CA sales tax

lf you buy a car in California, and plan to take it out of state, you don't have to pay the sales tax. I'm not sure what it takes to prove out of state residence, but am sure an out of state drivers license with a valid address on it should work.

If you buy a used car from a private individual in California, then the use tax (sales tax) is collected when the registration comes due. You initially pay only a transfer fee. So if you buy a car in June whose registration month was April, you can defer the tax until you pay the next year's license.

If you buy a car out of state, and tell that seller that you are taking it to California, you pay no sales tax there, but when you try to register it in Cali, they will charge the use tax. The exception to this is IF you buy it out of state, then keep it and USE it out of state for 90 days, the use tax can be waived. The time period has varied. A few years ago, the state changed it to 1 year, but changed it back to 90 days last July. I have heard talk this year about changing it again to the longer period.

These rules could have changed recently, so check the DMV web site.

 

Not entirely true. With a private sale you have 10 days to register the vehicle in your name. Sales/use tax is due upon transfering, plus a transfer fee, or a penalty is incurred.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2522

 

fwiw cali cops will be all over you with out of state plates, you're just asking for trouble IMO. do so much as fart with the windows down and you'll be in court. to answer your question they will charge sales tax at time of registration iirc