Buying out of state

[donnyB7]

I will be flying to California for a few weeks and would like to buy a Class C while there and drive it back to Florida (where I live). A few questions come to mind:
1) Do the gas Class C's have different smog requirements and will I be sorry I didn't buy in Florida?
2) How do I license the RV in order to spend a week driving it back home?

[#2]

If you buy in crazy Cal, but register elsewhere, you will take delivery out of (closet) state, then pay wherever you register. But, you may have to pay a “use tax”. Where you register. (To punish you for not buying in your own state.). In addition to reg. taxes.

[bikendan]

htss wrote:
I purchased our fifth wheel in WI and brought it back home to CO. I ended up paying sales taxes in both states. The PDI was rushed and things were missed because I was on a very tight time frame. I had no support from the dealership for any problems without dragging it back to WI, which I was not going to do. I would not do it again and cannot recommend it. If you do it, I hope you have a much better experience than I did.

we bought our first new HTT, from a Chicago dealer, 2000 miles away.
we drove there to pick it up. they charged us Illinois tax and California charged the difference.
as to support, Forest River found us local dealers that did the warranty work. we also could have used an independent RV shop or mobile RV tech. we just had to get pre-approval from FR and be willing to be reimbursed.
so we would definitely do it again.

[Edd505]

Dtank wrote:
Smog compliance (factory specs) should be the same for all 50 states.

If you take delivery in CA - you *WILL* pay approx 10% in sales tax.

Also (delivery in CA) you will most likely have to pay CA registration = big bucks.

Take delivery out of state - or purchase in a state with no -or low- sales tax.

Advice: Revise your purchase plans !!..:R

BTW - "break in period" is no different for a Class C -vs- your car or pickup,
or your personal preference.
Look at the chassis/eng mfgr's handbook.

.

CA has stricter emissions laws than most other states. Just like all the warnings "this product is known to cause cancer in CA." Sure glad I don't live in CA, too many things I use would give me cancer if I did live there. http://www.californiacarlaws.com/smog-laws/

[htss]

I purchased our fifth wheel in WI and brought it back home to CO. I ended up paying sales taxes in both states. The PDI was rushed and things were missed because I was on a very tight time frame. I had no support from the dealership for any problems without dragging it back to WI, which I was not going to do. I would not do it again and cannot recommend it. If you do it, I hope you have a much better experience than I did.

[midnightsadie]

if buying from a dealer? they should know how this is done.you can,t be the only person who has bought from out of state.

[LadyRVer]

I recently purchased a travel trailer in OR...I am a FL resident. OR issued a 10 day temp tag (not near long enough to get FL title work done.) I paid FL sales tax to the DMV in FL while doing tag work from "the road." OR had no sales tax and I knew I would have to pay FL.

[Dtank]

Smog compliance (factory specs) should be the same for all 50 states.

If you take delivery in CA - you *WILL* pay approx 10% in sales tax.

Also (delivery in CA) you will most likely have to pay CA registration = big bucks.

Take delivery out of state - or purchase in a state with no -or low- sales tax.

Advice: Revise your purchase plans !!..:R

BTW - "break in period" is no different for a Class C -vs- your car or pickup,
or your personal preference.
Look at the chassis/eng mfgr's handbook.

.

[riven1950]

Is there a break in period on a class c?

[azdryheat]

Why do you want to specifically buy in Cally? Cally taxes are terrible. There's lots of quality Class C's closer to where you live.

[Nutinelse2do]

Considering this a dealer transaction, and not private party.... If you take delivery in California, you will have to pay their sales tax. When you register it in Florida, you won’t have to pay again, but you also will not get any refund if FL is less than Ca.

In order to not pay tax in California, you will have to take delivery out of State, but they will charge you a delivery fee... Anywhere from $450 and up, depending where you take possession.

Can’t help you on the smog, and also not sure you would have to do anything but get a trip permit if it’s a private party purchase.

[CA_Traveler]

Plus do you have a complete PDI to complete and not depend upon the dealer's show and tell PDI? Even if you buy from a owner.

Plan to spend a full day if not more on YOUR PDI. And when not if you find problems what is your plan given that it could take weeks to resolve? Buying a RV is NOT like a car if that is your background.

[CA_Traveler]

Do some research on CA sales tax which you might not have to pay. You might have to take delivery out of CA. And then what happens when you register it in some other state.

As a CA resident I didn't pay sales tax on my prior rig which was delivered to NV. I was a passenger with a driver on the trip. As a non resident your situation may be different but you may still need to take delivery out of state.

Be advised that CA is an expensive state to live in and most likely you'll be paying a premium price. And read up on dealer warranty which is often poor and non existent for you.

Case in point: OR fuel prices are $1/gal less.

While I can't answer the smog question please post your findings.

[ppine]

Call the Californai Air Resources Board (CARB) and ask them about smog regs.

[dpgllg]

I cannot answer the Gas and smog issue but regarding the registration you should get a temporary registration / plate from California that would give you time to drive it back to Florida.

Dave