In the modern world, car shoppers have access to vehicles for sale from dealers across state lines, individuals across the nation on Craigslist, and even international sellers on eBay who’ve posted a ride online. But is it wise to buy a vehicle across state lines? Regardless of whether you buy new or used or from a dealer or direct from the titleholder, buying a car across state lines comes with a unique set of challenges. Consider these rules about vehicle registration and other parts of the car buying process before committing to the purchase of a vehicle outside your state.
Emissions Requirements
Some states, such as California, have strict emissions requirements that don’t apply in other states. Not much is worse during the buying process than bringing a car across state lines only to pay more than you expected in taxes because it doesn’t meet the emissions codes where you live. You might even have to sell the car and find another in this situation. The following states follow the California Air Resources Board’s air quality standards:
- California
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- Washington D.C.
If you live in one of these states, research the emission laws carefully and check that the used vehicle you want to purchase meets these standards.
State Taxes
You won’t be able to avoid your state’s tax laws if you buy in another area. Instead, the dealership will either apply the relevant tax based on the state where the vehicle will be registered or leave it to the DMV when you go to register the vehicle.
If you buy direct from the titleholder, remember to account for the taxes you’ll have to pay. These will be charged at the DMV based on the total amount of the sale. You must pay the tax before the vehicle can be registered in your state.
Registration
When you purchase a car out of state, the dealer should provide you with a temporary tag or license plate that you can use for 7 to 10 days. The fee for this is part of the purchase of the vehicle. This will give you enough time to get the car home and register it in your state. Be particularly mindful of this issue if you’re buying through a private owner. You’ll have to handle temporary registration on your own, pay the fee, and remember to update your plates before the temporary license expires.
Transportation
You might find a deal online that looks excellent at first glance but turns sour when you factor in costs for shipping or transportation. Buying a vehicle when you’re out of state on vacation and driving it home is straightforward, but costs for shipping or towing an out of state vehicle to you will be expensive. Think about the trouble and expense of this process to accurately determine whether an out-of-state vehicle is actually a good deal.
The world is your car lot when it comes to buying a new vehicle today. You can find a great deal out of state, but remember to consider emissions laws, taxes, registration, and transportation before committing to the purchase of a new vehicle.
El Paso is an incredibly sunny place, enjoying an average of over 300 days of sunshine per year. Though you could take a walk at one of the city’s many small parks or spend some time looking at the street art downtown, if getting some sun is your goal, you should head to a few specific spots in the city. Try one of these six best places in El Paso to enjoy the sun.
Franklin Mountains State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park spans over 24,000 acres, making it the largest urban park in the United States. If you want some sunshine and are up for some hiking, this is the place to be. The park is within a 15-minute drive of the downtown El Paso area, and once you arrive, you can explore over 100 miles of trails. The park is also popular for mountain biking and all-terrain vehicles, so if you’re craving something more athletic, you can enjoy a challenging ride while you soak up some sunshine.
Thousand Steps Trail
If you’re looking for a moderate hike, pack your things and go to the trailhead for Thousand Step Trail. This path is part of Franklin Mountains State Park, and you can access it off N. Stanton Street near the Camelot Corporate Condominiums. But be prepared for a challenge. This trail is ranked as a moderate hike, and the steps get steep enough at some points that you’ll have to use your hands to ascend. Your efforts will be rewarded with some warm sun and an excellent view of El Paso.
Scenic Drive Overlook
If you want one of the best views of El Paso without having to hike for it, go to Scenic Drive Overlook. Scenic Drive Overlook is south of Franklin Mountains State Park off Scenic Drive above Golden Hill. The area is adorned with benches for sitting and paths for walking, and the view on clear, sunny days is incredible — you can see all the way across the border into Cuidad Juarez.
El Paso Desert Botanical Gardens
Part of Keystone Heritage Park, the El Paso Desert Botanical Gardens is an excellent spot for a light walk, stopping to smell the flowers, and admiring El Paso’s towering mountains in the distance. The outdoor gardens feature yuccas, prickly pears, cholla, and other native flora.
El Paso Municipal Rose Garden
El Paso Municipal Rose Garden is another spot with beautiful foliage. On the edge of Memorial Park, you’ll find that visiting this intimate four-acre garden is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. More than 1,500 roses representing 430 varieties are on display at this lush park. Gardeners add new roses ever year, and volunteers carefully maintain the plants. El Paso Municipal Rose Garden is open to the public March through November from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ready for some sun? El Paso is a gorgeous city, and it’s best appreciated on one of its many bright and warm afternoons. Check the forecast — on the next sunny day, plan a trip out to one of these excellent spots.
Image by VisitElPaso licensed under CC BY 2.0
3 Acuras With Enough Cargo Space For Your Golf Clubs
If you find yourself thumbing through Golfweek in your free time or are a fan of the Golf Channel, chances are you might have a golf addiction. To quell your cravings, El Paso has over a dozen courses that are waiting for you. Without the proper amount of cargo space in your vehicle, however, you can’t have your clubs ready to go on a whim. Fortunately, Acura has a lineup of spacious vehicles that can accommodate all your golf clubs, your friends’ clubs, and even your golfing buddies.
Acura RDX
The 2018 Acura RDX is one of the most highly acclaimed luxury crossovers on the market. A refined exterior with large alloy wheels and smooth curves will have you looking like a true PGA professional as you drive up to the clubhouse. Inside, you and four of your golfing partners will enjoy comfortable leather seating, while one lucky person gets the advantage of heated and ventilated front seats.
Even with a packed house, the RDX offers 26.1 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, which is more than enough for a half-dozen golf bags. If you need even more room or you’re accommodating more gear than people, fold the seats away to reveal an amazing 61.3 cubic feet of cargo space.
Acura MDX
If the RDX isn’t large enough for your everyday driving needs, upgrade to the full-size 2018 Acura MDX. Depending on your choice of configuration, the MDX has enough room for six or seven occupants, meaning you can bring two threesomes and nearly two foursomes to a golf scramble or other golf outing. At full capacity, the MDX still boasts 14.9 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold the second-row and third-row seats down if need be to reveal 90.9 cubic feet of space for extra golf accessories or maybe even a putting green that you put down wherever you are.
Acura RLX
The 2018 RLX is the flagship of the Acura sedan lineup, chock-full of opulent interior amenities, as well as alluring looks that will make the country club’s valet guy drool as he hops in the cockpit. If you have to take some of your golfing partners to the clubhouse, the RLX has some of the best headroom and legroom in the luxury car industry, offering an enjoyable experience for both front and rear passengers. All trims also come with comfortable leather seating and heated and ventilated seats that help warm or cool you after a long day at the links.
The trunk accommodates between 14.7 cubic feet and 14.9 cubic feet of space, which is more than enough for a couple golf bags. If that’s not enough space, use the 60/40 folding rear seat to put even more golf clubs inside the cabin.
With your favorite or two favorite sets of clubs in tow, you’ll always have just what you need to hit the links for a quick round or an entire weekend outing. Check out our inventory of Acura vehicles to see what we have in stock today.
Magnera by L.C. Nottaasen is licensed under CC BY 2.0
3 Reasons to Visit Bassett Place With Your Date
Whether it’s your first date or your thousandth, you always want to go somewhere that’s fun for both you and your significant other. Although a shopping mall doesn’t seem like the ideal place to rekindle the flame, Bassett Place in El Paso isn’t your average mall. With plenty of dining and entertainment options, you’ll quickly find out that Bassett Place makes a spectacular date destination.
See a Movie Premier Cinema and IMAX Theater
The jury is still out on whether a movie is the best or the worst first date idea, but for couples that have been together for awhile, it’s always a treat to see a movie you’ll enjoy with someone you love. The Premier Cinema and IMAX Theater at Bassett Place has 17 theaters and one IMAX theater for your viewing pleasure. The theater shows all the latest Hollywood releases, as well as the occasional local or indie film. You can even book your ticket online to avoid the lines and guarantee your choice of seat.
4 Ways to Get a Car With Bad Credit
As of May 2017, over 107 million Americans currently have an auto loan. In order to get the car of your dreams, you need financing; in order to get financing, you need good credit. Experian estimates that 30 percent of Americans have poor or bad credit, ranging from 300 to 600. If your score falls within this range, don’t fret. With a different shopping approach, you can still get behind the wheel of the car you want.
Clean Up Your Credit
Three months before you plan on buying your car, clean up your credit. Online sites and credit card companies now offer free copies of your credit report, so it’s easy to see where you can improve. Start by paying down any outstanding loans or credit cards, get yourself out of collections, dispute any fraudulent charges, and pay back any charge-off items.
The 3 Most Beautiful Buildings in El Paso
With a history stretching back as far as 1680, El Paso has one of the most diverse and lengthy cultural backgrounds in the country. While this interesting background is still seen today in El Paso’s food and culture, the city also has some of the most beautiful buildings in the Southwest. If you’re an architecture buff, make sure to take a look at some of these amazing and iconic El Paso buildings.
St. Patrick Cathedral
Located in downtown El Paso, St. Patrick Cathedral is one of the El Paso’s most recognized historic landmarks. Designed by the St. Louis architectural firm Barnett, Haynes, and Barnett, the cathedral’s construction started in 1914 and was completed on Thanksgiving Day in 1917. Built in a blended style of Byzantine and Romanesque styles, the cathedral is unlike any other building in the city.
Few automakers venture into the luxury hybrid SUV market, yet the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid shines in its class. Not only is it an excellent vehicle for urban professionals, but families will find that its offerings are ideal for their needs. With tons of entertainment and convenience options, a sizeable cabin, and an efficient hybrid powertrain, the Acura MDX Sport Hybrid is sure to please parents and kids alike.
Go Further on a Tank of Gas Without Sacrificing Power
Your kids may not have learned the value of a dollar, but you certainly have. Because of this, you’ll appreciate how much further you can go on a single tank of gas in the 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid. The best part is that you don’t have to sacrifice power to do it.
The 3 Most Common Reasons Engines Overheat
Your car engine is a work of art and ingenious design. Using hundreds of components, it gets you to your destination just by pushing a pedal to the floor. Unfortunately, its strong performance can’t last forever, and one day, you may be driving only to notice your temperature gauge shoot to “H” and steam or smoke billowing from under the hood. Even with proper maintenance, these problems aren’t always preventable. By knowing what causes them, you can have a better idea of how to amend the problem at the right price.
Cracked Radiator
A radiator is one of the most vital aspects under the hood of your car, and it’s the first place you should check if you notice your engine overheating. However, it’s important to understand the role that a radiator plays in keeping your engine at optimal temperatures.
How Does Your Car Battery Charge?
How a Car Battery Works
Your vehicle uses tons of power to start the ignition and other accessories in your car. Because it drains so much energy, a normal battery couldn’t handle the workload. Instead, vehicles use a rechargeable battery in conjunction with a charging system. Every battery has a pair of lead plates within the core, which are then immersed in a mix of distilled water and sulfuric acid. Each of the plates is connected to a terminal, which has a metal nub or attachment on the top, which you use to connect your battery cables.
Where to Get Dance Lessons in El Paso
El Paso Ballroom Dance Academy
Ballroom dance in El Paso is about as far removed from its source as cowboys are to New York. Fortunately, the El Paso Ballroom DanceAcademy can teach you all the moves you’ve craved since your last viewing of “Dirty Dancing” or “Footloose.” With college-trained instructors with years in teaching or show business, you can make your one-two step finally look legit.
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