Purchasing Type R out-of-state

[Milosdad]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to purchase a Type R and was offered one at MSRP. Does anyone here have experience purchasing a vehicle from an out-of-state dealer? Specifically those that registered in California.

Their OTD price states that it covers tax, registration, documentation and other fees but does this mean I won't need to register the vehicle when it arrives in CA? I want to make sure I'm not paying for registration twice. I also couldn't get a solid answer on whether or not I need to smog the vehicle.

I did speak with a rep from the DMV and was told I would have to register the vehicle and smog it, even with it being a new vehicle.

I've already found a transportation company that will move the car on an open carrier from the midwest to CA for $1300.00.

Thanks!

2025 Honda Civic Type R	Retail
Vehicle Price	$47,145.00
Documentation & Processing Fee	$387.00
CaliforniaSales Tax	$3,653.00
Government & License Fees	$50.00
Your Total Out the Door	$51,235.74

Your out-the-door price includes the California Sales tax, destination, dealer documentation, title, registration, 45-day temporary tag, and state documentation fees.

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[Clark_Kent]

I live in GA and purchased from a dealer in KS and had the car shipped. The dealership collected state sales tax and registration fees when I purchased the car. The car was delivered with a KS temp tag. My GA license plate arrived in the mail 4-6 weeks later.

I understand CA may be different so you'll likely get more relevant information from a CA buyer.

 

[Milosdad]

Thank you, Clark_Kent. I thought that's how the process was but the dealership said I need to pick up my plates from the DMV.

 

[princers]

if youre financing a car, a dealership uses an out of state service to collect tax / register the vehicle & then you either get sent the plates or have to pick them up at the dmv (usually a few hundred $). as far as smog or any other state specific things, you still have to go get them done

 

[Milosdad]

Thank you. I'll ask if the plates can be sent to me. Wouldn't registration and fees include the plates? I'll be paying cash for the car.

 

[Nikw91]

I did the same thing, bought from Mississippi and shipped to Florida.

$500 for a enclosed trailer.

I financed the car. Once the car got to my house, the dealership overnighted a check for the owed tax amount payable to the Florida DMV. Where i did a little paperwork and got the license plate.

 

[princers]

Thank you. I'll ask if the plates can be sent to me. Wouldn't registration and fees include the plates? I'll be paying cash for the car.

no because youre buying out of state and every state is different. here in NC we pay a property tax that a dealership would have no idea about (like in CT how there us a luxury tax on vehicles over $65k)

 

[Milosdad]

I did the same thing, bought from Mississippi and shipped to Florida.

$500 for a enclosed trailer.

I financed the car. Once the car got to my house, the dealership overnighted a check for the owed tax amount payable to the Florida DMV. Where i did a little paperwork and got the license plate.

Can you please share which transportation company you used?

 

[VT Skier]

Based solely on the fees being charged, I'd say you're paying Midwest state fees for the temporary plate and just the CA sales tax. So once the car arrives, you'd need to take your paperwork to the CA DMV and pay registration and licensing fees. And get the smog check.

For transporting the car, I can recommend Bears and Reliable; Dealers Choice is also very good. You'll want to pay extra for the enclosed trailer option. Their insurance will cover the car while loading and unloading, and while they're transporting it. It will be in a tractor trailer so the delivery destination will need to be somewhere a large truck can easily access.

You'll also want to get comprehensive coverage from your insurance company once you've paid for the car, and then the usual coverage once it arrives.

 

[Milosdad]

Thank you VT Skier! Contacted Bears for a quote.

 

[Clark_Kent]

The selection of an auto transport company is a bit nuanced. You should consider a few things:

1. Are you interested in using a broker (Montway, Nexus, A1, and many others)?
2. Are you interested in a company that owns and operates their own trucks? There's a material difference between #1 and #2.
3. What are you transporting? In other words, is it a LaFerrari or a Ford Fusion?

I don't subscribe to the theory of enclosed or nothing at all and I'm super meticulous about my cars. The FL5 for me was perfectly fine to transport in an open carrier. How do you think your FL5 got to the dealership? In an open carrier. I've personally shipped ~8 cars over the years and most in an open carrier. I've only had an issue once. One primary downside, if you want to call it one, is the exterior of the car will almost certainly arrive filthy.

 

[Milosdad]

I don't mind an open carrier as I do realize these are how most vehicles, including the Type R arrive to the dealership. What I do look for is a company that will be respectful of all cars they transport. The Type R I plan on purchasing is from the midwest and I have specifically asked that it not be washed or have any of the plastics and film removed. For me, I want to enjoy removing these protective layers myself and it also gives me peace of mind that the fabric seats are protected when the vehicle is moved.

I've contacted Bears Transport (waiting on quote) and Goliath Auto Transport ($1300.00 open carrier). If you have a company you recommend, please let me know.

The pricing in SoCal is bonkers for the Type R. Some asking 20k over MSRP. One dealership I worked with offered MSRP + 2.3k over in accessories but the deal breaker for me was the dealer installed alarm system. Not sure if anyone has knowledge of the KARR alarm system but I believe it does require splicing into the factory wiring harness for this reason, I canceled my reservation on the car. What's frustrating is I specifically told the sales person to not have anyone touch the car, but he didn't care to communicate this to the technicians. There should be a Type R in my garage but instead, there is is huge void because of poor communication by the sales rep.

 

[princers]

OP did you try looking at the motoring obsession tracker & reaching out to the 50 plus dealers showing cars avail in the CA/AZ/UT area?

 

[Milosdad]

OP did you try looking at the motoring obsession tracker & reaching out to the 50 plus dealers showing cars avail in the CA/AZ/UT area?

I have. I don’t believe the inventory is accurate as Honda blocked access to their API. But I have been reaching out to dealers in NorCal.

 

[Milosdad]

The selection of an auto transport company is a bit nuanced. You should consider a few things:

1. Are you interested in using a broker (Montway, Nexus, A1, and many others)?
2. Are you interested in a company that owns and operates their own trucks? There's a material difference between #1 and #2.
3. What are you transporting? In other words, is it a LaFerrari or a Ford Fusion?

I don't subscribe to the theory of enclosed or nothing at all and I'm super meticulous about my cars. The FL5 for me was perfectly fine to transport in an open carrier. How do you think your FL5 got to the dealership? In an open carrier. I've personally shipped ~8 cars over the years and most in an open carrier. I've only had an issue once. One primary downside, if you want to call it one, is the exterior of the car will almost certainly arrive filthy.

Do you have a recommendation for a carrier to use to transport the Type R? I've received quotes from $1300-$2300 for open trailer.

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