Car dealers in California can't sell cars out of state? What?
06-13-2018, 12:16 PM
#1
Car dealers in California can't sell cars out of state? What?
Just spoke to John L. Sullivan Chevrolet in Rolesville, California. I was told that they can only sell a vehicle to a buyer that walks in their door. It is against the law for them to sell a car to someone out of state and ship the vehicle to them. This sounds like utter BS and madness if true. Can anyone confirm this is the law?
06-13-2018, 12:33 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
Maybe they were just giving an excuse to avoid dealing with a nit picky out of state buyer? 
06-13-2018, 01:47 PM
#5
Count your blessing, dodged a bullet, and many more where that came from 
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IRMB (06-13-2018)
06-13-2018, 02:07 PM
#6
The C7 is the same no matter where in the US you buy it. There is no CA version.
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FloJo (06-13-2018)
06-13-2018, 04:00 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jun 2005
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That's interesting...there is at least one forum dealer in CA (Boardwalk) that regularly posts in the dealer inventory section, and their posts even reference how out-of-state purchases and shipping works with them.
Me thinks the small-time dealer in the OP is a bit out of touch, or simply uninterested in dealing with long-distance sales and that was their excuse of the day. Some dealers are like that...only wanting to use the Internet to get folks physically into the showroom for the sales pitch and nothing more.
Me thinks the small-time dealer in the OP is a bit out of touch, or simply uninterested in dealing with long-distance sales and that was their excuse of the day. Some dealers are like that...only wanting to use the Internet to get folks physically into the showroom for the sales pitch and nothing more.
06-13-2018, 04:00 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Left Coast, San Diego
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No such thing as a "cali smog car". All new Corvettes have the same emission equipment. So a new Vette purchased in the Iowa Corn fields is the same as a CA, AZ or TX car. Do your homework.
Last edited by Vet Interested; 06-13-2018 at 04:11 PM.
06-13-2018, 04:43 PM
#9
Team Owner
Just spoke to John L. Sullivan Chevrolet in Rolesville, California. I was told that they can only sell a vehicle to a buyer that walks in their door. It is against the law for them to sell a car to someone out of state and ship the vehicle to them. This sounds like utter BS and madness if true. Can anyone confirm this is the law?
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ptran00 (06-13-2018)
06-13-2018, 07:29 PM
#10
Just spoke to John L. Sullivan Chevrolet in Rolesville, California. I was told that they can only sell a vehicle to a buyer that walks in their door. It is against the law for them to sell a car to someone out of state and ship the vehicle to them. This sounds like utter BS and madness if true. Can anyone confirm this is the law?
06-13-2018, 07:59 PM
#11
Just spoke to John L. Sullivan Chevrolet in Rolesville, California. I was told that they can only sell a vehicle to a buyer that walks in their door. It is against the law for them to sell a car to someone out of state and ship the vehicle to them. This sounds like utter BS and madness if true. Can anyone confirm this is the law?
06-13-2018, 10:14 PM
#12
Pro
It's BS. I live in NV and we buy new cars from CA all the time and you don't need to be there. The issue for this dealer might be that if the paperwork isn't completed on the dealership lot you have a recision right that you don't have when the transaction is done there on the premisis. That's the way it was when I was in the car business from '93 to '04. I worked in both CA and NV
06-13-2018, 11:12 PM
#13
the dealership person you spoke with is dumb as a stump.
do they still think the earth is flat as well?
go to a supporting forum dealer.
better deals to be had with them, in all likelihood.
do they still think the earth is flat as well?
go to a supporting forum dealer.
better deals to be had with them, in all likelihood.
Last edited by SLO VETTE; 06-13-2018 at 11:13 PM.
06-13-2018, 11:43 PM
#14
Untrue. The dealer didn't want to deal with you or out of state buyers for some reason. There is no law against it. I was an out of state buyer myself working with a dealer in SoCal and another in Seattle. Seattle won the price war.
06-14-2018, 12:05 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
I'm pretty sure if you buy a car here in California and drive it off the lot, you must pay nonrefundable California Sales Tax on the entire purchase price (minimum 7.25% and much higher in some cities and counties, no discount for trade in value). You can only avoid the sales tax if you have a commercial third party ship the car from the dealer out of California.
06-14-2018, 02:36 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
I'm pretty sure if you buy a car here in California and drive it off the lot, you must pay nonrefundable California Sales Tax on the entire purchase price (minimum 7.25% and much higher in some cities and counties, no discount for trade in value). You can only avoid the sales tax if you have a commercial third party ship the car from the dealer out of California.
Last edited by jimmbbo; 06-14-2018 at 02:37 AM.
06-14-2018, 09:13 AM
#18
IF you buy in Montana and register your new car in Cal
When you register a new car in California that was purchased in a no sales tax state like Oregon or Montana, you will still have to pay the California sales tax at the time of registration.
I suspect that you bought your new Corvette in Montana from Dennis and Ken Fichtner at Denny Meinholt Chevrolet. Great guys, awesome prices, and a stellar buying/delivery experience. They were also the first advertiser/vendor on Corvette Forum.
I suspect that you bought your new Corvette in Montana from Dennis and Ken Fichtner at Denny Meinholt Chevrolet. Great guys, awesome prices, and a stellar buying/delivery experience. They were also the first advertiser/vendor on Corvette Forum.
Last edited by vette4lyn; 06-14-2018 at 09:14 AM.
06-14-2018, 09:20 AM
#19
When you register a new car in California that was purchased in a no sales tax state like Oregon or Montana, you will still have to pay the California sales tax at the time of registration.
06-14-2018, 10:18 AM
#20
OP, you went to one of the worst dealers in the state.