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Buying someone a car for a surprise gift even possible?

coolwater

coolwater

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 8, 2009
722
1
We see such TV commercials during every holiday season -- a huge ribbon on the top of a fancy new car parked on the drive-way, and a loved one instantly becoming so elated. Sweet.

However, every time I see such a commercial, I always wonder if it is even possible to buy someone a car without him or her knowing. Every car must be registered and insured so the owner of the car must sign a few documents before you drive it out of the dealership, right?

Can buying someone a car as a surprise gift be really possible?
 
For sure. In all the commercials I've seen, its always been a husband buying a car for the wife or vice versa. So essentially you only have one registered owner on the car, that person being your husband or your wife, no need to have both as registered owners. Same applies to parents and their kids.
 
It Used To Be

coolwater said:
We see such TV commercials during every holiday season -- a huge ribbon on the top of a fancy new car parked on the drive-way, and a loved one instantly becoming so elated. Sweet.

However, every time I see such a commercial, I always wonder if it is even possible to buy someone a car without him or her knowing. Every car must be registered and insured so the owner of the car must sign a few documents before you drive it out of the dealership, right?

Can buying someone a car as a surprise gift be really possible?
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I bought a brand new car for my (sadly now passed) wife in 1996. It did involve a certain amount of subterfuge, and like you say paperwork has to be signed etc. Contact your dealer, explain what you want to do, there used to be a way of exchange registration, but I'm not sure that still works.

It was one HELL of surprise for my wife.....I hope you can pull it off!
 
Not sure how this works...can't you just buy the car as if it were yours and just give it to someone permanently (like your kids/wife) to drive?

You just put your name and your recipients name under 'primary driver' under insurance. As long as they live under your roof (or even not) then it doesn't really affect it.
 
Macman45 said:
How?
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Transfer the registration at a later date?
EDIT: I'm not sure how things are in England but in most places I've lived it's just a quick signature on a form and a stamp from the officials and it's done.
 
I've dove this for my dad. I went to the dealer, and negotiated the price of the car, paid for it and brought it home on dealer tags. After I gave him the car, the next day we went back and he signed all the paper work. Easy peasy
 
My Dad got my Mom a car for valentines day as a surprise. Basically he had it kind of like on a test drive over night or something, then after he gave it to her they went to the dealership to sign the papers.
 
I'm not sure it's a good idea in any case

You own a car for many years and everyone has a different preference. A much better idea is to give them a card telling them you will be taking them car shopping and let them pick what they want (In the price range you were considering). This is assuming that you don't know the exact car they want.
 
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coolwater said:
We see such TV commercials during every holiday season -- a huge ribbon on the top of a fancy new car parked on the drive-way, and a loved one instantly becoming so elated. Sweet.

However, every time I see such a commercial, I always wonder if it is even possible to buy someone a car without him or her knowing. Every car must be registered and insured so the owner of the car must sign a few documents before you drive it out of the dealership, right?

Can buying someone a car as a surprise gift be really possible?
Click to expand...


If it is a family member it is not so much of an issue.

Parents give kids a car well the car is going to be in the parents name any how so not a big issue there. Hell my car is still in my parents name and never will be put into my name for both insurances and money reasons. It has been my car since I was 21 and I am 28 now. We would have to pay title transfer cost plus I would loss all their very nice insurance discounts. Originally it was put in my parents name because the loan was cheaper.

Husband buying a wife a car, It is again who cares that it is in the husbands name. Insurance is again not going to car they will print out new policy slips and not care.
 
My wife bought me a Car for my Birthday some years back.

They delivered to my driveway on a flatbed and put a big bow on it.

If you have the money, they'll pretty much do anything you want...
 
Ive been selling cars for the last 8 years so I can answer this definitively for you.

If you are paying cash you can title a car anyway you want. If it's to be a surprise purchase the car with all the paperwork on your name. Once you receive titlework you can put who ever you want on the title.

Taking a loan or lease on car is a totally different set of challenges.
 
miles01110 said:
Pay in cash and don't tell the person you are giving it to. Simple.
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In my state, you legally cannot purchase a new or used vehicle above 10k without notifying your spouse first. It is impossible, unless you're not married and can hide cash like that.
 
Plutonius said:
I'm not sure it's a good idea in any case

You own a car for many years and everyone has a different preference. A much better idea is to give them a card telling them you will be taking them car shopping and let them pick what they want (In the price range you were considering). This is assuming that you don't know the exact car they want.
Click to expand...

One may already know their preferences. Many people aren't that picky either. They just want a good value for their money. Can't get a much better value than a free new car. I think most people would be happy with a car that is nice, new, reliable, safe, gets good gas mileage and has decent power.

It wouldn't be a good idea to just run out and buy a car if you have no idea what they want, how they'd react or if they are very picky about gifts. Nor something absurd. Like a Corvette to a person with 6 kids they need to drive around.

It all comes down to the person you are buying for. Many people hate gift cards. To them it just doesn't show any thought or care of buying a present. They see it as the lazy way out.
 
Plutonius said:
I'm not sure it's a good idea in any case

You own a car for many years and everyone has a different preference. A much better idea is to give them a card telling them you will be taking them car shopping and let them pick what they want (In the price range you were considering). This is assuming that you don't know the exact car they want.
Click to expand...
A wrapped box with a picture of a car in it and a message, let’s go get it. :)
 
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Shrink said:
If anyone wants to try out buying a car secretly to see if it works - I volunteer as a guinea pig.

Anything in the Porsche 911 series would be fine. :D :rolleyes:
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Same here!
NutsNGum said:
MTV's Sweet Sixteen says, yes.
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To be fair those cars are probably registered and insured in the parent's names.
Huntn said:
A wrapped box with a picture of a car in it and a message, let’s go get it. :)
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That would work until the dealer sells the color she wants
 
I've never bought a car as a present (but have bought my wife's 3 cars).
I don't really think as gifts like that as presents. More like the stuff you you buy when you need a new one.
 
This thread is over 6 years old. I imagine at this point that OP isn't still wondering how to buy a car as a gift.
 
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