Vehicle purchases

When purchasing brand new vehicles from a dealer, often the dealer will have titling paperwork ready for you at the time of purchase. The signed agreement and title application serve as proof of ownership until you receive the official title from the state motor vehicle office.

The same is true when purchasing a used vehicle from a dealer, but buying a used vehicle from a private seller may require more diligence on your part. As a best practice, you should ask to see the title before agreeing to the purchase. The title should reflect whether there is an outstanding lien on the vehicle or whether the vehicle has been in an accident and declared a total loss. If declared a total loss, you may have more difficulty insuring the vehicle.

In any case, you should have proof of the title application or the title itself in your hand at the time of purchase. Remember, the title is your proof of ownership, and even though you’ve paid for the vehicle, without the title you don’t officially own the vehicle.

Mergers and acquisitions

As companies merge with or acquire other companies, many legal or regulatory issues need to be addressed, including re-titling and re-registering vehicles. When this happens, you’ll want to work closely with the company you’re acquiring or joining to make sure you have the proper paperwork to transfer ownership and register properly with the state motor vehicle office.

Sales tax

Depending on your company’s operations, you may or may not need to pay sales tax when purchasing a vehicle. Many states have a sales tax exemption for interstate carriers or for carriers who are for-hire.

If you find yourself needing to move a vehicle from one state to another, you might be subject to a sales tax when you re-title and re-register the vehicle in the new state. Some states may accept that sales tax was paid to another state through a reciprocity agreement, but you may want to consult with a tax professional because the requirements vary from state to state.

Title and registration management

Whether you keep paper titles or store them electronically, keeping your titles up to date may be just as important as having them in the first place. Various changes can occur to titles on your vehicles, including lien holders changing or being released after a loan has been paid off.

Key to remember: Having accurate information on your titles and maintaining access to them will ensure smooth transactions whenever changes need to be made regarding registration or ownership of your vehicles.