Buying a New Car in Vermont

The long and cold winters that Vermont is associated with mean that most of the time, car shoppers are looking for the kind of vehicle that can pull them through a blizzard or storm of blowing snow - preferably something with all-wheel drive, and of course heated seats. It also means that when it comes to car shopping, having to drive all over the state in search of dealers willing to arrange test drives is not the most practical option. This article lists the towns which offer the strongest groupings of different car dealers, and it also dives into the topic of Vermont car registration and the fees and forms associated with it.

Vermont shares a border with Canada, and as a result there are a number of car dealerships clustered around its northern perimeter to take advantage of Canadians interested in getting a good deal on a brand new car or truck. This means that Newport and St. Albans, although small towns, are able to benefit from their geography and offer a decent number of car lots. Surprisingly, the state's largest city, Burlington, isn't particularly known for a strong dealership presence, but towns further south such as Rutland and Bennington help to pick up some of that slack.

Car dealerships in Vermont are authorized to submit registration and titling paperwork to the DMV for you so that can help you to save a trip or two when finalizing your car purchase. You won't be let off the hook when it comes to the fees associated with the process, however. The first fee you will encounter is a Motor Vehicle Warranty Fee, which is new for 2009 and will cost you $5.00. A title costs $31.00, and a one year registration for a passenger car or pickup truck (up to 6,099 lbs) comes in at $65.00. Registering for two years can save you $8.00 off the total cost.

Sales tax on brand new cars or trucks in Vermont is set at 6 percent, and it is calculated on the MSRP of the vehicle that has been purchased.