Buying a Used Car from a Private Seller in New Mexico

If you’re looking to buy a private-party used car in New Mexico, you’re smart. Dealerships charge fees and markups, which you can avoid when you buy directly from an individual. Let’s walk through the entire transaction process for the Land of Enchantment.

PrivateAuto streamlines the private vehicle buying experience and makes it enjoyable and safe. Keep reading to see how to buy your dream car in New Mexico, and how we make what could be a daunting task quick and safe.

You’re probably looking for private-party used cars online, which means you’ll be using one of the many websites that list cars for sale. You probably have some idea of what type of car you’re looking for and what you can afford; if not, take some time to narrow that down. Then, it’s time to start your search.

Most people choose to search online when they’re looking for used cars for sale near them.


While these platforms serve as excellent resources for finding vehicles, all of them lack transactional capabilities. We call them "meetingplaces" because they leave you to muddle through all the logistics of getting the deal done—and it isn’t pretty.

What makes us stand out is the fact 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 and begin your car-buying journey.

Don't get us wrong we don’t hate the other listing sites. They may have a lot more private-party car inventory than we do. But we still want you to have the transactional security and convenience that our users enjoy.

That’s why DealNow was created. DealNow allows you to create your own deal room, invite the owner of the car you want to buy, and fast-track the transaction.

Get your deal started now!

You want to get the very best car for your budget. PrivateAuto allows you to make offers on cars 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 conversation. PrivateAuto lets you make an offer with the click of a button. The seller can then accept, reject, or counteroffer.

Smart car buyers dig deep to unveil the car's past. The two best ways to learn about a vehicle’s background are a vehicle history report and research on the car’s 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.

In some cases sellers will attempt to mislead or outright deceive—they may try 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) in advance of meeting up. Run the title check, and save yourself the worry.

A vehicle history report is a smart idea when buying a used car. It covers ownership history and maintenance records and gives you insight into how well the seller cared for their car.

PrivateAuto provides a vehicle history report for all premium listings.

Here are some reasons a vehicle history report gives you peace of mind.

1. You have visibility into any accidents or insurance claims.
2. You know how well the car has been cared for.
3. You can see service records, major repairs, and other work.

A vehicle history report can help you steer clear of buying a bad used car.

We let you arrange the test drive in a safe, easy, and convenient manner that never reveals your personal information to the seller.

1. Our in-app scheduler allows you to pick from the time slots the seller has chosen. No back-and-forth conversations. You'll also see the seller's preferred meetup location.
2. You can only transact with verified sellers, which tends to weed out those who prefer to operate in the shadows.

You’ll schedule the test drive in seconds without ever needing to contact the seller. It’s just one of the many ways we streamline private car purchases.

Paperwork is a critical part of the transaction process. Here is the paperwork involved in a New Mexico used car transaction:

1. Title
2. Bill of sale
3. Emissions testing

You and the seller need to fill out the official New Mexico certificate of title. A New Mexico title will require you and the seller to complete the following information at the time of the sale the following info:

New Mexico 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 New Mexico 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—simply sign electronically in the PrivateAuto mobile app. It’s stored in your PrivateAuto account as a reference, should you ever need it.

All vehicles registered in New Mexico require emissions testing. The emissions test fees are set by individual test stations and usually range from $15 to $25 plus applicable taxes.

When it comes time to pay the seller for their vehicle, there aren’t a lot of great options—or haven’t been 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 tired of the limitations associated with existing payment methods, so we created a solution. We call it PrivateAuto Pay. People who use it call it magic. Here’s how it works:

1. Instantaneous transfers. Close the deal when you meet for the test drive.
2. No transfer fees.
3. No exchange of contact or banking info.
4. Works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. No coordinating around banker’s hours.
5. Advanced encryption protects your data from hackers.
6. Skip inconvenient and costly third-party escrow services when you take advantage of our escrow-like safeguards.

You’ll never want to buy a car any other way. And if you’re buying a car on a different website, don’t worry, invite the seller to DealNow fast-track solution to get the transaction done safely, securely, and fast.

After the title is signed over to you, you’ll go to the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office to complete the title transfer process. At the same time, you’ll register the vehicle in your name, get new license plates, and pay your New Mexico sales tax owed.

Here’s what you’ll need to provide when you transfer your car’s title at the MVD office:


Read our complete guide to a New Mexico title transfer for more info on the subject.