# California/Ohio Sales Tax Question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 25, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687 "2016-05-25T19:17:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/1 "2016-05-25T19:17:48Z")
I live in California. If I buy a new car in Ohio, and pay Ohio sales tax, does anyone know if I will have to pay either a sales or use tax upon bringing into and registering it here in CA?
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### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/2 "2016-05-25T19:52:39Z")
If you are a resident of California and purchase a car in Ohio, you wouldn’t pay sales tax in Ohio. You would pay sales tax in California when you register the car there.
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### Author:  [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/3 "2016-05-25T20:51:58Z")
And you better register it within 10 days or the fines and penalties pile up.
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/4 "2016-05-25T20:53:34Z")
Make sure it has California smog control, you may not be able to register it if it’s a “49-Stater” model … check for the exemptions too.
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### Author:  [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/5 "2016-05-26T01:34:35Z")
I know that in Maine, you pay sales tax on an out-of-state car when you register it in the Pine Tree State. But, they will deduct the amount of sales tax that you paid to another state.
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### Author:  [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/6 "2016-05-26T01:48:55Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#):
>
> Make sure it has California smog control, you may not be able to register it if it’s a “49-Stater” model … check for the exemptions too.
Oh yeah. This especially…
[QUOTE=CA DMV]
The Bottom Line
If you are a California resident and acquire a new car, truck, or motorcycle from another state, it must be certified to meet California smog laws to be registered in California. This includes certain diesel-powered vehicles. DMV cannot accept an application to register a vehicle in California that does not qualify for registration (California Health and Safety Code §§43150 - 43156).
What Is Considered a New Vehicle?
California considers any vehicle with less than 7,500 miles on the odometer at the time of purchase or trade by a California resident or business, to be a new vehicle. This is true whether or not the vehicle has been registered in another state.
Aren’t All Vehicles California Certified?
Not all new vehicles are manufactured to be sold in California. Many manufacturers make vehicles to be sold only in the other 49 states. These vehicles (49-state) are made with smog equipment that meets federal emission standards, but not California standards. California-certified (50-state) vehicles are made to be sold in California.
Check the Label
To find out whether a car, truck, or motorcycle is California certified, check the emission label under the hood. For a motorcycle, check the frame or refer to your owner’ s manual for the location. The label should read that the vehicle conforms to California regulations, or that it is legal for sale in California.
[/QUOTE]
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/7 "2016-05-26T02:32:25Z")
If you insist on registering a 49 state car in CA, be prepared to either install the right smog equipment or bribe smog techs every other year.
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### Author:  [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/8 "2016-05-26T03:46:21Z")
Not sure if there is much a bribed smog tech can do for you anyway. The whole smog check ritual is largely automated, and I don’t think there is much of an opening for the smog tech person to tweak the results.
(Sure, he could “fix” the visual inspection part of the procedure, but that’s just a bit part.)
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### Author:  [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/9 "2016-05-26T03:47:33Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#):
>
> If you are a resident of California and purchase a car in Ohio, you wouldn’t pay sales tax in Ohio. You would pay sales tax in California when you register the car there.
[Since 2007, you pay in Ohio:](http://associationdatabase.com/aws/OADA/pt/sd/news_article/45825/_PARENT/layout_details/false)
> [@](#):
>
> Since 2007, non-residents of seven states, Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, and South Carolina, pay sales tax to Ohio when purchasing a vehicle in Ohio. The calculation of how much to collect and remit to the state of Ohio requires dealers to compare the amount that would be owed here in Ohio and the sales tax that would be owed in the state where the customer resides.
(As California’s tax is higher and has no trade-in allowance, it’s always going to be the Ohio rate.)
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### Author:  [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/10 "2016-05-26T12:52:30Z")
The vehicle I’m looking at is new/unregistered. They are sold by a Ford dealer in Ohio. They come in two versions: 670 HP & 727 HP. They say the latter is not California legal, but the former is. As long as I don’t have to pay sales tax to both states, I’m going to,do something crazy.
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/11 "2016-05-26T14:57:49Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#):
>
> The vehicle I’m looking at is new/unregistered. They are sold by a Ford dealer in Ohio. They come in two versions: 670 HP & 727 HP. They say the latter is not California legal, but the former is. As long as I don’t have to pay sales tax to both states, I’m going to,do something crazy.
Bejeezus … that’s a hell of a lot of horses for a little roadster … wouldn’t a Chevy Volt be more reasonable?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/12 "2016-05-26T15:01:43Z")
I Googled; apparently a [Ford dealer in Ohio is selling Mustangs](http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/12/ohio-dealer-selling-727-hp-ford-mustangs-for-40k/) with a Roush supercharger, resulting in a 727-HP car for about $40,000.
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### Author:  [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/13 "2016-05-26T15:14:46Z")
> [@SanDiegoTim](#):
>
> The vehicle I’m looking at is new/unregistered. They are sold by a Ford dealer in Ohio. They come in two versions: 670 HP & 727 HP. They say the latter is not California legal, but the former is. As long as I don’t have to pay sales tax to both states, I’m going to,do something crazy.
Just to cover your ass, get them to send pictures of the California emissions sticker, and if any aftermarket parts have been installed, get the details of the CARB Executive Order number and paperwork too. You’ll have to show both once the car gets here.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/14 "2016-05-26T15:16:19Z")
By the way, other sites suggest a cheaper way to acquire the same thing; buy the supercharger from Roush for about $7,000 and then buy a Mustang GT for the best possible price you can find nationally. Even if you have to pay for the installation (perhaps $1,500), you should be able to save thousands.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/15 "2016-05-26T15:24:18Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I Googled; apparently a [Ford dealer in Ohio is selling Mustangs](http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/12/ohio-dealer-selling-727-hp-ford-mustangs-for-40k/) with a Roush supercharger, resulting in a 727-HP car for about $40,000.
However
> [@](#):
>
> What customers get for $40,000 is a base Mustang with a supercharger – this isn’t one of Roush’s Stage 1, 2, or 3 creations. There’s no upgraded body kit, bigger wheels, more powerful brakes, or stiffer suspension.
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### Author:  [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/16 "2016-05-26T15:33:18Z")
Yeah, I don’t know if I can get behind that big of a power upgrade without making equivalent upgrades in braking and handling. Plus I don’t think the stock transmission can handle that power indefinitely.
Personally, if it were my money (and it clearly is not) I’d get the GT350, and if I was feeling extra good, the GT350R. They had those out at Laguna Seca and man, are they slick packages. Looked and sounded great on the track as well.
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### Author:  [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/17 "2016-05-26T15:38:48Z")
Why do you need to get to Yuma and back in an hour 45 minutes? Maybe instead of a Ford you should look at Cessnas …
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### Author:  [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-ohio-sales-tax-question/755687/18 "2016-05-26T20:01:59Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#):
>
> Yeah, I don’t know if I can get behind that big of a power upgrade without making equivalent upgrades in braking and handling. Plus I don’t think the stock transmission can handle that power indefinitely.
>
> Personally, if it were my money (and it clearly is not) I’d get the GT350, and if I was feeling extra good, the GT350R. They had those out at Laguna Seca and man, are they slick packages. Looked and sounded great on the track as well.
The GT 350’s are much more refined, even though they have much less HP. The base MSRP is $49K. However, the vast majority are optioned to $55K +. The dealers I’ve contacted are tacking on a $15K - $20K surcharge. Screw 'em.
The vehicle I’m looking at is, as noted above is a base Mustang GT with a supercharger. While not perfect, you can’t get that much HP that “cheap.”