bhorne

I am considering purchasing a car in California and importing it into Canada.

The deal I am looking at is a Private Sale. I am wondering how a car purchase, and plates work in Califorinia.

1. Can I use their existing plate.
2. Does California issue temporary plates for a private party sale.
3. Will the temporary tags be valid in other states?

Bill

Roleez

CA law (as I recall) states that you must insure and license your new/used car within 90 days (or is it 30?). My sister bought a used Accord over 10 years ago and she had the choice to either use the plates on it, or to have them changed (per DMV ... Dept of Motor Vehicles). She decided to keep the old plates that were already on the car. So I'm sure you can use the existing plates on the car you're buying till you get it to Canada and from there, change them to Canada plates.

HotLap

I believe the plates stay with the car (unless the previous owner had vanity plates and keeps them). To register the vehicle in CA (under the new buyer's name), the buyer must have the vehicle smogged, and supply proof of insurance to CA DMV. I had thought you only had 15 days to transfer title, but as long as the tags aren't expired, you can still drive it. The seller is also required to supply to DMV a "Release of Liability" form that shows they sold the vehicle to you. If you are going to take it into Canada, I wouldn't think you would need to bother with CA registration at all, just take it to Canada and register it there?

elyk

bhorne, where did you find this vehicle? ebay.ca?

Bucket

Stay away from the DMV in CA. They have no way of allowing you to temporarily register a car purchased in the state without charging you sales tax. If you were to buy a new car there and lived in another state, they would still charge you CA sales tax, unless you took delivery over the border. Their plate will stay on the car, so you shouldn't have problems with that. I am not sure how to handle a border crossing without a title or registration in your name though.

bhorne

Is there sales tax on used cars in California?

Veight

Do you have a residence established in Canada yet? If so why not just take the car up there upon purchase and register it there?

HotLap

Yep...and annual registration fees as well, based on the car's value.

BrianTx5

Yes, there is a sales tax in Californai but if I recall correctly, at least in the U.S., you pay the sales tax in the state where the car is registered and licensed. In 2001 I bought a used E46 in California and had it shipped to Texas. I paid the sales tax in Texas when I registered it and got my Texas license plates. So I would think you will pay the Canadian taxes when you get your plates there.

socal535

Wow - you guys sure know a lot about California. Does anyone know about the significance of the first letter of one's driver's license number? For example, what does "P" stand for? Probation? Practice? Or just another sequential letter from A to Z? Thanks a lot.