Transporting a new purchase

[Ryan Wright]

On Dec 6, 2007 3:15 PM, Don Bradner wrote:
>
> If you take delivery of a vehicle in California (from a dealer), you owe
> sales tax. Since there are no reciprocals, it is possible some other state
> might not give you any credit for that.

I just bought a car from a dealer in San Diego earlier this year. I
took delivery in San Diego and drove it home. I paid only my 8.3%
Washington State sales tax.

Now, it's possible I paid California sales tax and Washington charged
me the difference between their tax and mine when I registered the
vehicle after getting home. I don't recall exactly how the tax was
distributed and don't have my paperwork handy. I do know that I did
not pay a penny more than my normal sales tax as if I'd bought the car
here in Washington.

> Because of that, and the fact that dealers know all about the laws of their
> own state, I would not spend a lot of time worrying. If you buy from a
> dealer, ask how it is handled there. If you buy privately, just get a Bill
> of Sale (I would have it notarized) and drive away.

Exactly. This really is not something to worry about.

-Ryan