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Moving to California, hybrid cars question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by cossie1600, Apr 25, 2013.

  1. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    Maybe if there is a 1 year (365 day) cut off on purchasing a car and yours is 9-10 months, maybe you can drive on your present states lic. for a couple of months then transfer the title to cali.? Legality's? Insurance?
     
  2. macman408

    macman408 Electron Guidance Counselor

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    You have 20 days after moving to California to register your car (and 10 days to get a driver's license), or you may be subject to fines. I know some people that have kept their old license and registration anyway, though. Some people get away with it, some people get caught.

    There are exceptions if you can be considered to not be a resident - for example, if you don't have a house or apartment, don't have a job, don't enroll in school, AND don't do anything else normally reserved for residents (eg vote).

    Personally, I didn't get a driver's license in CA for about a year and a half after moving here. I also didn't own a car, so I figure I was probably safe (but it wasn't really clear). When I bought a car, I immediately went in to get my license here.
     
    xs650 likes this.
  3. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Wow that's almost comical. What ... you don't have any issue when destructive oil companies are being incentivized ? ... yet when governments or municipalities throw you a bone ... drop fees in order to encourage green things to cut you some slack (which actually benefits society) well ... its rape. Gee ... that's great.
    .
    we kind of had a dual residency between California and Montana for many years. However we just sold our Montana home, and only own a timeshare there now. I just switched my Montana drivers license to a California license. Our Lexus Hybrid was registered in Montana . We also switched its registration just prior to avoiding CA sales tax. But the reason we didn't try to hold off CA registering was because we had a greater benefit deducting our California business expenses rather than simply not paying use tax. Back then in 2006 you only had to be registered in another state for 180 days prior to re registering in another state . Prior to that it was only 90 days . So you can see ... states keep lengthening time requirements of auto ownership outside of your new state, in order to make tax avoidance harder and harder.
     
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    ^^^
    Well, I'm more inclined to agree w/the OP.

    To me, it sounds like highway robbery if I paid say $3K in sales tax to CT, but then I need to move to CA and need to pay another $3K+ in "use tax", only because my car is too new.

    Let's just hope it pans out that he only needs to pay the difference that was spelled out earlier...
     
  5. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    You pay for the difference, not the full amount. Of course they will probably question my trade allowance and make me pay taxes on $20K from my trade in, we shall see. I can try to sit it out for three months (September), but maybe the relocation package covers it? I honestly don't know.

    I think I paid like $1200 in taxes on a $40K car after my trade in allowance. If CA doesn't allow for my trade allowance, I am schedule to pay an additional $2400 or so in taxes on a car I own for 9 months as a personal vehicle, fully registered and insured.
     
  6. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    Since when did we talk about the big evil oil companies? I own two hybrids, I don't see anyone throwing me a bone? The only thing I see is another tax bill for basically moving for a job. If that's not raping, what is? I understand the intention of the bill, but there should be exclusions and it shouldn't be black and white like they make it.
     
  7. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Raping is too personal. I say robbery is more appropriate and all taxes are.

     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    in Louisiana for example you flat out owe sales tax on all cars you move in with based on book value, unless they changed it since we moved
     
  9. 14T shelley

    14T shelley Junior Member

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    Being a Calif resident I like to buy USED vehicles out of state and bring them in. Why? Because the Registration fees are based on YOUR purchase price and not new & depreciation. So when I bought a 3 yr RV for 1/3 0f the new price the registration fees reflected the 40k I spent, not the 120K the orig purchaser paid :)
     
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    What about the future years registration fees? Don't they just go by book value. In Virginia we probably have to play the same game. Our annual registration tax is approx. 5% of value minus $500... not sure if that applies to RV (probably) compared to CA more like 1.2%

    (we call it property tax or car tax...it is not part of registrtaion per se)
     
  11. FroggyTaco

    FroggyTaco Member

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    Ca bases the reg & the accompanying "use fee" on the initial "purchase" price when the vehicle is first registered in your name.
     
  12. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    Problem is I am not buying anything new, just transporting my car in, a car I registered and purchased while I am a resident of another state for 10+ years
     
  13. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Give

    http://dmv.ca.gov/

    a try, they know a lot more about the subject than the collective wisdom of PC does. Their website isn't working right as I post this, so maybe later.

    I am 99% sure you will only be required to pay the normal registration fee when you move here, no sales or use tax.

    When you do go to see the California DMV, be sure to make an appointment online or by phone, it will save you a lot of time at the DMV office.

    The time limit of getting a drivers license and registering your cars after you move here is fairly tight, check that out too.

    You can do to any DMV office in the state. Small town offices tend to be quicker and friendlier. Ask your new co-workers which office they recommend.

    Coming from Connecticut, I don't think you will find California's taxes or bureaucracy particularly challenging.
     
  14. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    nope sales tax when u first move if yhou have car for less than 365 days
     
  15. 14T shelley

    14T shelley Junior Member

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    If you are moving in from out of state, and are NOT a resident of CA then no sales (use) tax due. That rule is for Calif residents who buy NEW out of state to try to beat the sales tax. It used to be 90 days of purchase for Calif residents but too many new RV's belonging to Calif owners were sitting in NV and OR.
    The local DMV will either ask you the value of your car or use KBB to set a value for your car to determine a baseline for yearly DMV registration fees. (hint detail your car AFTER going to DMV :whistle: )
     
  16. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    That's what I used to think, but after reading the CA DMV website and the CVC online, I no longer see that exemption for cars owned less than 365 days:( . They do get credit for any sales tax paid when the car was bought
     
  17. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Dupe deleted
     
  18. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Another hint, if a person is going to try to lowball the value of their car, find out what the KBB value is and don't go to far under that or they will not accept your value and will use the KBB value. I'm using KBB in the generic sense here, I don't know what book they use to determine value.

    They have people trying to con them everyday and are good at spotting an outrageously low value.
     
  19. cossie1600

    cossie1600 Active Member

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    Hope you are right. By the way, who the f did the stupid DMV website. The information is suspect at best, a lot of things are just confusing. I have just as many questions after reading through the entire site.