If you purchase a car in California, you have to pay the California tax? Another dealership I talked to in another state said there are no doc fees if you tax and title in another state.

Can someone clarify? THANKS!

 

Why would you want to buy in CA, and most likely pay above MSRP, if you live in another state? I don't quite get what you're trying to do. I live in CA and purchased out-of-state to save $.

 

Maybe they were somehow refering to "Document Fees" which is a BS fee dealers add on for extra profit.

Regardless of where the car is purchased, you must pay your local sales tax and DMV registration fees. Not too sure how out-of-state dealers handle this as I don't have sales tax where I live.

 

We bought our Cabrio at Sterling MINI in Virginia. Had it shipped to So Cal. We paid CA taxes. No matter where you buy it, you pay taxes in the state where you register it.

At the time we bought it, it was cheaper to buy it out of state and have it shipped. I understand SOME So Cal dealers have dropped the markup on MINIs though - so it's worth it to call around and see what kind of deal you can get.

The doc fees are a dealer thing - not a state thing. Those somewhat vary a bit depending on the dealer.

Donna

 

Meh...my editing didn't go to well! Sorry about the confusion. It was originally asking about doc fees...and then realized doc fees can vary from dealer to dealer.

First BATGIRL, yes, I'm trying to pay as much above MSRP as I possibly can! :impatient :impatient

NO, not all dealers in California have a mark up. I called one today that sells at MSRP! But he said that the doc fees end up being approximately 10% of the cost....because you have to pay the California tax no matter where you buy in California! Once you go to the DMV in your own state to register, you don't have to pay the tax because you already paid in California. Needless to say, if this is true that no matter where I go in California to purchase a Mini, I'll pay approximately 10% in fees. That takes California out of the picture.

There are markups here in Vegas and obviously i'm trying to find dealerships nearby that have NO markups and low/no doc fees! So far, Albuquerque has been the best! 580 mile drive home? May be worth it to save a few bucks!

 

I think I paid something like $45 in doc fees from South Bay, nothing like 10% Of course I paid sales tax but I would have had to pay that no matter what when I registered in CA.

 

Doc(umentation) fees are the cost of taking the sales paperwork to the DMV to commence the registration of the car. $45/$50 is a reasonable number, not 10%. Sales tax in California runs from 7.75% to 8.5% Registration is another expense in the range of $350 for a MINI. Maybe the dealer is combining Sales Tax and Registration to come up with the 10%????

 

Check out the MINI Dealership, MINI of Murray, in Salt Lake City, too. They've gotten very positive comments from NAMmers since 2002. Their phone: 801-262-2479.

 

The dealer in Denver, CO deals with MSRP (only one in CO). First thing out of my MA's mouth when we met them. Vegas is a 11-12hr drive from Denver.

 

Ironically, when we spoke with them they had fees of around $400 as I recall. Have heard good things about them tho

 

I don't think that has always been the case. Thanks for the info.

 

Correct...Mini of Murray is $370 for doc fees...compared to $0 that I heard previously!

Hmmm...really scratching my head on the California thing now! Better look into it a little closer!