New Job and a Move to San Diego

[ShelbyGirl1]

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/vr/vr_info

[RainbowHope]

When we moved here and were filling out the forms with the DMV, there is a spot where you are asked when your car was brought into CA.

Is your name the only one on the car?

[gbbg]

Originally Posted by ShelbyGirl1

When the car is brought into the State, you will state the value and that is the amount of tax you will pay.
If the car is in the State, than it has to be registered in the State. It makes no difference if the owner is not with it.
You could conceivably leave it registered in Tx until you get here, but the fine is a stiff one if you are caught.

Ah, I just did the research and calculated the amount due. I think I understand the scenario better now. Thanks for your help!

Any more tips for the move to San Diego?

[gbbg]

Originally Posted by RainbowHope

When we moved here and were filling out the forms with the DMV, there is a spot where you are asked when your car was brought into CA.

Is your name the only one on the car?

Yes, and on the lien. So, kinda stuck for now.

[deadcoder]

Originally Posted by gbbg

My spouse recently got a job in San Diego. We both loved the place last time we visited. Will be moving from DFW area to SD in about a month (I will be moving later ~ 6 months). I have some questions on the move .

1. Car is registered in my name but will be used in San Diego. How does the registration stuff work now? Do I have to register the car in California and get the CA plates? I will be in Texas for at least next 6 months. Car is financed too.

2. Is it advisable to buy a new car in Texas, and move it to SD few months from now or buy it in CA now? 6.25% is the sales tax here in Texas.

3. Best way to move one half of a 2-bed apartment? We're thinking of using a Pod (from U-Haul or U-pack), while we drive ourselves and few boxes in the car over two days. Any experience in using the pod?

Any advise on these or other things would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

About #2, do not buy a new car in Texas if you are moving to San Diego soon. You will have to pay used/sales tax again (for the difference) if it's new or < 12 months old. On DMV site, there is a car registration calculator, you can try that one. I also moved to SD 3 months back with new car purchased in Austin. Again registration process is little bit different comparing to Texas which will slow down the entire process if the car is purchased in TX.

I had the same question and you can check my thread as well:

//www.city-data.com/forum/san-d...-tax-when.html

[gbbg]

@deadcoder
Hello! We lived in Austin for a while (southwest) before moving to DFW.
That thread escalated quickly ... Based on the calculations on the dmv site, it looks like about $208 for the entire process. The current TX reg expires at the end of this month. We might drive to San Diego before 31st. In that case, I should probably register the car here, right? I read there are certain penalties if the car's registration in the home state expires and then is brought to CA.

Any idea?

[deadcoder]

Originally Posted by gbbg

@deadcoder
Hello! We lived in Austin for a while (southwest) before moving to DFW.
That thread escalated quickly ... Based on the calculations on the dmv site, it looks like about $208 for the entire process. The current TX reg expires at the end of this month. We might drive to San Diego before 31st. In that case, I should probably register the car here, right? I read there are certain penalties if the car's registration in the home state expires and then is brought to CA.

Any idea?

I'm not sure about that. But you generally have 20 days grace period after you initiate residency. For old car, tax might not be an issue. But for newly purchased out of state car and when moving that car within < 12 months, then CA charge used/sales tax. I paid around $500 in January when I register my car here even though my registration was valid till August 2015.

Another new thing which I faced was - car registration card. If you don't have title with you (most of the time you will not have title if you purchased it with loan), then they need your previous/current registration card. In Texas, DMV don't issue any registration card. At least not in San Antonio, Austin. So I had to go through several process, then title was first sent from Texas to California Nissan, then Nissan to CA DMV. Then they issued my registration and sent a mail last week. Yes, I took 2 months!!!! Welcome to California Definitely, you will not get quality services from govt/state offices here - comparing to Texas. And don't forget to take an appointment at DMV before going there.

[gbbg]

Woah man! You're my new best friend! Two months?? And yes, we have a Nissan too, financed from NMAC. So I have to walk in your footsteps now.

Does it matter that the car is registered to me and I will be still in Texas?

[deadcoder]

Originally Posted by gbbg

Woah man! You're my new best friend! Two months?? And yes, we have a Nissan too, financed from NMAC. So I have to walk in your footsteps now.

Does it matter that the car is registered to me and I will be still in Texas?

No, I don't think so (assuming you are talking about the car which you already have). But make sure to bring or collect Registration Card (Travis, Bexar counties don't provide that). Otherwise if you have to contact NMAC to mail your title to DMV. DMV will issue a letter asking NMAC to mail title to their specific address. Then you need to fax that letter to NMAC.