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Changing car ownership in San Diego

Buying a used car is one of the most common ways of becoming a homeowner, particularly in large cities like San Diego, and while most of the process isn’t all that different from buying a new car, there are a few things that make the purchase unique.

In this short guide, we will talk about the differences between buying a new and a used car, what makes changing car ownership different, and what you should do when it comes to registering your car at San Diego’s DMV.

Buying New vs Buying Used

It goes without saying that, for the most part, buying a used car is more affordable and easier than buying a new car. Likewise, it’s a well-known fact that new cars, by virtue of being new, don’t need to undergo any inspections, and are ready to go the moment you take them out of the dealership.

A crucial difference most people don’t know of is that, in terms of paperwork, buying a new car is much easier, as most dealerships will handle a large portion of the registration process for you.

Mercedez Benz Auto Registration

Buying a used car

What makes buying a used car different is that, unlike with new cars, you can buy a used car from a friend, a family member, someone on FB’s marketplace, etc.

In short, you don’t need a car dealership to buy a used car.

While this can make things easier in some aspects, it does mean that you will have to handle most of the DMV-related paperwork for yourself, and how much, or how little paperwork you’ll have to fill will depend in large part on the condition of the vehicle you’re buying.

From changing the car ownership to acquiring new plates to verifying the car’s condition, there will be plenty of hands-on work to do before you get to drive your car, and while buying from a used-car dealership can help reduce some of this paperwork, it’s not always as straightforward as buying a brand new car.

The solution

One of the best things you can do to minimize the amount of car-related paperwork you need to fill is to hire a DMV services provider.

A DMV services provider, such as Payless Registration, employs DMV-trained individuals who will help you navigate the bureaucratic complexities of charing car ownership in San Diego.

They do this by telling you exactly what forms you’ll need to fill, what tests you’ll need to run, what fees you’ll need to pay, etc. They will also help you fill out the paperwork, inform you of your rights, help you set up appointments and, in short, make the process far easier for you.

By hiring the services of a DMV provider, you can skip most of the guess-work from registering your car, so that, when you do need to go to the DMV, you’ll know exactly where to go and will have all the paperwork you need already filled, and filled correctly.


No guess work, no uncertainty, no time wasted. Payless Registration can help you with title transfers and car ownership changes from the comfort of their offices!

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