Third Coast Auto Group Official Blog
What documents do I need to buy a used car in Texas?
By Product Expert | Posted in FAQs, Used Cars on Saturday, July 13th, 2019 at 8:50 pm
Required Paperwork for a Used Vehicle Purchase
If you’re buying a used car in Texas, you might be wondering what documents you should bring to the dealership in order to make your purchase. Well, we’re here to help, and hopefully guide you on the right path for maximum convenience. Read on to find out what documents are needed when buying a used car in Texas.
The requirements for dealerships vary, but if you want to make sure you’ve covered all the bases, we recommend you bring:
- Valid driver’s license
- Insurance card
- Any trade documents (title, registration, or loan release)
- Last two recent pay stubs (from every job you have, if you have more than one)
- Proof of residency (this could be, for example, in the form of a utility bill)
- List of references (not from individuals living in your household)
The most important things on this list are the first two (although even those are not absolutely necessary). The third is important if you are doing a trade-in, and 4 – 6 are good if you have a troubled credit situation and want to prove your reliability. Of course, at Third Coast Auto Group, we want to work with you, not against you, when it comes to financing your new car.
Technically, all you absolutely need to bring are your payment implements and proof of age (which can be shown by a driver’s license or other official form of ID). If you want to drive your vehicle home, of course, you’ll need a license, and to register and plate it, you’ll need insurance.
What paperwork should you get from the seller when you buy a used car?
When buying a used car, make sure that the seller gives you:
- Buyer’s Order or Bill of Sale – the basic sales contract.
- Finance Agreement or Retail Installment Contract – written form of finance agreement.
- Odometer Mileage Disclosure Form
- Buyer’s Guide
- Certificate of Title (signed)
We will take care of most of the paperwork regarding the DMV and other things ourselves for you here at Third Coast Auto Group.
