I saw another post where someone asked a similar question, but didn't exactly answer my question. I am really looking at buying a travel trailer in California from a dealer. My question is, am I going to get charged for taxes in both states? I know the dealer is giving me a quote +TTL. I don't think I will have to pay the license part because I will be registering it in Arizona. I am not sure if I will have to pay the title fees either since I will be registering in AZ. The tax, I am fairly confident they will charge me CA state taxes, but not real clear on if I will have to pay CA city taxes. I don't want to ask the dealer yet as I would like to get the best deal first before talking about this with them. If I do have to pay the CA state and city tax, will I have to pay another AZ state and city tax when I get it home and register it?

Go into your local DMV and discuss with them.

The California dealer, by law, must collect California taxes. If buying from a private party, it's up to you to pay the taxes. Any taxes paid in California will be a credit towards any due in Arizona...at least this was how it was three years ago. My California dealers license has expired......Dennis

We did the reverse bought in Arizona and brought it to California. Easiest way to do it is to take possession in Arizona assuming the dealer is close to state line. If you do this you just pay your tax to Arizona.We did not do this and paid Arizona tax who had reciprocity with California. Upon returning home had to do VIN check at DMV and had to convince them I didn't owe additional tax. We ended up with an Arizona title ,but registered in California.When we sold it had no trouble and told the new owners it would have an Arizona title.

There's mis-information in this thread. You do not have to pay taxes to CA if you'll be paying to AZ. Buy the RV in CA and have the dealer transport it to the AZ state line and take possession of there and there are no CA taxes involved. The key is NOT to take possession in CA. Friend in AZ did just that; bought a new toy hauler in Banning, CA and had the dealer tow it to Blythe. No CA taxes involved. Cost $300 for dealer to transport TH to Blythe. Friend saved $1500 by not paying CA tax.

The last o e we got in VA and they gave us temps. We took it to CT and paid the tax there. The last one we got in RI and told them to register for us in CT. We paid the RI dealer the CT tax and they gave it to the CT DMV when they got it registered.

Buying in CA and registering in AZ - Taxes? | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

Executive45
Explorer III
Apr 26, 2014
timmac wrote:
Executive wrote:
timmac wrote:
The dealer in California did not collect sales tax on my motor home and he had me sign a paper that I took deliver at state line, however I did not, he let me drive it off his lot and saved me the deliver fee and him the hassle.

Not saying it wasn't done...in fact, I would lean towards it being done a lot...however, the OP asked a specific question and it was answered.

Notice you said you SIGNED a paper that you took delivery at the State Line, yet you did not. IF the Ca folks came after the dealer, guess who would be left holding the bag?...Not trying to be the morality police here, but didn't it bother you to sign a document you knew was not true? The dealer put his license at risk and you lowered your standards a bit...just sayin......Dennis

And how is Cali going to enforce this with thousands of out of state buyers, besides I will always state that I took delivery from state line as the document that I signed says, and I had no problem signing the paper and delivering the motorhome to myself.. :p

OK, my bad, sounds like your didn't lower your standards at all....:B....Dennis
campingliz
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
We purchased in Utah, paid no taxes at the dealer (we picked it up!) We live in CA and paid sales tax in CA when we registered.
timmac
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
Executive wrote:
timmac wrote:
The dealer in California did not collect sales tax on my motor home and he had me sign a paper that I took deliver at state line, however I did not, he let me drive it off his lot and saved me the deliver fee and him the hassle.

Not saying it wasn't done...in fact, I would lean towards it being done a lot...however, the OP asked a specific question and it was answered.

Notice you said you SIGNED a paper that you took delivery at the State Line, yet you did not. IF the Ca folks came after the dealer, guess who would be left holding the bag?...Not trying to be the morality police here, but didn't it bother you to sign a document you knew was not true? The dealer put his license at risk and you lowered your standards a bit...just sayin......Dennis

And how is Cali going to enforce this with thousands of out of state buyers, besides I will always state that I took delivery from state line as the document that I signed says, and I had no problem signing the paper and delivering the motorhome to myself.. :p
Executive45
Explorer III
Apr 24, 2014
timmac wrote:
The dealer in California did not collect sales tax on my motor home and he had me sign a paper that I took deliver at state line, however I did not, he let me drive it off his lot and saved me the deliver fee and him the hassle.

Not saying it wasn't done...in fact, I would lean towards it being done a lot...however, the OP asked a specific question and it was answered.

Notice you said you SIGNED a paper that you took delivery at the State Line, yet you did not. IF the Ca folks came after the dealer, guess who would be left holding the bag?...Not trying to be the morality police here, but didn't it bother you to sign a document you knew was not true? The dealer put his license at risk and you lowered your standards a bit...just sayin......Dennis
Nunyadamn
Explorer
Apr 24, 2014
I ended up paying the taxes in CA since it is a reciprocity state with AZ - they accept each others taxes. The CA taxes were 8% and the AZ taxes were 7.8% so it was in my favor since the cost to get the dealer to bring it to the boarder was $5-600. I will make the trip to the DMV next week.
timmac
Explorer
Apr 24, 2014
The dealer in California did not collect sales tax on my motor home and he had me sign a paper that I took deliver at state line, however I did not, he let me drive it off his lot and saved me the deliver fee and him the hassle.
mileshuff
Explorer
Apr 24, 2014
I just purchased a new trailer from dealer in NV and towed it myself to AZ. The NV dealer did not charge me taxes. However, DMV in AZ did when I registered it. The AZ DMV would subtract any taxes I had already paid from AZ taxes owed if any. I would assume CA's taxes are higher than AZ's. NV dealer issued a temporary transport license I used to be able to tow to AZ.

Two choices. Pay CA taxes and take delivery in CA. You should not be charged for CA license fees. You will not have to pay taxes at AZ DMV. Downfall is you pay higher CA taxes.

Do not pay CA taxes. This will save you the difference between the higher CA taxes and AZ taxes. You will then pay AZ taxes at DMV when registering. Downfall is you cannot take delivery at CA dealership. You'll have to pay a fee to have them tow it to border where you take delivery in AZ.
twotoes
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
I was a Calif resident when I purchased my 5th wheel in Texas. The TX dealer called Calif DMV and got the sales tax and registration information from them and added it to my purchase price. The TX dealer gave me a 60 day temporary registration. I took possession of the 5th wheel in TX and drove it to Calif. When I got to Calif, 90 days later (got a 60 day extension from the TX dealer with a phone call) I went to Calif DMV and picked up the plates. The dealer had already paid the tax and registration to Calif DMV via mail. You should have your dealer in Calif contact Ariz DMV and do the same. You only pay sales tax to the first state of registration.
BoatCop
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
If you buy from a dealer and pay sales tax in CA you will not only pay state sales tax, but also any City/County sales tax.

If you buy in CA and have it delivered (you take possession) in Arizona you will have to pay only AZ STATE sales tax at the MVD when you register it.
Nutinelse2do
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
California and Arizona are reciprocity States. If you pay sales tax in Cali, you wont have to pay again in Az, but taxes are higher in Ca. We would do as recommended and pick it up at the State line.

There is a formula any AZ mvd outlet can give you to let you know how much the title and registration will be when you register here. ( in az )
You will need vin #, year, make and model of coach and purchase price when you call.
Call this phone number and ask them. 623-879-0341.

While youre at it, ask them how much tax would be too. Tax depends on the County you will be registered in Az. The phone number I gave you above will be for Maricopa County. Then you can compare to Ca.

Good luck.

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Buying in CA and registering in AZ - Taxes?

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