Moving to TN, new car purchase..? (Oak Ridge, Clinton: sales, Valentine's day, how much) - Tennessee - City-Data Forum

DWIM · 02-11-2007, 08:02 AM

We're moving from CA to East TN (around Kingston / Oak Ridge /Clinton area). We'll be driving one of our cars there. But we're intending to sell the other car here in CA.

So our question is: From a purchase cost and tax point of view, is it better to purchase a new car (Honda likely) here & take it to TN or wait and purchase there?

Thanks you in advance for your replies.

LauraC · 02-11-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWIM

We're moving from CA to East TN (around Kingston / Oak Ridge /Clinton area). We'll be driving one of our cars there. But we're intending to sell the other car here in CA.

So our question is: From a purchase cost and tax point of view, is it better to purchase a new car (Honda likely) here & take it to TN or wait and purchase there?

Thanks you in advance for your replies.

I can't answer your question but food for thought - Do you plan to do much driving in the mountainous part of East Tenn.? How will your planned new car do driving up a mountain road? My car struggled a bit, something I was not used to, living in flat areas all of my life. Never used to take the cars on vacations into the mountains of NH, always had the truck, so it never even crossed my mind that even though my car handles extremely well, it might not have the get up and go to climb. Not giving you car advice, just something to think about when you make your purchase in California for driving in East TN.

DWIM · 02-11-2007, 11:40 AM

LauraC: Thank you for your reply. I know I said a Honda'd be 'likely', but that's much more based on other things. E.g., we've been reading the RV posts and may be going that direction (so a sufficiently hefty truck, per comments made there). We have an Odyssey & a Pilot now & will keep the Ody. So the question there will be what to replace the Pilot with (assuming we do).

My major focus was on the tax part of the question. Paying SF Bay area sales tax is one thing. Paying tax in TN is (I believe) different, so was mostly asking about how cars (/ trucks) are treated in TN. I've read what TN gov sites I can find & am confused (or unclear at best). So am looking for advice / pointers in this area. Again, thanks.

John

insanesmooch · 02-11-2007, 10:35 PM

It has been awhile sine I have bought a new car, but I think you just pay regular sales tax then title and registration fees. I tried to look it up on the state site, but that didn't help. The only mention of tax was sales tax, but it took me to a page about sales tax in general.

mbmouse · 02-12-2007, 10:20 AM

From my understanding (when I was researching this about 9 years ago when I worked as an accountant and had to set up our tax in our computer software, and I just looked it up again, still the same.) the state sales tax is 7% and then there is a "local" tax. This what the county gets, here in Washington County (as well as with most others) the county portion is 2.75% which equals 9.75%. Now, on large purchases that are 1 item, in this case a car, you only have to pay local tax on the first $1,600.oo. But there is an extra 2.75% state tax on any single item that is more than $1,600 up to $3,200. After that you only pay the state 7%. So basically, you pay 9.75% tax on the first $3,200 then 7% on the remaining balance.

akm4 · 02-12-2007, 10:44 AM

You're assuming they're from a flat part of CA? Many parts of CA are very mountainous- Sierra Nevadas, Cascades, etc. I see they mention the Bay Area. Could be Mt. Tam, Diablo, hell, SF itself is very hilly!

When we moved to TN from CA I had my Subaru shipped out here but sold it because I didn't need 4WD anymore. We paid, what $800-$1,000 to ship it. It was bundled in, so I can't remember exactly. Anyway, figure the shipping expense into possible savings.

DWIM · 02-12-2007, 09:42 PM

'hell', as you said, is where we're from... We think we're moving to heaven... so that'd make us 'heaven-bound'?.. Guess so.

Ha! Actually, Livermore (Liver-who?) is the 'from', not 'hell' in any way. Thanks all for the replies. Hmmm... Maybe we should think about all those hard-earned dollars and where we'd like them to go (e.g., the tax coffers of which state)...

akm4 · 02-13-2007, 08:43 AM

I know Livermore. Used to work in Pleasanton. I think you'll like it in TN. We're in Williamson Co. Huge change, but a positive one. You'll want to pack a few things, most likely. I'm talking about Trader Joe's, Peet's, small winery wines, Ethel M's and See's chocolates (only see them at Christmas time), etc. What I'd give to spend Valentine's Day in SF for dim sum, Beach Blanket Babylon, and a drink in Japantown. Still, I wouldn't move back for the world.

Hope your family has an easy move. Welcome!

Milo Bloom · 02-13-2007, 11:36 AM

Don't know how much cost difference it would make, but in TN you'll be getting the 49-state emissions package instead of the CA emissions. That means that you may get a little savings on the purchase.

Also, I'm pretty sure the sales tax is paid based on the county that you reside in, not the county where you buy the car. Keep that in mind when shopping.

tnmike · 02-13-2007, 05:31 PM

You might want to check, but sometimes you might have to pay the sales tax again when you move to a differenct state--It depend s on how much you already paid, and might also depend on how long you have had it. If it were me, I woudl just wait until I got to TN, then go car shopping. One less thing to worry about with the move. Remeber, to get the car from the west coast, you either have to have it shipped, or drive it, and either eway has some expenses involved.