Any Americans here? (ideally Californian)

laissez-faire · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:14

Nowhere on the California DMV does it mention I have to pay sales tax @ 7.75% on a used vehicle. On DMV sites from other states it tells you that you have to prove you have paid the sales tax.

Is there some odd thing in California or will I end up paying sales tax @ 7.75%, the weird Vehicle License Fund at like 1.5% and pay title/tag fees and smog certification too? Going to be expensive for a car I only need for 6 bloody months!

Thanks

Muffin` · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:16

Wow you're buying a car in Cali' sweet.

laissez-faire · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:22

Muffin` said:
Wow you're buying a car in Cali' sweet.

Unsure of whether there is some sarcasm there? But yeah - walking is pretty hard and bus routes tend to be excessively scarce....

Muffin` · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:23

Well good luck considering this is Overclockers UK. I'll reiterate the importand bit 'UK'

Rich_L · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:29

Pretty sure you have to pay when you are register the car in CA, unless you register it in one of the states which don't have sales tax for vehicles.

laissez-faire · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:30

Rich_L said:
Pretty sure you have to pay when you are register the car in CA, unless you register it in one of the states which don't have sales tax for vehicles.

Yeah, well that's going to be tricky given that I won't have an address in any state other than CA! It's also going to be illegal since if I'm working in CA I need to register the car there by law.

paradigm · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:32

laissez-faire said:
walking is pretty hard

Already well on the way to becoming a proper American.

Rich_L · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:37

laissez-faire said:
Yeah, well that's going to be tricky given that I won't have an address in any state other than CA! It's also going to be illegal since if I'm working in CA I need to register the car there by law.

Asked the missus, she might be wrong though, lol

only if you buy from a car dealership. there are used car dealerships and new car dealerships that sell pre-owned cars. this is recommended if you are at all concerned about buying a car with a warranty attached. if you buy from an individual seller (owner of car), which is done most often, nobody ever pays sales tax. and yes, in CA that would be 7.75% (unless that increases this year due to state budget deficit!)

xx

gurusan · 30 Mar 2009 at 18:42

AFAIK you only have to pay sales tax if you buy from a dealer. If it's an individual sale then you don't have to. ..I could be wrong though it's been awhile. I'm from Cali but moved away some time ago...

The state still will make money off you when you register the car and stuff...

*edit* it looks like you have to pay "use tax" when you register the car.