Buying a new car in California, you pay sales tax at the combined rate for the city where you register (the 7.25% state base plus district taxes, so 7.75% in much of Orange and San Diego counties, 10.25% in Los Angeles, and 10% or more in San Jose and Santa Monica), a vehicle license fee of 0.65% of the car's value at registration, registration and title fees, and a documentary fee that California caps.
California gives no trade-in tax credit: tax applies to the full selling price. A car shipped to you from a participating Arizona dealership carries no Arizona tax. The Model Black estimates the tax on every car from a participating dealership at your city's rate.
District taxes are set at the city and county level and change; the rate shown on a car page on The Model Black for your ZIP is the county or city figure, and the exact rate for your address is confirmed on the paperwork.
| Area | Combined rate | Tax on a $50,000 car |
|---|---|---|
| Irvine, Newport Beach (Orange County) | 7.75% | $3,875 |
| San Diego | 7.75% | $3,875 |
| Los Angeles | 10.25% | $5,125 |
| Santa Monica | 11.25% | $5,625 |
| San Jose | 10% | $5,000 |
| San Francisco | 8.625% | $4,313 |
| Sacramento | 8.75% | $4,375 |
California's vehicle license fee is 0.65% of the vehicle's value, about $325 on a $50,000 car in the first year, declining as the car depreciates. Add the registration fee, a transportation improvement fee scaled to the car's value, and title and plate fees. The VLF is deductible on a federal return for many filers.
No. Sales tax applies to the full selling price regardless of your trade-in.
Not if the dealer ships it: no Arizona tax, California tax at registration. If you pick it up in Arizona, you pay Arizona's rate at the store and California credits it against its own use tax, so you pay only the difference at registration. Arizona taxes the price minus your trade-in, and California taxes the full price before the credit, so with a trade the totals come out close either way. The Model Black shows both totals side by side.
Yes. The car must meet California emissions requirements to be registered, which new cars sold with a 50-state or California emissions label do. The label is on the window sticker, the dealership confirms it on your paperwork, and the Concierge can tell you what to look for.