Buying a car from a different state - movement permits in Nevada

I have never purchased in California, and I have NO idea if you are handling the tax thing properly (we pay sales tax ONLY when we enter it for a Texas title and license tags).

The reason I am posting is to say I have driven all the way across America, Wisconsin to Texas with only a Bill of Sale and some dealer logo tags!!!!!

I didn't stop to chat with LEO at any time, though.....so, no idea what they would have said!!!!

It seems to me you need a Customs Broker in your deal, then not pay California sales tax, but I dunno.

 

California is probably a different situation, but I've bought and sold cars from several different states. In each case, buyer gets a temporary license from dealer or DMV in the state of purchase for a small fee without paying sales tax. Buyer then has 30-60 days to register car in state of residency, pay appropriate tax there and get permanent license.

FYI, I've had a few buyers show up with a license plate in hand, bolt it to the back of the car and drive off. I asked no questions. I simply hoped they didn't get pulled over on their trips home.

Hopefully someone from California will chime in here soon.

 

Texas personalized plates are indeed assigned to a person, and not the VIN of the car.
They do not transfer with a sale, but would be reused or returned.

I've always thought that odd, but "ITS ME" would go on any car the owner wanted!!!!

In a similar manner, a car I bought in Chicago, IL the owner let me use the tags for transport home, but I had to mail them back to him, for a similar reason.

 

CA dealers are required to collect sales tax at sale. No exceptions unless car is placed in buyers custody outside of CA.

Controlled and enforced by the State Franchise Tax Board and they make the IRS look like a bunch of Girl Scouts. Car dealers are under the microscope for that. No one with half a brain violates that rule.

Personally I would get the dealer to install their inserts under the license frame prior to shipment to Reno and just make a run to the border with bill of sale in hand but then I always smile to cops so they never write me tickets.


If you are going to Alberta from Reno you will almost certainly be going through Elko NV. The DMV there will be a small office. Call them direct and go there they will probably get you in and out in 15 minutes with all the documents you need. Actually Fernly might be a better choice. Very close to Reno. It is a very small town so better be sure they even have a DMV location.

I just took that trip on a motorcycle. I didn't see a state trooper in all of Nevada or Idaho and we were not paying too much attention to the speed laws..

 

Are you expecting to not get the California plates currently on the car? Is the car not currently registered in California? If it has a plate and registration is paid for and it has a current sticker then it is legal to drive in any of the 50 states. Just because you bought it doesn't mean the registration is suddenly void.

 

But he can't drive it "off the lot" without paying Calif. sales tax. It must be delivered out of state. (I think.) If it was purchased from an individual, and he got it out of the state, before the "release of liability" form got to DMV, he MIGHT be OK.

 

Correct.

 

If it is delivered to Reno with California plates and current California registration I think he's fine. CA says you have five days to legally register your purchase. The registration is still valid through the ownership transfer. In CA you don't pay for another year of registration when you buy a car with plates, you just assume that valid registration mid-year. If the registration is up next month you lose, if it is up in 11 months you win. You should be home in five days, right?

 

If so you beat me to it!!!!