PrivateAuto streamlines the experience of buying a car privately, and ensures a safe and secure transaction. Keep reading to find out how to buy your dream car in Nevada, and how we make the process easy.
Should I Buy from a Dealership or a Private Seller?
When considering whether to purchase from a dealer or a private seller, the traditional belief is that dealerships offer convenience, while private sellers provide better value.
Here at PrivateAuto, we strongly advocate for the private seller option due to several advantages:
1. Get a better price by cutting out the middleman and going straight to the source. Dealers must buy low and sell high to make a profit and keep the lights on.
2. Avoid fees. Car dealers charge documentation fees that range from $50 to over $1,000.
3. You drive the deal on your terms. PrivateAuto allows you to make offers and negotiate the best deal directly with the seller.
While it’s true that car dealers offer more convenience, we’re all about making the private-party car buying experience stress-free and safe.
Our transactional marketplace gives you all the tools to drive the deal on your terms, including instant payments of up to $1 million with no fees.
Here at PrivateAuto, we strongly advocate for the private seller option due to several advantages:
1. Get a better price by cutting out the middleman and going straight to the source. Dealers must buy low and sell high to make a profit and keep the lights on.
2. Avoid fees. Car dealers charge documentation fees that range from $50 to over $1,000.
3. You drive the deal on your terms. PrivateAuto allows you to make offers and negotiate the best deal directly with the seller.
While it’s true that car dealers offer more convenience, we’re all about making the private-party car buying experience stress-free and safe.
Our transactional marketplace gives you all the tools to drive the deal on your terms, including instant payments of up to $1 million with no fees.
Find a car
Find a Car For Your Budget
You’re probably looking for private-party used cars online, which means you’ll be using one of the many sites that list used vehicles for sale. You probably have an idea of what you’re looking for and which car brands fit your budget. In which case, it’s time to start your search.
Browse Car-Buying Websites
Most of us will search online when looking for used cars for sale nearby. Here are the types of car-buying websites you will come across.
While these places serve as a great resource for finding a used vehicle, all of them lack transactional capability. We call them “meetingplaces” because they leave your pants down when it comes down to navigating the logistics of closing the deal.
We’re the world’s first and only fully transactional marketplace, offering self-service technological solutions for every stage of the deal.
To experience the hassle-free simplicity of buying from a private seller, browse used cars for sale by the owner and begin your car-buying journey today.
Don’t get us wrong, we have nothing against other listing sites. Most of them have a lot more private-party car inventory than we do— we’re still fresh. But we still want you to have the transactional security and convenience that our users enjoy.
That’s why DealNow was developed. DealNow allows you to create your own private deal room, invite the owner of the car you want to buy, and fast-track the transaction.
Get your deal started now!
- Social media listings.
- Auction websites such as Hemmings and eBay Motors.
- Vehicle listing sites such as Autotrader.
- Online classifieds
- National classifieds such as Craigslist and OfferUp.
- Local classifieds such as KSL Cars.
While these places serve as a great resource for finding a used vehicle, all of them lack transactional capability. We call them “meetingplaces” because they leave your pants down when it comes down to navigating the logistics of closing the deal.
We’re the world’s first and only fully transactional marketplace, offering self-service technological solutions for every stage of the deal.
To experience the hassle-free simplicity of buying from a private seller, browse used cars for sale by the owner and begin your car-buying journey today.
Don’t get us wrong, we have nothing against other listing sites. Most of them have a lot more private-party car inventory than we do— we’re still fresh. But we still want you to have the transactional security and convenience that our users enjoy.
That’s why DealNow was developed. DealNow allows you to create your own private deal room, invite the owner of the car you want to buy, and fast-track the transaction.
Get your deal started now!
Agree on a price
Negotiate the Price
You want to get the very best vehicle for your money, and we allow you to make offers on vehicles that you like. You never know if the vehicle’s owner will accept less than their asking price until you try.
On other sites, you’d have to message the seller and have an awkward exchange bargaining over price. PrivateAuto lets you make an offer with the click of a button. The seller can then accept, reject, or make a counteroffer.
On other sites, you’d have to message the seller and have an awkward exchange bargaining over price. PrivateAuto lets you make an offer with the click of a button. The seller can then accept, reject, or make a counteroffer.
Research the Vehicle
A smart buyer will try to find out as much as they can about the car they’re getting. The two best ways to learn about a vehicle’s background are:
1. Get a vehicle history report
2. Research the car’s title
1. Get a vehicle history report
2. Research the car’s title
Get a Vehicle History Report
Savvy car buyers know that a vehicle history report is smart to ask for when buying a used car. It covers ownership history and maintenance records, and gives you insight into how well the seller cared for the vehicle. We provide a vehicle history report for all premium listings.
Here are some reasons a vehicle history report gives you peace of mind.
1. You know how well the car has been cared for.
2. You have visibility into any accidents or insurance claims.
3. You can see service records, major repairs, and other work.
A vehicle history report can help you steer clear of any car-buying scams.
Here are some reasons a vehicle history report gives you peace of mind.
1. You know how well the car has been cared for.
2. You have visibility into any accidents or insurance claims.
3. You can see service records, major repairs, and other work.
A vehicle history report can help you steer clear of any car-buying scams.
Research the Title
Before meeting up for the test drive, it’s smart to do preliminary research on the car title.
You can use the National Insurance Crime Bureau website to research the title to protect yourself from car-buying fraud.
Sometimes sellers will attempt to pass off a salvage title as clean.
Title research will help you check for:
1. Reports of the car having been stolen.
2. An outstanding lien.
3. The car has been declared a total loss in an insurance claim.
Ask the seller for their full name and the vehicle identification number (VIN) before the meetup. Run the title check, and save yourself the worry.
You can use the National Insurance Crime Bureau website to research the title to protect yourself from car-buying fraud.
Sometimes sellers will attempt to pass off a salvage title as clean.
Title research will help you check for:
1. Reports of the car having been stolen.
2. An outstanding lien.
3. The car has been declared a total loss in an insurance claim.
Ask the seller for their full name and the vehicle identification number (VIN) before the meetup. Run the title check, and save yourself the worry.
Go for a test drive
Schedule a Test Drive
At PrivateAuto, we let you arrange the test drive safely, easily, and conveniently, never revealing your personal information to the seller.
1. Our in-app scheduler lets you pick from the time slots the seller has chosen—no awkward back-and-forth conversations. You’ll also see the seller’s preferred meetup location.
2. You can opt to transact with verified sellers, which will help weed out those who prefer to operate in the shadows.
You’ll schedule the test drive in a matter of minutes without ever needing to contact the seller. It’s just one of the many ways we streamline the private car buying process.
1. Our in-app scheduler lets you pick from the time slots the seller has chosen—no awkward back-and-forth conversations. You’ll also see the seller’s preferred meetup location.
2. You can opt to transact with verified sellers, which will help weed out those who prefer to operate in the shadows.
You’ll schedule the test drive in a matter of minutes without ever needing to contact the seller. It’s just one of the many ways we streamline the private car buying process.
Handle paperwork
Complete Nevada Paperwork
Paperwork is a critical part of the transaction process. Here is the paperwork involved in a Nevada used car transaction:
1. Title
2. Bill of sale
3. Emissions testing
1. Title
2. Bill of sale
3. Emissions testing
Nevada Certificate of Title
You and the seller need to fill out the official Nevada certificate of title. A Nevada title will require both sides to complete the following information at the time of the sale the following info:
- Odometer disclosure.
- Date of sale.
- Vehicle purchase price.
- Seller’s hand-printed name, signature, and address (if there is more than one seller listed on the title, both sellers will need to sign).
- Your hand-printed name and signature.
Nevada Bill of Sale
Nevada requires a bill of sale. It protects you by memorializing the terms of the sale, the VIN, the sales price, mileage, and the names and signatures of both parties. If the seller ever wants to contest the transaction or any part of it, you have their signature on a legal document with all of the terms and details to back you up.
We make it easy with an official Nevada bill of sale in our app. You and the seller review the details, and then digitally sign the bill of sale after inspecting the car.
No printing or scanning— sign it electronically in our mobile app. The document is then stored in your PrivateAuto account as a reference, should you ever need it.
We make it easy with an official Nevada bill of sale in our app. You and the seller review the details, and then digitally sign the bill of sale after inspecting the car.
No printing or scanning— sign it electronically in our mobile app. The document is then stored in your PrivateAuto account as a reference, should you ever need it.
Nevada Smog Check
Nevada requires a smog certificate (emissions test) for most vehicles. Here are the vehicles that require a smog check:
The cost of emissions testing in Nevada is $20.
- Car owners that reside in the urban areas of Washoe or Clark County.
- Gasoline cars.
- Diesel cars that do not exceed 14,000 pounds.
- Cars made in the 1968 model year or later.
- New vehicles are being registered for the third time.
The cost of emissions testing in Nevada is $20.
Transfer funds to the seller
Pay the Seller
When it comes time to pay the seller for their car, there aren’t a lot of great options—until now. Cash is inconvenient and risky, PayPal has fees, Venmo and Zelle have low transfer limits, and checks and wire transfers are slow and unwieldy.
We got bored with how limited the existing payment methods are, so we created a better solution. We call it PrivateAuto Pay. Our users call it magic.
Here’s how the magic works:
1. Instantaneous transfers. Close the deal when you meet for the test drive.
2. No transfer fees.
3. Works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No coordinating around banker’s hours.
4. No exchange of contact or banking info.
5. Advanced encryption protects your data from hackers.
6. Skip inconvenient and costly third-party escrow services when you use our escrow-like safeguards.
You’ll never want to buy a car any other way.
We got bored with how limited the existing payment methods are, so we created a better solution. We call it PrivateAuto Pay. Our users call it magic.
Here’s how the magic works:
1. Instantaneous transfers. Close the deal when you meet for the test drive.
2. No transfer fees.
3. Works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No coordinating around banker’s hours.
4. No exchange of contact or banking info.
5. Advanced encryption protects your data from hackers.
6. Skip inconvenient and costly third-party escrow services when you use our escrow-like safeguards.
You’ll never want to buy a car any other way.
Transfer ownership
Register the car
Get new license plates
Nevada Title Transfer and Registration
After the title is signed, you’ll go to your local Nevada Department Of Motor Vehicles office to complete the Nevada title transfer process. At the same time, you’ll register the vehicle in your name, get new license plates, and pay your Nevada sales tax owed.
Here’s what you’ll need to provide when you transfer your car’s title at the DMV office:
Read our complete guide to a Nevada title transfer for more info on the subject.
Here’s what you’ll need to provide when you transfer your car’s title at the DMV office:
- The Certificate of Title, signed over to you by the previous vehicle owner.
- A completed title transfer application form.
- Lien information (if there is a lien holder on the title).
- Payment for Nevada’s vehicle title transfer fee: $28.25.
- Payment for Nevada registration fee: $33.
- Payment for Nevada license plate fee: $7.50.
- Valid ID, driver’s license, or other proof of identity.
- Proof of insurance.
Read our complete guide to a Nevada title transfer for more info on the subject.
Nevada Vehicle FAQ
Do you have to pay vehicle sales tax in Nevada?
The state of Nevada doesn’t impose sales tax if you buy a vehicle from a private seller. Nevada has a 4.6% used car sales tax rate, but this is only imposed on purchases from car dealers. When buying from a private party, you’re off the hook for sales tax, but don’t forget about vehicle registration fees, title transfer fees, and license plate fees.
How do you request a duplicate vehicle title in Nevada?
In Nevada, you can apply for a duplicate in person or by mail.
To apply for a duplicate vehicle title by mail or in person, you need to do the following:
1. Apply for a duplicate Nevada certificate of title (Form VP-012). This form must be notarized, and it must be notarized before you submit it at your local NV DMV office
2. Pay the duplicate title fee of $20
Mail it to the following address:
NV DMV
555 Wright Way
Carson City
NV 89711-0700
Nevada offers expedited duplicate vehicle titles. To apply for an expedited duplicate title, you need the following:
1. Complete the application for expedited processing of a Nevada title (Form VP-265)
2. Payment for the expedited vehicle title processing fee of $20
When I buy a car from a private seller can I drive it home in Nevada?
When you buy a car from a private seller in Nevada, you can drive it home if you:
1. Have proof of auto insurance for the vehicle before driving it on public streets.
2. Have a movement permit to drive the vehicle on public streets legally.
You must register the vehicle at a DMV office within 30 days of the purchase.
How much is a 30-day drive-away permit in Nevada?
The 30-day drive-away permit costs $8.25. Note that the permit is only used if you’re driving your vehicle out of Nevada to be registered in another state
How old does a car have to be to avoid a smog check in Nevada?
Vehicles that are model 1967 or older don’t require a smog check.
Helpful Resources For Buying A Car
Andy Lewis
Contributing Author
Andy Lewis is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at PrivateAuto, bringing over 30 years of expertise in the technology field to the forefront of the online marketplace….