Hey everyone, name's Steve and I'm brand new to the forum. I am going to be buying my scion in about a week and a half and would like to share some info for prospective buyers such as myself. Because of the fixed pricing and stiff salespeople who enforce it, it's tough to find a deal, but I found a way to save (in my case) up to $150 on your purchase. I searched online and found the local sales tax rates for all counties in California. I found that Monterey was the lowest and closest to my house (which is in San Jose). The SJ sales tax rate is 8.25% while Monterey is 7.25%. This 1% difference means a savings of about 150 bucks and the dealership is only 66 miles away from my house! Not too bad!

I then called the DMV to make sure that the tax I was subject to was not going to be determined by where I REGISTERED the car (san jose) but by where I PURCHASE the car. They confirmed that a buy in Monterey would be cheaper than a buy in san Jose, even though I amm registering the car in San Jose. Cool huh? Check your local taxrates and you could get some $$$ off! Put a spoiler or two up there for the cost of some research and a drive!

Feel free to shower me with compliments.

 

that doesn't work in NC you pay taxes based on registration..and they tax you every year based on value

 

I'll call the DMV again this afternoon and talk to someone else. Maybe I'll get a different answer, but I hope not. I'm looking forward to a nice dinner in beautiful Monterey to celebrate!

 

In Illinois, you pay the tax rate for where you register the car, not where you buy it. So make sure that you got correct info (hopefully the DMV is right, but ya never know). If it really does work that way, then more power to ya

 

That is correct. That is so Cook County(Mayor Daly) can screw you! :twisted: Vets - BOHICA!

 

no sales tax here in orygun. car reg fees in my case $58.00 for 2 years i can use the extra money for machine guns and hose feed and square dancin lessons ye ha

 

i ment horse feed

 

kacosta,
shoot it up man,i love killing paper.

 

You might also want to call the various dealerships and find out what the BS 'Processing Fee' is. I live in VA and have seen these fees range from $39.00 to $299.00. I bought my Scion xB at the closest dealership which also happened to have the $39.00 processing fee.

 

surfmobile,
welcome!
theres some Cali salesguys here that can verify your claim. but just to let you know, I thought of that before but got denied. Here in Socal, they go for where you register your car, where you live. at least thats what they told me when I was shopping for my xB before.

 

that's it i'm moving to oregon. cheap registration and no smog? hell ya!!!!

 

Thanks to my girlfriend. She found me one of the cheapest price intown.

Here is the deal :
I bought the car in Maryland from Fitzgeral Mall and do my own tax in Virginia, so I don't have to pay the $100 processing fee.

I pay $14656+ $17 tag + 3% Virginia Tax.

I recommend you guys buy from Fitzgeral Auto Mall. It has the cheapest scion price around here. The sales person are nice too. Although, the car in show room is only $14500, but it's not the color I want.

 

Sorry, according to California law, you have to pay the tax rate of the county of registration.

I believe you also have to keep the car for 90 days in that county, or face any "adjustment" in tax rates by moving.

Same thing as buying a car in OR or NV.

You would be better-off comparing "out the door pricing" and save money on dealer fees than incur the State’s wrath.

Also, don't forget car REGISTRATION fees (VLF) are deductible when filing you federal taxes.

 

In Iowa there is a set vehicle tax rate for the entire state of 5%. Where the sales tax, which can vary, would not apply.

 

Thanks for all the info! Looks like I'm screwed wherever I buy it because I'm going to end up registering it in the city with a huge sales tax rate (San Jose). Thanks guys! Looking forward to posting again when I've got the camo surfmobile!

 

You wanna know how much sales tax I paid?

ZIPPO!
I got an 05' xB with spoiler,mats,fogs, bumper app. and personilized plates for $15,250!!!!


BTW, Oregon has no sales tax!!

mabey thats why 9/10 of those who move to oregon, ARE FROM CALIFORNIA

 

man i paid $700 on top of MSRP price .... arg...

i just needed it fast since my car got totaled

 

UPDATE: After speaking with 2 managers at the DMV, looks like the tax that you pay when you buy a new car from a dealership is applied to you based on your legal address, as some stated above. It catches up to you and there's no way around it. Thanks for all the posts of those who gave info.

the end...

 

The tax is determined by were you are registering the car. Not where you buy it from