Cali Sales Tax on a Cobra from out of State
 

Hi Guys,
Trying to get my ducks in order. Looking at both new & used in the neighborhood of 45k. Will probably be from out of state (I live in California). What kind of sales taxes am I looking at if I were to say...
-Buy a new BDR from a dealer out of state
-Buy a used one from same or private party
???
-Am I subject to the sales taxes of the state it is bought from or California?
Thanks
-Mark

It doesn't matter where you purchase it from, new or used. You will pay the California State "Use Tax" based on the current rate of the County of your primary residence, or where the car is to be registered.

I have a source that has informed me that these SPCN cars are being closely watched by DMV when registered to insure proper fees are paid. Enough said.

Are there any California (SB 100) registration hassles for used BDR's/ERA's (i) purchased out of state and (ii) if it was titled as a 60's car instead of the year in which it was actually built?

You may have to wait until next Jan to get an SB100 sequence number...

Mark,

Here's a calculator where you can enter the specifics for your zip code to determine the sales tax and registration costs. $45K car, you're probably looking at $4,700 in DMV fees.

https://mv.dmv.ca.gov/FeeCalculatorWeb/index.jsp

BTW - I just did the calculation for my zip code. Total would be $4,655 for sales tax and registration.

Well, the SB100 process is a hassle in it of itself, but otherwise, no, there shouldn't be any additional hassle to register used BDR's, ERA's, Kirkham's, FFR's, CSX's, etc. Of course, this assumes that the existing title from another state was not fraudulently obtained.

Good point Rodney. The key is that the car is legally titled according to the laws of the state were it is registered.

Only taxes paid to CA, no other taxes involved.

If you are bringing a car into CA from another state with a 1965 title, make sure that is legit. As a reference a '65 title from MA, CT, NY, NJ, or PA is not legit.

Do you have the money right now, ready buy?

At least not yet anyway (he says with fingers crossed hoping the SEMA legislation will get passed :))

Holyguacamoly
 

:eek:
Boy...thats more than getting bent over, thats getting a full Sequoia sized reaming with splinters AND a healthy coat of "SuperPollyGrip" for added friction.
:CRY:
Well, now I know.

Not much different than walking into a dealer or buying a car through a private party. Pay to play.

Assume the position. :eek:

Now that you've digested that, get going with that purchase....the State of CA needs you! :LOL:

I see you waited until the sales taxes were raised by one percent........:(

Powder Keg = BOOOM --- RANT RANT RANT

So -- CA sales Tax = 9.25% as of 4-1-2009 (no joke) . ---with that said, at least we still do not live in England, where you can tax a tax. -- :) (HAHAHAHAH)

However, a few CA points ;

1. CA DMV is ACTIVE in the task of looking at "older cars" and older registrations, that are paying little or no registry tax / DMV investigators are actively at car shows and take photos like everyone else.

2. CA DMV is ACTIVELY working with the attorney generals office (Jerry Brown your friend who wants to be Governor again in 2010 )

----and they have and are currently invalidating the titles issued by other states *if* they suspect a title wash or a VIN transfer to a newly generated chassis. (search for "titles-unlimited")

3. CA DMV is under pressure to pay for itself and contribute significantly to the general fund.
--they (DMV representatives ) conjecture that $100M/yr in DMV fees are not paid by Californians due to under-reporting the actual amount paid for the car, accessories and subsequent math processes.

4. CA BOE (board of equalization) has actively pursued and continues to pursue ebay to get them to report CA users purchasing histories, and CA sellers sales histories. --IMHO ; this is Why Meg Whitman left. (BTW: She ALSO wants to be CA Governor in 2010--Sheesh. )

Dont get caught in a Sales tax based legal beef with the State of CA. -you may win in the short term, but it will still cost you in time and frustration.

Expect to pay 9.25% in some form at some time to get your car legally registered plus 2%-4% other fees.

Sad But True--

SEMA has a bad rep with CA senators , and congress. -- what (who) they need to hear from are good honest hard working regular people.

--now that makes a difference.

--Steve

PS: sorry for the soap box, but between facing off between the Yakuza and the CA state tax dudes. . . i would take the yakuza.

Add Georgia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Rhode Island, and Mississippi to that list when importing a Cobra replica in to California. Only exemptions to this is if a state issued ID plate is attached to the car, in which case you still only have a 50/50 chance that California may still override the other states paperwork. I tell all California buyers to expect to wait for a SB100 number and deal with it.



Bill S.

RI has had SEMA legislation in practice for a number of years ... they still have not sorted out the tax issue though :(

Go with what Bill said in a post on the 1st page. It seems every Calif. DMV works it a different way, but when you get to the bottom of it, you will have to have a SB-100 tag to be legal. See some of Morgensters posts about the amnesty bill that is to let people with replicas not registered legally, SB-100, not have to pay the fines that are normally attached when they pull the titles. They have also did away with the registering by year of the block so that is not an option. Basically Calif. law says that any replica vehicle must be registered as the year it was built or purchased. Once again depending on the DMV you go to and their interpretation. I know of three who came from out of state with what were legitimate titles in those states, Calif. registered them and then abut 2 to 4 months later pulled the titles as they were illegally registered. Save the grief and try to either get a car that already has the SB-100 number of get all of the paper work in order to stand in line on Jan. 2nd to try and get it a number.

Ron :)

Kalifornia registration hassle & expense
 

Yikes....makes me want to hold off on a purchase decision until after I get transfered back to Houston???

How have Californians allowed this to happen to themselves ?

There are many States where registration is a hassle. California is not alone. SB100 is really not all that bad. Go to DMV, go to smog referee, go to CHP, then back to DMV. It's a process, which is free, except for your time, paying the sales tax and some fees. No big deal. Could the process be more simple and streamlined and cheaper? Sure. Is it worth it? Yes, because I like living in California.