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I will go to the bay area for a couple of months working.
I was thinking of buying a new car since I my beater is in Michigan and costs $1000 to transport (car is worth $1500-2000 max).
If I buy a car in CA:
-I have to pay sales tax unless I ship it out of state right? (8.25% or something..)
-Will I get a refund on my CA taxes if I have to pay them? Or will I be double taxed?
-Do I have to register it in CA as well or can I get a temp plate? (MI lets me register by mail, so I could do that with a temp plate from CA)
Other options?
-Should I buy a car from Oregon or Nevada?
-Or have someone buy me a car in Michigan and transport it to CA?
Can someone with this expertise please help, I asked my friends but each one is giving me a different answer and I contacted DMV in Michigan but CA is hard to reach.
In the past, when we have bought a car out of state, we have had to register it first in the state it was purchased in...then re-register it in our home state. The state selling it wants it's "fair share" of collected taxes. Each state may differ tho.
So were you double taxed when that happened?
Was it for temp tags or did you get full plates in the first state then have to re-register in the new one?
No, we were not double taxed on the purchase price, but doubled on the registration fees. (Ca. registration fees are unbelievably high...and they tax on the value of the car.)
We had to wait for the perm. plates to be issued before we could register it in our home state and did have to pay registering fees again.
There are a # of forms to be filled out. It is no different than if you were just moving from one state to another. The fact that it is new, does not matter.
No matter what, you can be sure Ca. will collect on all it's taxes.
I bought one in GA and lived in TN. I paid the registration fees to transfer the title from the GA dealership to me and was sent the GA state vehicle title. I then took it to my dept motor vehicles in TN and had it registered in this state to me. I paid the registration in TN and then paid the taxes. So Shelby is correct for just about every state I do believe. You pay registration in the state you bought in and the state you live in, but taxes only in your home state.
Tex makes a really good point though. Calif emissions are so much more strict, which means their cars are way more expensive too. Not at all worth it........... unless you're a Gore / Global Warming follower. Then go ahead and spend the extra money so they can send it to the Global Warming Gods to save us all.
Honestly, I think you'd be better off to sell the car in your state now, buy something in your state that's used and in decent shape and drive it to CA. You can rent a trailer to pull your stuff in since you'll be there a while. It'll save you a fortune.
Can't the CA dealer provide a temporary registration? When I've bought cars out of state (e.g., my last out of state car was bought in VA), I did not pay sales tax and the dealer gave me a temporary plate good for 20-30 days to get home and register in the home state. Call the dealer.
Can't the CA dealer provide a temporary registration? When I've bought cars out of state (e.g., my last out of state car was bought in VA), I did not pay sales tax and the dealer gave me a temporary plate good for 20-30 days to get home and register in the home state. Call the dealer.
That's exactly what we've all said. He will get a temp. registration from the state he is buying in...and then re-register in his new state.
But who did you pay your sales tax too? You have had to pay it somewhere?
That's exactly what we've all said. He will get a temp. registration from the state he is buying in...and then re-register in his new state.
But who did you pay your sales tax too? You have had to pay it somewhere?
you pay your sales tax when you register the vehicle in your home state
Truthfully, I would consider renting a car. There are some companies that have different rates for long term rentals.
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of collected taxes. Each state may differ tho.
