Just realized something wild - the state you live in can literally save or cost you thousands when buying a car. I was looking into cheapest states to buy a car and the differences are insane.

Turns out places like Oregon and Montana have basically zero sales tax on vehicles, which is a massive advantage. Meanwhile, states with cheapest cars overall tend to combine low taxes with reasonable dealer fees. Oregon tops the list with no sales tax and super low dealer fees ($353), while Montana pulls off the same tax trick despite car prices running 15% above national average.

Hawaii surprised me - cars there are actually 3.58% cheaper than the national average, and New Hampshire has some of the lowest prices period. But here's the thing: even states with cheapest cars sometimes get hit with high dealer fees that eat into savings.

If you're shopping for a vehicle, states with cheapest cars to buy aren't just about price tags. Sales tax, dealer fees, and local market conditions all matter. Worth checking what the situation is in neighboring states before you finalize that purchase.