How To Register A Car Bought Out Of State In California

If you re in a state like california you ll soon realize that the license plates or tags as some call them remain with the vehicle which confuses out of staters who see used car lots full of plated vehicles.

How to register a car bought out of state in california. You pay the sales tax when you register your vehicle in your home state. However if you purchase your out of state car in california and plan to drive the car from the dealership you must pay california s sales tax. There is a 5 permit fee for an out of state permit. Dealership purchase if you bought from a licensed dealer certain registration tasks may be taken care of for you. If your california registered vehicle was stolen or wrecked out of state and you bought a 49 state car to replace it you can register it.

Buying a car out of state might be a little more effort than buying a car close by but it can often reap great rewards. When you buy a car in your home state from a car dealer the dealer takes care of the registration and title for you. If you don t fully reside in hawaii you must obtain a temporary registration for your out of state vehicle. If you buy a car from out of state though you have to title and register the car in your home state on your own. If the vehicle has less than 7 500 miles click here.

Performing a title transfer after purchasing a car from out of state is very similar to transferring an out of state title after relocating to a new state. You must register your vehicle from out of state with the california dmv within 20 days after you brought it into the state and remain as the owner of the vehicle or within 20 days after purchasing an out of state or non resident vehicle in california to avoid penalties. California also grants exemptions for emergency vehicles or a car you purchased while you were stationed on active military duty. Out of state title transfers in california after buying or selling a vehicle. If you need to register a vehicle for use on california roadways waterways or trailways you ve come to the right place.

Make sure you find out the time limit for registering the car in a new state. In many cases you must complete this step within 30 days of purchase or risk fines and other penalties. Your state s sales tax depends on the state in which you live not the state in which you buy the car. When you get the car back in your home state you need to register it so that you can legally drive it. Idaho car registration requirements.