Probably cheaper to buy a car in texas if i had to guess. yearly registration is like 60 dollars I believe.

 

My annual registration is $52.
TX sales tax is 6.25%-7.25%.
0% for 72 is still available.
Also, you can get 14' LE for 20K in DFW or SE for $300 more.

 

I would rent a car for the one way trip and buy a Camry when arrived in TX. Everything is cheaper in TX compared to CA. Also not a good way to break in a new car driving in high speed for long period. I love TX, been to Houston, Dallas & SA a few times on Biz trip. If wasn't for great job, nice weather and 5 minutes to the beach I would move to TX too. I would want to visit Austin, anyone here from Austin?

@Apple1234, do you work for Toyota? they are moving from CA to TX.

 

I am actually planning on moving to Austin. I don't work for Toyota.

 

I would say buy in TX.

Another option is to buy in California and ship it. That way you skip dmv and sales tax. You would need to ship it from the dealer and I'm on guessing but shouldn't be more then a couple hundred to ship.... Lot less then tax and dmv fees.

Then u just register it in Texas.

 

The shipping going to be more than a few 100's, more like $6-700.
You don't have to pay the sales tax only if a car going out of the country.
They still gonna get you in TX if you wouldn't pay in CA.

 

Ahh. I thought even if you just shipped out of state u would skip the tax in the originating state.



I've had cars shipped from FL to California. Think I paid around 600 across country.

 

I guess it depends on a shipping company: my buddy was looking to ship 2010 rolla from Dallas to San Francisco a year or two ago and $600+ some change was the lowest quote including a full coverage insurance.

 

Another thing to think about is the 5 state distributor's, Gulf States Toyota, add-on sticker that is on every car they sell in the five state region. That can be anywhere from $300 all the way up to over a $1000. Most of the stuff they add on isn't to bad until they get into the sealants and other overpriced items. I will say the tinting and pin-striping they do is excellent as is the add on leather seats they install because they do so many they are good at it.

In my retirement years and being a dealer trade driver for over 12 years I only ran in to one dealer that had a lot full of no add-on sticker cars. It was located in Beaumont, Tx.

 

+1 on that, but most dealers would discount all that stuff anyway, or sell it to you for their cost.

 

I believe Travis County (Austin) sales tax on a new car is 6.5%. If not drive south one hour to San Antonio and I know you will pay 6.5%. i used to live there and have a good friend that is a sales manager at a To yota dealer that could help you. PM me if you need his info. Texas is a lot cheaper than Cali.

 

Ok i have an idea.

1) Fly to vegas, southwest, should be $49 one way.
2) in vegas, party for the weekend while you find a car. No sales tax in vegas.
3) drive car from vegas to tx when you are done with partying.
4) get tint
5) register car in tx
6) get led interior lighting
7) DIY backup camera if needed
8) xeondepot HD w/ 5000 or 4300 bulbs
9) win

Edit: since we are going to road trip this, i have decided to change our plans a bit.

Once hookers and beer are done in Vegas, we will cruise to arizona. Spend a day or two visiting the Domes and casa granda. If you want we can also visit the mystery castle, camelback castle, the Titan Missile Museum or any of the other fun things to see

New mexico is kind of boring so lets just drink and rest.

Texas you can spend years looking at weird things

i'll fly back once in tx.

when are we leaving?

 

If for some reason you don't take Realized up on his offer, I would wait and buy in Texas. The state sales tax is 6.25% of the sale price. There is no local (county/city) tax on auto sales in Texas so the city of purchase makes no difference. Just guessing but that is probably less than CA. If you do buy in CA, Texas will charge you a $90 new resident fee plus registration (tax) for the year. The vehicle will then have to pass emissions/inspection by Texas certified inspector which can run over $100. For me, I'd rather wait


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I would buy in texas because it is cheaper for sure. I THINK you get less horsepower in Cali too because of the PZEV. The 4 cylc is only produces 173 horses in Cali I believe (correct me if im wrong)

 

I don't know for sure, but I think less HP is because of the CA emissions stuff on it.

 

Buy in Texas and get the dealership to pay for a two year registration. That is what I did, lol.

If you can't get the dealership to pay for the registration, purchase a two year sticker as you get a discount. I think you can purchase a two year sticker as long as the car is not older than 4 years (they wouldn't let me get a two year sticker this year since my car is 5 years old now). For one year and ordering online, it was $65 IIRC. They add an online "convenience" fee and a mail "processing" fee, so online is a few dollars more than going in person.

PS - Move to a county that has no emissions test so that you don't have to pay for an emissions test during the yearly inspection.

 

if I was u I would buy in tx its alot cheaper then in California I did that same move last yr ... also why would u wanna pur those kind of miles on ur cae...

 

Also if you are going to get rid of your present car and don't want to trade it in and sell it outright be sure and check with you dealer as most of them will let you run it through their dealership as a trade to the buyer and it will save you the 6.25% of the worth of your car in the taxes you pay. Some of them might charge you a small fee but you still save money.

 

Here is all that you need to know about TX vehicle registration and inspection:
http://www.dps.texas.gov/rsd/vi/

p.s. there is no inspection for new-2 years old vehicles in TX.

 

P.S. There is an inspection for new-2 year vehicles in Texas. It occurs at the port before the vehicle is distributed to the dealership and is good for 2 years.

Vehicles bought outside of the state of Texas (no matter the age) must undergo inspection within the first 30 days in the state

http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/out-of-state-and-foreign-vehicles

"Within 30 days of bringing the vehicle to Texas, you must obtain a vehicle inspection and visit your county tax assessor-collector to title and register the vehicle. The vehicle must pass inspection before it can be registered and titled. After having it inspected, take the following to your county tax office:

Inspection certification,
Proof of liability insurance meeting State of Texas minimum requirements,
The vehicle's odometer reading if it is less than 10 years old,
An original out-of-state title,
Proof of valid registration"
Proof of sales tax payment or current foreign/military ownership document,


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Buy in TX. The negative is you'll have to deal (or live with) all the bogus add-ons Gulf States Toyota mandates on their new cars. When I lived in TX this b.s. had me shopping other brands.

 

It seems the Camry is cheaper in So Cal though. Just over the weekend I was able to find a Camry SE for 20750 OTD. I can't find anything near that in Tx.

 

^ That's a good deal.
I doubt you can get a Camry for $20750 OTD in TX. Seem like cars are cheaper in CA. My coworker couldn't find LE for less than $20xxx +TTL here in DFW and my buddy in MA was quoted $21xxx +TTL for SE and ended up buying a 14' 1.8T passat for 19.5 +TTL.

 

^ That's a good deal.
I doubt you can get a Camry for $20750 OTD in TX. Seem like cars are cheaper in CA. My coworker couldn't find LE for less than $20xxx +TTL here in DFW and my buddy in MA was quoted $21xxx +TTL for SE and ended up buying a 14' 1.8T passat for 19.5 +TTL.

I wonder why. Camry are made in KY, cheaper to transport to TX than CA. Is it have to do with sale volume? When I was in Southern part of Houston I see lots of trucks and cows, not too many cars. Everything is big in TX, and Texan love big trucks.

 

I want to bump this thread again. I am currently negotiating with a CA dealer and it seems that I may be able to get an LE camry for maybe $20,000 OTD. Most dealers in texas are asking for 21,000 + TTL. Just want to ask if I purchase in CA and drive to texas and don't register it for a year or so. Do I still have to pay the 6.25% tax later on down the road?

 

If it works like it does in Alabama if we bought a car in Georgia you have to pay sales tax when you buy your tag. So I think you would still have to pay TTL


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From personal experience if you buy the car somewhere else and want to register it in Texas you will have to pay sales taxes on the value of the car.

 

I lived in California and moved to San Antonio Texas. I kept my California plates for 2 years until I decided to switch to TX plates. It cost $84 to register and $14.50 for state inspection and $25 to switch over my drivers license. Did not have to pay taxes just registration fee. Now I'm back in Los Angeles and have had my registration for 3 years without switching back

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If it's anything like CA, even if you buy the car and don't plan to drive it, you still have to file a PNO, pay the fee, and then pay the "use tax". I was looking at a 4runner in San Luis Obispo that the guy hadn't driven in a few years, and he didn't realize he needed to file a PNO for it. There were $1500 in fines/past year registrations for the last 3 years, in addition to the $1500 "use tax" on the car. So just to get the car "legally" on the road would have been $3000.

It's such BS that they charge a "use/sales tax" on buying a used car. The car was already taxed new, and then you're charging a tax again (and sometimes 3 times if there are more than 2 owners). I could see if the car was bought out-of-state and brought in why they could justify charging a sales tax in the state where it will be operated, but charging a sales tax twice in the same state is just BS.

 

I'd recommend taking a look at this website: http://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/out-of-state-and-foreign-vehicles


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I never paid a new resident fee when I registered my car in tx from ca. When I got pulled over for speeding in san antonio, cops asked how long had I been living in tx because I still had ca plates and license. First I want to point out that you have the right to remain silent and rights against self incrimination so by simply staying quiet you can avoid a ticket for not registering you car within 30 days. Well back to the story, the cop asked how long I had been in tx. I simply stated I was visiting and would be on my way back to CA the day after. Cop let me go.

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I never paid a new resident fee when I registered my car in tx from ca. When I got pulled over for speeding in san antonio, cops asked how long had I been living in tx because I still had ca plates and license. First I want to point out that you have the right to remain silent and rights against self incrimination so by simply staying quiet you can avoid a ticket for not registering you car within 30 days. Well back to the story, the cop asked how long I had been in tx. I simply stated I was visiting and would be on my way back to CA the day after. Cop let me go.

But did he give you a ticket?