Adam_W

Just wondering if an out of state purchase - whether new or old car, and whether from individual or dealer - would require me to pay sales tax both in the state of purchase as well as my own state (California), or just in California.

If double the tax, then this would have important implications in car shopping and my knowing the final cost.

Thanks in advance.

CaryBob

Most, if not all, states collect the tax at registration, not at purchase. You should therefore pay the tax in California at the time you register the car in California. Think about it -- suppose you buy from a private party? No tax collected, right?

OKJefe

I live in OK and bought my C6 in TN. Paid taxes at registration on the purchase price when I got my tag. Didn't have to pay any taxes in TN.

jon6.0

If you buy a private party vehicle in Arizona and register it in Arizona, there is no sales tax. Only dealers collect sales tax on a vehicle sale. Arizona also prints your title right on the spot. So if you find a vehicle from a private party around Phoenix, PM me and you can use my PO Box to register it and save money. Then just transfer the title in Cali after a bit. I think to transfer a vehicle into Cali it has to have over 7500 miles on it though. To prevent people from getting non-Cali emissions vehicles and immediately bringing them into Cali.

Don-Vette

You only pay the sales tax for the state you live in(when you register vehicle),and when you buy new from an out of state dealer like I did,they do everything for you. I bought my car at Criswell in M.D. I told them I'm just transferring my old plates from my trade,they put a temporary plate on and I drove home to N.Y. a few weeks later I got my NY registration in the mail and then I took off the temporary tag and put my old plates back on. I did not have to go to my local DMV at all!!!! and if you trade a vehicle in you only pay sales tax on the difference between the two.

jon6.0

Yup. I remembered correctly. Any vehicle which has less than 7500 miles on it is considered a new vehicle.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/NonCAVeh/NonCAVeh.pdf

More info on registering an out of state vehicle:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr9.htm

VET4LES

I live in California and bought mine from Maxie Price in Georgia. They collected CA sales tax and forwarded it to them. I only paid CA tax.

GOLD72

FortMorganAl

I bought from a dealer in Michigan, took delivery in Kentucky, registered in Illinois, transfered to Alabama. Illinois collected the sales tax when I registered there as well as the annual plate fee. Alabama now collects property tax as part of the annual plate renewal.

If a dealer does try to collect sales tax it legally belongs to the state where you are registering the car. Technicality is some dealers want to register the car in their state and then it is your problem to transfer the registration to your state. You just need to make it clear up front where you want the car registered.

ben dover

This.

speedraider

A friend of mine lived in Nevada and moved back to florida and had to pay taxes all over again when he registered his car, sounds like bs. But he did. It used to be cheap to live here.

Rich Mickol

Live in NJ. Bought in NH. Paid tax to NJ. That simple.

Kvothe

When I was looking for my Vette a few dealers I spoke with told me if I have it shipped to me then no sales tax is paid to them. I'd pay it when I got my plates in IL. If I went to pick it up and had to get a temp plate I had to pay the tax in that state.

This is what happened when I purchased mine in IN. I paid the tax in IN (which was higher and cost me an extra $300) and showed the receipt that tax was paid when I registered it in IL.

truckplay

you are only taxed where the car is registered.

rcooper

bought a 2001 from Maxie Price in Ga. they took care of all the paper work, I live in Texas, drove the car home, got it inspected and tags were sent to me by the DPS. Very easy !

sevinn

Just to confirm, I bought my car in Texas and only paid Louisiana sales tax.

bucwheat

I bought my GS in S.C.,I live in GA., S.C has a cap of $300 tax on new cars I had to pay the rest of the 7% tax to my state.

Jimmy Z

Not any more as of March, 2013 Georgia changed the rules......

MakoShark72

Some states have agreements with neighboring states.. I bought a car in Oregon, they took care of the Washington taxes (I live and register in WA)

I have purchased cars in other states, paid their tax, then when I register in WA, I only paid the difference in the two rates (obviously the purchase order showed the tax I paid in the "other" state). If it had been more, not likely since WA is almost 8.5%, I DON'T THINK would have gotten a refund..

The norm is what has been stated here, you pay when you register..

Bill Dearborn

It varies somewhat from state to state. I was looking at a car in FL and was informed by the dealer I would have to pay the FL state sales tax. However, I did know that when I got to NY they would subtract the FL Sales Tax from what I would have owed in NY. They don't give you money back if what you paid in the other state is more than what NY would charge but there is little chance of having that happen. I suspect CA treats their tax the same way. The only way to know for sure is to check with your state tax people.

Bill