In Town for the LEAP Build? How to Get a Work Truck in Lebanon This Week
If you've come to Lebanon to work on one of the big projects in the LEAP district, you probably noticed two things fast: the commute out to the sites is real, and getting around without your own truck is a pain.
We're J&M Auto Sales, a family-owned used car and truck lot at 400 South Lebanon Street, a few minutes from I-65. We've sold trucks to Boone County for over two decades [confirm founding year], and lately a lot of the people calling us are tradespeople who just got here. This post covers what we tell them.
What makes buying a truck harder when you're new in town
Most of the workers we talk to run into the same three problems:
Your license and address are from another state. That's fine. It changes some of the paperwork, but it doesn't stop you from buying.
Your local credit history is thin, or your job is new. Some lenders get nervous about a recent start date. Others care more about your income and offer letter.
You need it now, not in three weeks. You've got a start date, and the site isn't waiting on your car shopping.
None of these are deal-breakers. They just mean you want a dealer who has done it before.
What to bring
Calling ahead saves the most time. Here's what usually helps, though every lender's requirements are a little different:
Your driver's license. Out-of-state is OK.
Proof of income. An offer letter, recent pay stubs, or your union or contractor paperwork.
Proof of address. Your home-state address, plus your local lease or housing info if you have it.
Proof of insurance. You'll need it before you drive off. Your current insurer can often add the truck by phone.
Down payment info, and your trade-in's title or payoff details if you're trading.
Not sure if you have enough? Text Jerry at 317-370-6223 before you come in, and he'll tell you what your situation needs.
Indiana title and plates when you live out of state
This is the question we get most often. The short version:
We handle the paperwork at the time of sale. You don't have to figure out the BMV on your own.
Indiana or your home state? Whether you title and register here or back home depends on your situation and your home state's rules. We'll walk through it with you, including how sales tax works for your state.
Indiana timelines. If you register in Indiana, a buyer has 45 days to apply for title and registration, and a dealer interim plate can cover you for up to 45 days in the meantime.
Sunday is out. Indiana law doesn't allow dealers to sell vehicles on Sunday, so plan on a weekday after your shift or Saturday morning (we're open 9–3).
Financing when your credit is new to Indiana
We work with more than 36 lending sources: banks, credit unions, finance companies and our own in-house financing program. That matters for workers on a new job. If one lender is strict about time on the job, another may look harder at your income and work history instead.
Guaranteed approval options available. Every application is different, and all financing is subject to lender approval. What we can do is send your application to more than one place and tell you straight what's possible.
What kind of truck makes sense for the job
For most people working on a construction site, these are the boxes to check:
4x4. Job sites get muddy, and Indiana winters are real.
A crew cab or double cab if you're carpooling or keeping tools out of the weather.
Half-ton or midsize. A Silverado 1500, F-150, RAM 1500 or Ranger/Canyon-size truck handles tools, a trailer and the commute without heavy-duty fuel bills.
Price. Most of our trucks fall between about $15,000 and $30,000, and most are 4WD.
Every truck goes through our inspection and service process before it's listed. Qualifying vehicles include a nationwide limited warranty you can use at any repair shop, which helps if you're heading to another job when this one wraps up.
What happens when the project ends?
The truck goes with you. If you'd rather sell it before you leave, we buy vehicles too. Bring it by for an offer.
Why workers end up at J&M
Our customers say the same things over and over: Jerry is straight with them, the paperwork is quick (some say done in about 15 minutes), and we work with people other dealers turned away. Plenty of them have driven an hour or more to buy from us. If you're already working in Lebanon, we're right down the road.
Ready to look? Call or text Jerry at 317-370-6223, or start your online.
?? 400 South Lebanon St, Lebanon, IN 46052
?? Mon–Fri 9–6 · Sat 9–3 · Closed Sunday
Financing is subject to lender approval. Down payment and documentation requirements vary by applicant and lender. Applicable Indiana sales tax, BMV fees and dealer documentation fees apply.
