Moving my bimmer from Canada to Cali

[john_m]

I had no idea when I bought my 2000 323Ci that I'd be moving to Cali a month and a half later. Can anyone shed any light on what I have to do to register my car in California? I'm hoping I don't have to pay any tax on the car..

Thanks for any info,
John

[@ Viv]

Where in California are you moving to?

Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I think you'll be able to get some good information here:
CA Dept of Motor Vehicles
Viv
2003 530i Steel Blue Metallic /Gray leather
AT/PP/SP/CWP/Xenon/Folding Rear Seats/Ultimate Cup Holders/Stongard Headlamp Covers/Stealth rear signal bulbs/50% tint/Saab trunk lid handle/BMWCCA Member/With a Pink Panther on the mirror/E34('91 525i) retired

[

[npandher]

CA *WILL* make you pay, however the reduced registration fee's makes it less painful. Does Ontario (assuming you are in London, Ont) refund part of the provincial regisitration IF you leave the Province?

[john_m]

Thanks, I couldn't find information on sales tax I have to pay though from that site.

I will be moving to the Mountain View area.

[john_m]

I'm in Ontario. Registration is pretty cheap here (50/year). But last month I paid 15% of the price of the vehicle on sales tax! I just hope I don't have to pay that again when I come to California.

[ibew595]

As I recall,
Mountain View, very nice choice! Welcome to the bay area!
Keep the car out of Ca. for at least 90 days prior to ownership or sales tax at 8.25% will apply. Registration is due yearly and will cost +/- for your car $300, this is based on "value of the car". You will have to apply for registration and drivers license within 10 days(supposedly) if you plan on becoming a resident of CA. Insurance in the area is brutal so be prepared. The $1M policies of Can. are really expensive down here. For my 00 740i multi car discount it is $1100 year.
Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[john_m]

Thanks for the info! Not sure exactly what you mean by "Keep the car out of Ca. for at least 90 days prior to ownership".

I bought the car 45 days ago. I will be moving to California in a week or two. The car has always been registered in Canada, so it has never been to California.

Thanks,
John

[@ Viv]

he isn't a CA resident, nor was one when he bought the car.

John, some people buy high-priced cars out-of-state and keep them out-of-state for a period of time and miles to get around paying our sales tax. I'm not sure this would even apply to you because you aren't a California resident. It might be worth your while to check it out before hand.


Viv
2003 530i Steel Blue Metallic /Gray leather
AT/PP/SP/CWP/Xenon/Folding Rear Seats/Ultimate Cup Holders/Stongard Headlamp Covers/Stealth rear signal bulbs/50% tint/Saab trunk lid handle/BMWCCA Member/With a Pink Panther on the mirror/E34('91 525i) retired

[

[ibew595]

Viv,
Point taken, I know the 90 day rule exists but am not sure of those details. By the way do you live anywhere near Hollister ave? A friend moved up there recently.

John,
Well at least by moving to Mt. View you will be able to make lots of money. If you buy a house you get to write off the mortgage interest off your taxes. Problem is houses aren't cheap at all. Plenty to do around here and places to go. Remember this isn't Canada and there is more crime so be careful. My wifey is from Van. Next go check the California department of motor vehicles website that was given to you and see what they say about the 90 day rule. Hopefully it is not for non-residents. But be sure to check!
Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[john_m]

I checked the website, and it said that the 90 day rule doesn't apply to people moving in to the province. However, it said that the car must meet the federal requirements. My 2000 323Ci should meet those, right?

Again, it doesn't show anything about sales tax. So I hope I don't have to pay any more tax on the car!

Thanks for all the info people :)
John

[@ Viv]

Holister is about 2 miles from my house, but even closer to where I grew up. Did he buy one of those huge houses overlooking the river? ;-) His area is similar to mine. No sidewalks on the street, and houses are generally on a good piece of property.
Viv
2003 530i Steel Blue Metallic /Gray leather
AT/PP/SP/CWP/Xenon/Folding Rear Seats/Ultimate Cup Holders/Stongard Headlamp Covers/Stealth rear signal bulbs/50% tint/Saab trunk lid handle/BMWCCA Member/With a Pink Panther on the mirror/E34('91 525i) retired

[

[ibew595]

Viv,
I couldn't tell you exactly, she is a Dr. friend of my wife and just moved up there. My wife has been up there and I will have to go visit too, lots of relatives and friends in Sac. and Roseville.
Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[ibew595]

Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[ibew595]

No, you won't have to pay any new taxes and the car should meet the US requirements by the DOT(department of transportation-better check that website. try dot.gov???)although you will have to register it if you are planning to be a resident for a extended period of time. If you are going back to Can. then don't do it. The registration is yearly, pay every year. It goes down every year but slowly. Depending which province you are from at least the tax here is 8.25% and income tax isn't 50% more like 35% and you get alot of write offs!
welcome to my neck of the woods.
Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[Ian]

[@ Viv]

Just let me know ahead of time and we can work out something. Hubby and I enjoy meeting fellow RF'ers!
Viv
2003 530i Steel Blue Metallic /Gray leather
AT/PP/SP/CWP/Xenon/Folding Rear Seats/Ultimate Cup Holders/Stongard Headlamp Covers/Stealth rear signal bulbs/50% tint/Saab trunk lid handle/BMWCCA Member/With a Pink Panther on the mirror/E34('91 525i) retired

[

[@ Viv]

That would be fun. We could meet for lunch some place around here, which would make it convenient for you.
Viv
2003 530i Steel Blue Metallic /Gray leather
AT/PP/SP/CWP/Xenon/Folding Rear Seats/Ultimate Cup Holders/Stongard Headlamp Covers/Stealth rear signal bulbs/50% tint/Saab trunk lid handle/BMWCCA Member/With a Pink Panther on the mirror/E34('91 525i) retired

[

[ibew595]

I assume you mean in Can. also I assume that is $50 cdn which is $37 US. and you probably carry the $1M insurance policy and have the cheap healthcare. We don't have the 16% PST/GST and 50% income tax. Wages are real good down here too. AND it isn't a frozen wasteland (j.k.) I love going to B.C.
which province are you in?
Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[ibew595]

I watch your posts about the meets and was thinking of the Robbers roost one the other month. I did send someone from Rocklin your way, a teacher from Rocklin with a M3 with a bunch of mods. She posts as CnderellasM3 on another board. I will let you know if I can stop by but please post your meets here on the NorCal board.
Thanks.
Mt. Hamilton,San Jose, CA.2003
2000 740i Impala brown

My baby
BMW Food for the soul
Kevin Goto

[Mike in Sacramento]

When I brought my '97 328i in from Texas, the DMV person who registered it checked for a specific sticker in the engine bay that identified it as meeting specs in all 50 states. Would one be able to find that on a Canadian car? I'm pretty sure that the car would be legal in Cal, but if that sticker's not there, it might throw the DMV folks for a loop. Or is that sticker a standard item on all North American bimmers?

FWIW,

Mike