Catherine leverages her background in education and finance to write articles that help readers make informed decisions about their insurance and finances.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
The cost to buy a used car has decreased from pandemic highs, which is good news for the many car buyers who want to save some cash on their next vehicle purchase.[1] According to data from Cox Automotive, 36.2 million used-car sales are forecasted in 2023. This number is a decrease from 2022 levels.[2]
If you plan to buy a used car, it’s important to know the steps to take after the purchase. The specific steps may differ depending on whether you purchase your car from a dealer or private seller.
Cheapest recent rates
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $35/mo for liability only and $44/mo for full coverage.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on April 15, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from April 15, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on April 15, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from April 15, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Transfer the title and register your car
The first and most important step after buying a used car is transferring the title to your name and registering the car. If you purchased your car using a loan, your lender typically keeps the title until you pay your car loan in full. Dealerships typically handle title transfers and vehicle registration, so you should confirm this with them and ask any questions you may have if you purchased your car from one.
If you purchase your car from a private party, the seller should give you their signed title. Review the car title carefully to ensure the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the title matches the car. You’ll take the signed title, bill of sale, proof of insurance, your driver’s license, and any other required paperwork to your local department of motor vehicles office to complete an official title transfer and register your car.
Compare car insurance quotes and secure a policy
You have to provide proof of insurance before you can drive off the lot if you buy your used vehicle from a dealership. And you have to purchase car insurance before you drive a car you buy from a private seller. Call your car insurance company or agent before buying your used car and ask them about your options prior to purchasing an insurance policy.
In order to secure the best deal for car insurance, you should compare quotes from at least three insurance companies.[3] Decide how much coverage you want and compare quotes for policies with the same coverage limits and deductible with an online comparison tool.
Get your car inspected
Since the vehicle you purchased isn’t a new car off the lot, it’s important to have your car fully inspected to see if it needs necessary repairs. Even if the previous owner had a clean driving record, you should get an unbiased third-party inspection.[4] If you can, you should get your car inspected before the purchase.
Good to Know
Once you own the vehicle, you should have it inspected regularly to make sure it’s in working condition and doesn’t pose any dangers. In some states, like New York, drivers must complete vehicle inspections for all registered vehicles once a year.[5]
Perform regular maintenance
Not keeping up with car maintenance could lead to safety issues. Read your owner’s manual to see how often the car needs service and make note of how frequently you should take the car in for an oil change, tire rotation, and more.
For example, most cars need an oil change sometime between 5,000 and 10,000 miles driven. You can also speak to a trusted mechanic to ask what maintenance schedule they recommend to keep your car running smoothly.
Find Affordable Car Insurance
Insurify partners with 100+ top insurers for accurate quotes
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Buying a used car FAQs
You have a lot to consider when buying a pre-owned vehicle. The information below should help make the process go more smoothly.
What are the first things you should do after buying a used car?
After buying a used car, you need to transfer the car’s title to your name. You also need to register the car and purchase car insurance before driving the vehicle on public roads.
How long after buying a used car do you need to get car insurance?
You can’t drive your car off the lot without proof of insurance if you buy your vehicle from a used car dealership. Similarly, you need to buy coverage before you can legally drive a car you purchased in a private sale. Luckily, it’s quick to compare quotes online and secure car insurance in just a few minutes.
How long do you have to put on license plates after buying a used car?
The amount of time you have to put a license plate on your car depends on the state you live in. You might get a temporary license plate at first while you wait for your actual license plate to arrive. Read the fine print on your local DMV website to find specific information relating to your vehicle.
How long do you have to register a used car after you buy one?
The amount of time you have to register a used car after purchase varies based on the state you live in. You typically have a few days to a couple months to complete the process before incurring a late fee. Check with your local DMV office to find out the rules and criteria for registering a car in your state.
What should you do before buying a used car?
Before you make a used car purchase, you should research the car’s vehicle history by looking up its VIN and CARFAX report. The vehicle history report should show any past damage from previous owners, including from past accidents or water damage from flooding. You should also do a test-drive and have a trusted mechanic inspect the car.
Catherine Collins is a freelance financial writer and author based in Detroit. She's the co-founder of MillennialHomeowner.com and MomsGotMoney.com, and author of the book Mom’s Got Money: A millennial mom’s guide to managing money like a boss. She has written for US News, Huffington Post, Money, Business Insider, Investopedia, Entrepreneur, Go Banking Rates, and many other publications. She currently resides in Detroit, Michigan with her boy-girl twins and a rescue dog named Julep.
Edited byKatie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Katie PowersAuto and Life Insurance Editor
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
)
)