[crabtrees]

I own a home in CA and NV, but officially live in CA. I'm going to put the CA home up for sale in a month and permanently move to my NV home. Within a week after my move I will obtain my Nevada driver's license and make the permanent transition from a CA resident to a NV resident.


I'm looking for input as to the best strategy for buying a new car. I want to trade in my current vehicle, which is registered in CA, for a new vehicle. One option is to do this transaction here in CA a few days before I move over to NV and just have the dealer register it as a NV vehicle (or provide the paperwork for me to take it to the NV DMV to complete the registration). I think NV gives 30 days from the day I take occupancy in the state to obtain a driver's license and register all vehicles in NV. Is anyone aware of any issues this might create? I would essentially own this new vehicle here in CA for about a week before I move to NV, and once in NV I would make an appointment at the DMV to obtain a state license and register the new vehicle per NV law and the agreement with the dealership here in CA where the vehicle was purchased.


The second option would be to wait until I move and trade in my current vehicle at a Nevada dealership. My concern is that since my car is registered in CA I would have to first take it to the DMV and pay to have it registered in NV, obtain NV plates, AND THEN take it to the dealership and trade it in. Also, to register it in NV I would have to switch over my car insurance to NV insurance, and then update my insurance again once I get the new car. Seems like a waste of money and time. If I bought the new car in CA I could call my insurance company and tell them I need my new car insured and at the same time tell them I am now in NV so that they could make both updates at the same time. By the time I finish the move to NV my insurance would already be switched over and ready to show the DMV.


Any input would help. Seems to me that buying the vehicle in CA just before the move makes the most sense, but I'm not sure of other factors/laws that I am not aware of.

[Cold Warrior]

I don't think a CA dealer can provide you with NV registration. You would need a "One Trip Permit" issued in CA for the trip to NV. That would preclude driving the car for a week in CA. If you show up at a NV DMV without any form of registration they can fine you.

[SportyandMisty]

Life will be simpler if you wait until you are here in NV and then do the complete transaction with a dealership here.

[soclose]

If you can get a deal in CA on a new car compared to NV. Go for it. I'm for sure your already aware about how much registration fees, no surprises about that.

[ddrhazy]

Technically you're supposed to register your car in NV even if you live in another state. But it's difficult for police departments here to keep people honest. Register your car in CA, it's cheaper and so is the insurance.

[OmegaSupreme]

BUY IN CA.

There is so much competition in California, you can get a far better deal.

If I lived in CA, I would consider leasing. Check out the forums at leasehacker, even if your dead set on buying, go and check it out regardless. There is a lot of discussion on getting a good deal and what deals are available that directly applies to buying.

In NV, getting a good deal on buying (and therefore leasing) is very very difficult.

[ragabnh]

I know couple of Nevada residents that bought new cars from California because they could not get similar deals here in Nevada.