save money.

Doesn't matter a lick, the market is the market and honestly, I'd RATHER buy a non-city car, and I bet many others agree, so with that in mind, they might even be cheaper (unless you are ONLY looking at dealers). I got a better deal buying a new car from a Manhattan dealer than any of the tri-state dealers quoted...can't imagine why it would be any different.

And regarding Sales Tax, it's charged based on where the car is registered, not where you buy it...unless this is different for used cars than it is for new cars?

It's the same for a used car. When you register it with the NYS DMV, you have to have either proof of having paid sales tax, or the bill of sale. If the latter, you pay the sales tax at time of registration.

I suppose the seller could fudge the amount, but it'd be a risk. NYS is much tougher than, say, the IRS in enforcement.

did not know that. I have not bought a car in 10 years.

find a used car dealer who is willing to take you to bordentown auction in nj for $300-500. every thursday, you have 9000 cars to choose from. most just off lease. will save 20% at least.

ebay - use to shop for price

http://www.lemonprotector.com/

I bought 4 cars already from Jay. He has a used car dealer license but does not operate out of a storefront. He can either take you to the auctions (PA,long island, there are several) or you can give him a wish list of make, model, year, options, etc. and he can have it delivered.

The highest pries tend to be those from classifieds, etc. Like in real estate people think their cars are the best quality and should get the max blue book price. At the auctions you are shopping at the same place the used car dealers get their cars.

Best of luck.

Buy used cars in the south where they have been properly garaged and have not spent time on salted, pot holed, roads squeezed in between a snow plows and a-holes who think their bumper buddies are some kind of magical force field.

"It's the same for a used car. When you register it with the NYS DMV, you have to have either proof of having paid sales tax, or the bill of sale. If the latter, you pay the sales tax at time of registration."

Not if the bill of sale is for $0 dollars and from an immediate family member. Not a difficult problem to deal with, particularly if you have family members that live in areas where there are not salted, pot holed, roads where cars are typically squeezed in-between snow plows and a-holes who think their bumper buddies are some kind of magical force field.

most people in the suburbs do not put their cars in the garage. They park in the driveway and use their garages for storage. I had one neighbor who parked a Bentley in the street.

http://www.kbb.com/ is your friend.

Kelley Blue Book is your first stop for reasearch.

Also, you can plug in the different zip codes of where you want to buy your used car (city v suburb) and it will tell you the price average in that area.