Buy a Car in CA – take back to Arkansas?

[jrdavid68]

My Mother-In-Law is in the market for a new car. She likes the Honda Civic Coupe (think “The Little Old Lady From Pasadena” and you will get the picture).

So, she’s visiting us in CA for a couple months and wants to buy the car here and drive back to Arkansas. We would probably send one of the grandsons along, but she would do just fine on her own too.

In Arkansas, when buying a new car the Tax, Title and Lic fees are paid at the DMV later, not at the dealer. Of course in CA those are all paid when buying the car at the dealer.

So, I’m wondering if anyone knows how this might work. My guess is that she would have to pay the Tax, Title and Lic in CA and might be able to go after a refund for the title and license fees. Then she will need to pay the title and license fees again in Arkansas – hopefully, no more taxes.

Anyone here done something like this before?

Thanks,

[Don Plumley]

I've done the opposite - bought a car in IL and drove it back.

The dealer collected CA fees, I had to register and pay a balance at the CA DMV when I registered the car.

So I presume she will not pay CA Tax and Fees, but depending upon the sophistication of the dealer, they may charge appropriate Arkansas fees.

Don

PS - Where in Arkansas? My Dad is from the Magnolia area.

[LakeCleElum]

Tell her to get an Ark. temp lic. and bring it with her...She should be able to avoid all CA fees and drive it back unmolested.

I bought a m/c in New Orleans from a Priest a few years ago. I flew down to pick it up and was surprised he had to turn in the plate. I rode it back to WA state w/o a plate or anything more than a bill of sale in my pocket!