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

K_Charles
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
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.
azdryheat
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
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.
TOOBOLD
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014
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.
Executive45
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2014
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
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2014
Go into your local DMV and discuss with them.

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Buying in CA and registering in AZ - Taxes?

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