Re: Dealers, Cali Stuff

["Ed Hanway" <hanway@vampire.cineon.kodak.com>]

Karl Lentz writes:
[lots of questions about California emissions and sales taxes]

Try the following web site: <http://www.dmv.ca.gov>

In particular, the "How to register a nonresident vehicle" page is:
<http://www.dmv.ca.gov/Brochures/How_To/Nonresident.html#Nonresident_Vehicle>

I just went through the process of getting my '96 A4 purchased in New York
registered in CA, so I know a little bit about it.  Fortunately, mine
had a CA emissions certification, so I didn't get dinged the $300 "Smog
Impact Fee."  There is also a rule that a "new" car (defined as less than
7500
miles) CANNOT be registered in CA unless it is certified by the manufacturer
to meet CA emissions.  The DMV booklet says something about issuing a one-way
pass to drive the car out of state instead.  Very thoughtful of them.

The other fortunate thing for me was that I bought the car long enough ago
that I didn't have to pay sales tax.  According to the brochure, you will
have to pay "use tax" (computed at the same rate as sales tax -- it's the
same thing but they call it something else) on anything brought into the
state within 90 days of purchase.  It does say that sales taxes paid to other
states
are "considered" when computing this tax.  I guess that means they'll credit
you for what you'd pay to Georgia, but I'm sure they wouldn't give you money
if you moved from somewhere with higher taxes.

--
Ed Hanway  <hanway@kodak.com>
Eastman Kodak Company, Palo Alto, CA