Arizona vs California Registration

[Mojo13]

I recently purchased a new Fleetwood Discovery in Pheonix, AZ. Drove it back to California, and attempted to register it at the DMV today. That didn't go so well.

I also have land in Arizona and a Arizona ID. I think I could register the vehicle in either state. Does anyone know the pros and cons of registering in either state?

so far for California registration, I see that I will have to pay a difference in tax from the original purchase price (about 2K) and I was told that it would have to get the vehicle smog tested.

Not sure of anything in Arizona yet.

[flasher]

Az is deff cheaper. As far as emissions go it depends on which county your property is

[Sequim Guy]

I would find out which state has lower registration fees, both states charge on value of the vehicle, so it is going to be pricey for tags. Only Phoenix and Tucson make you get a smog test, rest of state doesn't.
Not sure about sales tax, AZ doesn't make you pay sales tax on a private party sale, only on dealer sales, but since you bought new, you probably already paid the sales tax at the dealer.
Is CA making you pay tax on what they think it is worth and not what you paid for it?
I remember them doing that when I lived there, another reason I don't live there anymore. When you bought a car private party, you always got a bill of sale for way less than you paid because you had to show it to DMV.

[Clay L]

Legally it should be registered in the state it is principally garaged in.

There have been some posts in the last few years talking about CA efforts to track down and fine people keeping RVs in CA that are registered in other states, but I don't know what the chances of getting caught are.

[stuhly]

Arizona is not cheap either. My 06 Providence last year was over $2000.

[flasher]

What would it of been in ca?

[RickO]

Originally Posted by flasher

What would it of been in ca?

For my 07 Itasca Ellipse California wanted $2400 for the 2010 registration. Although I was born and raised there, I packed my bags and joined Escapees to become a "Texan".

Rick

[flasher]

I know how you feel Rick.I left 20 years ago

[GSGracie]

At last! Something that is cheaper in New Zealand than USA! My registration for the year is $290NZ (about $250US). Also have to get a Certificate of Fitness twice a year ($117NZ) but I still come out ahead. Gas on the other hand is $2.10 per LITRE, that is about $10 a gallon.

[Sequim Guy]

Sorry to tell you, but it's not cheaper in NZ. Your MH is about the same age as mine, and my tags are about $245 a year. They go by current value here, so the older it is, the less the tags. The tags on a new Prevost are probably more than my MH is worth.
Price for gas in Tucson is running $3.17, a little better than $10.
What is a Certificate of Fittness? I have to get a smog test every other year, for $12.50.

[SKP Kirk]

If you store the RV in CA where you live, you will probably get caught sooner or later and they won't be happy about it. The law says that you must register a vehicle in the state where it stays when not being driven. If you wish to use AZ to register, then you will need to store the RV there as well.

CA has become very aggressive about enforcement of vehicle registration laws. There have been numerous stories in the RV magazines about this.

[macnkat]

Originally Posted by SKP Kirk

CA has become very aggressive about enforcement of vehicle registration laws. There have been numerous stories in the RV magazines about this.

Aggresive? How so? It's not very practical to pull over every out of state plate they see. If you have an out of state address there is not much they can do to prove you don't split time from one place to another.

[dons2346]

Originally Posted by macnkat

Aggresive? How so? It's not very practical to pull over every out of state plate they see. If you have an out of state address there is not much they can do to prove you don't split time from one place to another.

It is your jealous neighbor that will turn you in.

[w6pea]

Originally Posted by SKP Kirk

If you store the RV in CA where you live, you will probably get caught sooner or later and they won't be happy about it. The law says that you must register a vehicle in the state where it stays when not being driven. If you wish to use AZ to register, then you will need to store the RV there as well.

CA has become very aggressive about enforcement of vehicle registration laws. There have been numerous stories in the RV magazines about this.

Originally Posted by macnkat

Aggresive? How so? It's not very practical to pull over every out of state plate they see. If you have an out of state address there is not much they can do to prove you don't split time from one place to another.

Originally Posted by dons2346

It is your jealous neighbor that will turn you in.

I have a couple of neighbors that have Baja, Mexico plates one has had his p/u truck registered there, he bought his a week or so after I bought my F-250 p/u.....he has never registered it in California. I have written letters to DMV and the CHP and my local police department. You guessed it they have yet to do anything about it. Also I can walk out on the street right now and count 10 to 12 vehicles with not only out of state.....but more like out of country licensee plates.

Enough said before I get in trouble again.


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