Used car buying guides for every state

Emissions testing in Chicago metro and East St. Louis. Salt-belt rust is severe. 6.25% state sales tax plus locals.

No statewide inspection (emissions in Lake and Porter counties). Salt-belt rust risk. 7% flat sales tax.

No inspection at all. 5% one-time use tax instead of sales tax. Watch for derecho and hail damage.

No inspection (out-of-state vehicles need a one-time VIN check). 6.5% state sales tax. Hail damage common.

No inspection. Severe salt-belt rust is the top condition risk. 6% sales tax. Watch for plow truck history.

Used-car lemon law covers vehicles purchased from dealers. No inspection. Severe winter rust.

Safety inspection required at title transfer for vehicles outside the first 10 model years or 150,000+ miles. Emissions in St. Louis metro.

No statewide inspection. 5.5% state sales tax plus locals. Hail damage and high-mileage farm trucks are common.

No inspection. 5% motor vehicle excise tax. Severe winter rust and oilfield-truck high mileage are state risks.

No inspection (emissions in 7 counties). Salt-belt rust is severe. 5.75% state sales tax plus county adds.

No inspection. 4% motor vehicle excise tax. No state income tax. Hail damage and out-of-state LLC titling are common.

No safety inspection. Emissions in 7 SE counties. 5% state sales tax plus 0.5% county. Severe winter salt rust.

No safety or emissions inspection. 2% state sales tax plus county add-ons. Watch for storm-damaged vehicles re-titled from the Gulf Coast.

No safety or emissions inspection. 6.5% state sales tax. Watch for tornado-damaged vehicles and rural high-mileage trucks.

No state inspection. Highest hurricane flood-vehicle risk in the country. Title washing is widespread post-storm.

Emissions testing in metro Atlanta counties. 7% TAVT replaces sales tax on most vehicle purchases.

No safety or emissions inspection statewide. Property tax assessed on vehicles annually. 6% usage tax at title.

Annual safety inspection sticker statewide (ends Jan 1, 2027); emissions I/M in 5 Baton Rouge parishes. Hurricane flood damage is the top risk; title washing is widespread.

No inspection. 5% sales tax. Hurricane damage along the Gulf Coast and tornado damage statewide are key risks.

Annual safety inspection (emissions in 19 counties). 3% highway use tax at title transfer.

No inspection. 1.25% sales tax plus 3.25% excise tax at title. Watch for tornado and hail damage.

No inspection. 5% Infrastructure Maintenance Fee capped at $500 (replaces sales tax). Coastal flood risk is key.

No inspection statewide; emissions phased out by 2022. 7% state sales tax plus 2.75% local single-article tax.

Safety inspections for non-commercial vehicles ended January 1, 2025; emissions continues in 17 counties (Bexar joins November 1, 2026). 6.25% sales tax. Hurricane risk is high.

Annual safety inspection. Emissions in Northern Virginia. 4.15% Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax.

Biennial safety inspection. 6% privilege tax at title. Severe salt-belt rust and coal-country high-mileage truck patterns.

No statewide sales tax on vehicles. Salt and gravel road wear are common. Verify mileage given long-haul driving patterns.

Emissions testing in Phoenix and Tucson metros. Sun and heat damage on interiors and dashboards is the top condition risk.

Smog certification required at title transfer. Strict CARB rules. Fleet and rideshare history is heavily concentrated here.

Front Range emissions testing. Hail damage and high-altitude wear are state-specific risks. 2.9% state sales tax plus locals.

Annual safety inspection required. Salt-air corrosion and limited supply make pricing aggressive.

No safety inspection. No inspection of any kind since July 1, 2023. 6% sales tax.

No sales tax on vehicles. No inspection. LLC registration loophole drives out-of-state buyer activity.

Emissions testing in Las Vegas and Reno metros. Sun damage and California-import history are key checks.

No inspection. 4% excise tax in lieu of sales tax. Sun damage on interiors and rural high-mileage trucks.

No sales tax (small privilege/use tax). No inspection statewide. DEQ emissions in Portland metro.

Safety inspection ended for most vehicles in 2018. Emissions in Wasatch Front counties. 4.85% state sales tax plus locals.

No inspection (emissions program ended in 2020). 6.5% state sales tax plus locals.

No inspection. 4% state sales tax plus locals. Low fees draw out-of-state titling. Oilfield-truck wear is common.