California registration for out of state purchase

[Gunner]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Sales tax? If he buys the car in another state and it is all ready registered there, WHAT California tax is applicable?

Sales tax on vehicles is by residence - whatever sales tax you would pay if the dealer were located in your driveway. I knew that was true within California - to prevent people from buying from dealers outside city tax zones - but recently confirmed it's pretty much nationwide and the states all cooperate on reporting.

You have to own a vehicle for a considerable length of time (180 days to a year, depending on the state) to escape paying sales tax in a new state. The states are all wise to the dodges of you wink wink nudge nudge buying it in Alabama or another sales-tax free state and then trying to bring it home to California, New York, etc.

If I buy a vehicle in Jersey, I don't owe NJ anything. But my home state folks will have their palm out at registration time...