Buying a car from out of state CA

JimBean2014 · 12-03-2018, 05:48 PM

Friends- I am in market shopping for a car and I am not seeing any great deals on used f80 M3 in SoCal. so,I have expanded my search but I heard CA sales taxes and registration can be tricky with out of state car purchases, is it true? can someone who went through it share their experience?

Thanks so much!

bimmer456 · 12-03-2018, 05:54 PM

You may have to smog it, though most cars sold in the US are 50 state legal.

cfm56d7b · 12-04-2018, 12:03 AM

The process is explained at CA DMV site. It's easier if you buy a car from an out of state dealer and enter CA with temporary plates, clear title, and of course insurance.

Dosmgbs · 12-04-2018, 02:51 AM

Just registered today an old volvo 1800es that I got from a dealer from out of state.

It's pretty simple. Buy car ship or drive it back. If it's shipped odds are you didn't pay any tax in the state you bought it from and you pay CA tax when you go to register it. If private party most likely you won't pay tax till you go to the dmv. Dealer depending on the state you may have to pay tax. If you paid tax in the state you bought it from CA may deduct the tax you paid from the taxes you'll pay when you register. If you buy from a state that does take the plates CA does offer a 30 day permit for 50 bucks or you can risk it on no plates.
Also if you buy from an out of state dealer you can't use AAA and have to go to the dmv to register.

JimBean2014 · 12-04-2018, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dosmgbs

Just registered today an old volvo 1800es that I got from a dealer from out of state.

It's pretty simple. Buy car ship or drive it back. If it's shipped odds are you didn't pay any tax in the state you bought it from and you pay CA tax when you go to register it. If private party most likely you won't pay tax till you go to the dmv. Dealer depending on the state you may have to pay tax. If you paid tax in the state you bought it from CA may deduct the tax you paid from the taxes you'll pay when you register. If you buy from a state that does take the plates CA does offer a 30 day permit for 50 bucks or you can risk it on no plates.
Also if you buy from an out of state dealer you can't use AAA and have to go to the dmv to register.

Great, thanks so much all!

bracer · 12-04-2018, 08:58 AM

I bought mine private party in Texas and drove it back. It will need to pass visual smog (no tailpipe) and will need DMV inspection (vin). Both are easy. Texas takes the plates, but will issue a 1 week temporary for $10.

elinstylez · 12-04-2018, 06:32 PM

I purchased my last 3 bmws out of state (NJ, PA and TX). You will have to smog the car first. I used AAA so registration was a breeze. Worth paying the membership fee just to void the DMV. The earliest I can get an appointment for picking up my personalized license plate is in January -_-'

GOLFFRR · 12-04-2018, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBean2014

Friends- I am in market shopping for a car and I am not seeing any great deals on used f80 M3 in SoCal. so,I have expanded my search but I heard CA sales taxes and registration can be tricky with out of state car purchases, is it true? can someone who went through it share their experience?

Thanks so much!

we are blowing the M3s we have on the lot out, did you reach out to Jimmy Bach already?

cpvince · 12-07-2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elinstylez

I purchased my last 3 bmws out of state (NJ, PA and TX). You will have to smog the car first. I used AAA so registration was a breeze. Worth paying the membership fee just to void the DMV. The earliest I can get an appointment for picking up my personalized license plate is in January -_-'

Did you need to do a VIN verification? AAA will do the out of state registration paperwork but they won't do the VIN verification inspection - only DMV does it

joegie · 12-07-2018, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpvince

Did you need to do a VIN verification? AAA will do the out of state registration paperwork but they won't do the VIN verification inspection - only DMV does it

I've heard different from raptor owners who bought out of state and registered in ca, I believe the vehicle cannot be financed in order for AAA to take care of the registration.

the process is pretty simple, smog, dmv inspection, then pay the remaining sales and register it.

some smog places will charge a small fee and take care of the registration and inspection and send the paper work to the dmv. wish I had known it would have saved me 5 hours of sitting at the dmv lol.

CrazyWitness · 12-07-2018, 07:18 PM

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4#post24060934

JimBean2014 · 12-07-2018, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyWitness

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4#post24060934

Im not a tracker, looking to find a stripper,deals like these-

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...aff=share_text

HomoPirate · 12-10-2018, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBean2014

Im not a tracker, looking to find a stripper,deals like these-

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...aff=share_text

Are you specifically looking for an M3 or also M4?

I'm looking to let go my M4 and I'm local in SD.

Please let me know if you're interested.

JimBean2014 · 12-10-2018, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomoPirate

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimBean2014

Im not a tracker, looking to find a stripper,deals like these-

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...aff=share_text

Are you specifically looking for an M3 or also M4?

I'm looking to let go my M4 and I'm local in SD.

Please let me know if you're interested.

M3 only

12-03-2018, 05:48 PM	#1
JimBean2014 Second Lieutenant 44 Rep 275 Posts Drives: 2020 X3 M40I Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: San Diego CA iTrader: (0)	Buying a car from out of state CA Friends- I am in market shopping for a car and I am not seeing any great deals on used f80 M3 in SoCal. so,I have expanded my search but I heard CA sales taxes and registration can be tricky with out of state car purchases, is it true? can someone who went through it share their experience? Thanks so much!
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12-03-2018, 05:54 PM	#2
bimmer456 Major General 2959 Rep 5,989 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	You may have to smog it, though most cars sold in the US are 50 state legal.
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12-04-2018, 12:03 AM	#3
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5876 Rep 10,252 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	The process is explained at CA DMV site. It's easier if you buy a car from an out of state dealer and enter CA with temporary plates, clear title, and of course insurance.
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12-04-2018, 02:51 AM	#4
Dosmgbs Registered 2 Rep 4 Posts Drives: looking Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Santa Barbara CA iTrader: (0)	Just registered today an old volvo 1800es that I got from a dealer from out of state. It's pretty simple. Buy car ship or drive it back. If it's shipped odds are you didn't pay any tax in the state you bought it from and you pay CA tax when you go to register it. If private party most likely you won't pay tax till you go to the dmv. Dealer depending on the state you may have to pay tax. If you paid tax in the state you bought it from CA may deduct the tax you paid from the taxes you'll pay when you register. If you buy from a state that does take the plates CA does offer a 30 day permit for 50 bucks or you can risk it on no plates. Also if you buy from an out of state dealer you can't use AAA and have to go to the dmv to register.
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12-04-2018, 08:58 AM	#6
bracer Mr Bill 296 Rep 545 Posts Drives: GLC63 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Aliso Viejo iTrader: (1)	I bought mine private party in Texas and drove it back. It will need to pass visual smog (no tailpipe) and will need DMV inspection (vin). Both are easy. Texas takes the plates, but will issue a 1 week temporary for $10. __________________ 2018 GLC63 2016 Miata 2020 X3M (sold) Turbo Miata Racecar (sold) 1995, 2009, 2015 M3 (sold)
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12-04-2018, 06:32 PM	#7
elinstylez Captain 269 Rep 607 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	I purchased my last 3 bmws out of state (NJ, PA and TX). You will have to smog the car first. I used AAA so registration was a breeze. Worth paying the membership fee just to void the DMV. The earliest I can get an appointment for picking up my personalized license plate is in January -_-'
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12-07-2018, 07:18 PM	#11
CrazyWitness Lieutenant 149 Rep 506 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4#post24060934
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