Non-resident registration of car in California

[Purrybonker]

I'm Canadian but I spend several months per year in California (in a non-working capacity) and am seriously thinking about buying a place the way real estate prices are dropping.

I've also been giving some thought to a 997S - and by coincidence, it turns out that I can probably save $15k or so buying one in the US vs. Canada, even after paying 6.1% duty and 5% fed tax to import one.

An excellent deal came up recently on a 2008 997S cab, but the nice people at PCNA were quick to point out to me that they will not issue recall clearance letters for 2008 model cars. This effectively shuts down the importation of 2008 MY US Porsches into Canada - nice way for Porsche to protect their fatter Canadian margins.

So, it occured to me - why not just buy a US Porsche and register it in California. Is a mailing address sufficient to register a car in California? Does anyone have a buddy at DMV?

Trying to get through the DMV "automated email system" or their non-functional Canadian 1-800 number is an exercise in futility. Maybe I'll have to wait 'till my next visit and drop into a DMV office in person...

[BeyGon]

I think if you know anyone in California and use their address you would be OK, California wants your money. Of course, comming from the north instead of the south there could be a problem. I am not sure what rules apply if you come from the south.

[hardflex]

Doesn't Calif have registration fees tied to the value of the car. It might be cheaper to do it in another state.

[LakeCleElum]

Buy in Oregon or Montana - No State sales tax....

[Rick Lee]

Do any states allow registration of cars or driver's licenses to PO Boxes? Seems NV would be a good place have on one's license and regist.

[tabs]

I live in NV and keep my registration of my 69 Mustang (smog exempt) in CA. The CA DMV sends me the bill every year without fail. Problem is drivng around in Canada with CA license plates if U get stopped, you got problems as U live in Canada and not CA. Also you need to keep the car insured in CA or no new registration. On new cars every 2 years it need to be smogged in CA. In NV it is every year.

After awhile the insurance company will not reinsure you unless they are told the car is in the state of registration.

So it is doable if you want the hassle.

[tabs]

Now if you owned a home in CA..that might change things...not your permanent state of residence, but.....it makes it more legit.

[Purrybonker]

Originally Posted by tabs

I live in NV and keep my registration of my 69 Mustang (smog exempt) in CA. The CA DMV sends me the bill every year without fail. Problem is drivng around in Canada with CA license plates if U get stopped, you got problems as U live in Canada and not CA. Also you need to keep the car insured in CA or no new registration. On new cars every 2 years it need to be smogged in CA. In NV it is every year.

After awhile the insurance company will not reinsure you unless they are told the car is in the state of registration.

So it is doable if you want the hassle.

Yeah, good point about getting stopped in Canada with a US registered car and a Canadian driver's license. I think the RCMP up here would get their panties in a knot if the license and registration didn't jive with each other. I know that they get upset even if the registration/license don't have the same local address.

So that means getting a driver's license to line up with the car registration.

hm.... still doable, but as you say - probably makes sense to go to the trouble if/when I buy a place south of the border.

Damn - I really wanted that 997S....

[Purrybonker]

Then I stumbled across this website...

http://www.mtvehicles.com/

They establish "LLC"s (limited liability corporations) in Montana so you, me - anyone can buy vehicles anywhere and register them tax and inspection "efficiently" in Montana vs. other jurisdictions.

Sounds very slick. They want $1000 to set up the LLC - hm, may have to look into this idea.

[stealthn]

Tisk, tisk, always trying the easy way out

I have a buddy here that also owns a house in CA and has his CA dealer license. He brings up new Porsche, BMW's and Audi's all the time. If you want I can get you two in touch, PM me.

[Purrybonker]

Thanks Bob, but the problem is not the process or capability of importing (with the exception of '08 cars which are impossible to import, dealer plate or no), I've imported cars before - it's the cost of importing or buying in Canada vs. US that is the problem.

Here's representative costs for indentical, well equipped new C4S cabs, numbers right from the Porsche website...

Canada $153k
US $120k

That's with CDN = US $, so Porsche is making $33k more on the same car sold in Canada vs. US.

For me as a customer, I can buy the US car, pay 6.1% duty (Porsche has already paid this to US gov't, but I pay it again to CDN gov't if I import) + pay 5% GST and land the US car in Calgary for around $135k, saving about $18k.

So if I import a US car I save $18k and the government makes an extra $7k (double payment of import duties) - so Porsche and it's dealer network are out $25k vs. me buying the same car in Canada.

My choices: (a) Buy in Canada $153k + GST = $160k
(b) Import $120k + GST + Duty = $135k (if PCNA allowed it)
(c) Register in non-tax US state = $120k

Yeah, if it can be done, the argument to buy and register in the US is pretty compelling. That's like a 25% discount vs buying the same car in Canada.

These same kind of numbers trickle down proportionately into the used car market as well, btw. I can buy an '07 911 S cab used in the US for the price of a well equipped new '08 Boxster in Canada.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Buy in Oregon or Montana - No State sales tax....

and register it in Washington or Montana, seems to me they have cheaper fees, but have not checked in years

[ejames19]

No hassle to do, my folks spend majority of their time in Florida, but are Canadian. Pop has the Florida car, plates and Florida ownership & insurance with Canadian drivers license, drives it up every summer into TO and over to the east coast (Nova Scotia) as long as the car is in your name and insurance, cops can't do anything, except for what they pulled you over for. Now mom and dad own property in FL and car is registered to that, so if you bought CA property your fine, or even rent....Good Luck.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Purrybonker

Thanks Bob, but the problem is not the process or capability of importing (with the exception of '08 cars which are impossible to import, dealer plate or no), I've imported cars before - it's the cost of importing or buying in Canada vs. US that is the problem.

Here's representative costs for indentical, well equipped new C4S cabs, numbers right from the Porsche website...

Canada $153k
US $120k

That's with CDN = US $, so Porsche is making $33k more on the same car sold in Canada vs. US.

For me as a customer, I can buy the US car, pay 6.1% duty (Porsche has already paid this to US gov't, but I pay it again to CDN gov't if I import) + pay 5% GST and land the US car in Calgary for around $135k, saving about $18k.

So if I import a US car I save $18k and the government makes an extra $7k (double payment of import duties) - so Porsche and it's dealer network are out $25k vs. me buying the same car in Canada.

My choices: (a) Buy in Canada $153k + GST = $160k
(b) Import $120k + GST + Duty = $135k (if PCNA allowed it)
(c) Register in non-tax US state = $120k

Yeah, if it can be done, the argument to buy and register in the US is pretty compelling. That's like a 25% discount vs buying the same car in Canada.

These same kind of numbers trickle down proportionately into the used car market as well, btw. I can buy an '07 911 S cab used in the US for the price of a well equipped new '08 Boxster in Canada.

Good god, are you people up there insane?! $160k for a non-turbo 911 cab??

Even your figure of $120k in the U.S. is $20k higher than MSRP here for that car. I know that you can load them up with expensive options, but that model comes pretty well-equiped standard. $125k is MSRP for an '08 GT3 RS, for chrisakes. $127k for a 997tt. Etc....

And we think that they are plenty expensive down here. And I'd think that there would be some discounts to be had the way that Porsche is stamping them out like Chevrolets these days.

Why don't you really do an end-around on Canada and buy a used '07 in showroom condition for ~$80k that is still under warrantee and let some other sap eat the first year's depreciation?

[stealthn]

Denis, $80K for an 07, that's funny, they go about $110 here for the base model.

Yes prices are stupid high here, we have complained and "Supposedly" Porsche said they were/are going to drop the MSRP 11% <- not holding my breath


Ken, Looks like you'll have to buy CA property to get what you want, or do that LLC thing. Or you could just get ripped off like the rest of us Canucks (Although who can afford new?)

[Purrybonker]

Originally Posted by speeder

Why don't you really do an end-around on Canada and buy a used '07 in showroom condition for ~$80k that is still under warrantee and let some other sap eat the first year's depreciation?

Yes, that's my plan. No way, no how would I buy new in Canada. But lots of people do.

You wanna see cars? I've been in a lot of places, but I've never seen the money that consistently rolls down the streets in Vancouver in the summer time.

911s are as to civics in Vancouver as Boxsters are, are, are... to Trabants.

Bentley Azures for the working class. All ties in nicely with $2000 per sq ft condominiums I guess...

I was at the Porsche dealer trying to convince the arrogant salesman that I was worthy enough to see the new Orangey, Orange Boxster. Suit outside the door on his cellphone:

"well, we need to pick-up something - I'm over at the Porsche dealer right now, these things aren't very expensive..."

edit:

oh, and bye-the-way I was referring to equipped C4S cabs, not base MSRP Base C4S cab is around $105 US, $125 in Canada. Thats AFTER Porsche rolled back Canadian prices a bit...

[jtkkz]

I belive you need a drivers license / home address to register car and to insure a car..

Oregn has no sales tax may be cheaper... Bend, OR. is really nice

[speeder]

This is my source, what are you using?

http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/911-carrera-4s-cabriolet/

[Purrybonker]

Originally Posted by speeder

This is my source, what are you using?

http://www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/911-carrera-4s-cabriolet/

Same one. Pick "build your Porsche", then 911, C4S cab, then pick "sport" pre-configuration. You get $119k.
I just picked that example to compare US to Canada.

If you back up to main Porsche website, pick Canada as your country, you can price the same car in Canada. (hang on to your tummy)