[jwilk]

Has anyone in California, USA imported a MINI from out of state. If so how did you get around the DMV's 4500 mile requirement? Thanks

[MINIAC]

Does this have something to do with avoiding CA sales tax?

[jwilk]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It has to do with getting a S at msrp with less wait. I am early on a list at the Phoenix dealer. Believe me I would rather buy a Brecht, but they don't have a list per se but are doing a lottery instead.

[MINIAC]

Please explain the DMV 4500 mile requirement

[jwilk]

You cannot register a car in California that was not sold here with less then 7500 miles, unless you get written proof from the manufacturer that it meets California auto standards. It shouldn't matter with the MINI, as they are the same for all states, but the DMV still needs proof.

Here is the link. Sorry it is 7500 miles
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/osreg.htm#BM2561

[PigLick]

jwilk, have you tried emailing MINIUSA customer service? They may be able to provide you with the written proof, or otherwise steer you in the right direction (probably to the left ) as to what to do about the situation. Good luck.

PigLick

[EBMCS03]

Humm interesting i didnt know abou this...

[eastbaymini]

Well if you can find a broker they can do the process and will charge you a small fee. Look at somewhere like www.somamotors.com and see how much they charge.

Jarid Perry

[koopers]

We're buying a Cooper from Salt Lake City and researched this issue already. MiniUSA told us that all US MINIs have California emissions equipment so it's no problem.

[minirossa]

Jarid,
Get some sleep & get well!
You're up too late!!

[jwilk]

I know the equiptment is okay. It is getting the through the red tape that I am concerned about.

[Fibik]

I'm also in the same boat.

I'm another one looking to buy a MINI in Utah and bring it to California. To help clarify if this is possible with the DMV's blessing, can someone in and outside of California tell us, or better yet, take a picture and post thier EPA cert sticker.

Somewhere on it it should say where the car is certified for.

Thanks

Jim

[eastbaymini]

All MINIs sold in the continental USA will pass emissions in any state.

[jwilk]

Just bringing this back. Has anyone actually brought their Mini to California, and what exactly did you have to do to register it?

[olddad]

I covered this in another thread, so here's what I discovered.

If you pay the %5.75 sales tax in Utah, you fill out the California DMV "Statement of Facts" form you downloaded from the DMV site and pay the difference for use tax in your county. You don't have to pay any more than you would have if buying here.

Bring with you a certificate of 50 state compliance that Mini of Murray will give you.

Bring with you the paperwork from a California smog test (and safety test if your county requires it). This is the only extra cost from buying out of state.

[ches]

Quote:

Originally posted by jwilk
I know the equiptment is okay. It is getting the through the red tape that I am concerned about.

I can speak to this topic authoritatively because I just went through all this. All MINIs sold in the US can be registered in California. The Certificate of Origin states "This vehicle is certified according to Federal EPA and California ARB Emission Requirements for sale in any state in the U.S." There's also a CARB sticker under the hood of the car. This is all good news.

I'm in San Diego and my Mini originally came from Kansas City. It was a little bit of a hassle to register the car, but not too bad. All you need is a bill of sale (best to use DMV's "Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form") and a certificate of origin, which is sort of like your car's birth certificate, mainly used by the dealer or distributor. Most likely, if you bought the car from out out of state, you won't have a title yet, just this certificate of origin.

Even though the car was brand-new, I still had to get it smogged because it came from out of state. I know, dumb. So do this first.

The other bad news is that the Auto Club cannot handle out-of-state registrations of new cars, so you'll have to go to DMV.

Once you get to the DMV office, the first thing you'll want to do is get into the "vehicle verification" line. (At my local DMV this line is outside the building, next to where they administer the driving test.)

Don't get in line to register, because you'll only have to go outside for the inspection and wait in line all over again. Basically, in the inspection line they just check the VIN in the windshield against the doorframe and the certificate of origin. They then check under the hood for the California Air Resource Board certification. The DMV person will fill out a "verification of vehicle" form for you. You'll bring this form with your other paperwork into the office. Get in the "auto registration" line.

You will have to pay California sales tax regardless of whether you paid sales tax in the state where the MINI was purchased. The sales tax is based on your county of residence, not which DMV office you go to.

And that's all there is to it.

Dave

[olddad]

Ches, you got screwed if they made you pay sales tax twice. The level of knowledge varies greatly from from office to office, as I discovered when registering a sailboat with a certificate of origin instead of an official title. Some offices, or employees, just don't know. Would advise anyone to call DMV and find out the procedure of reducing your sales tax using the statement of facts form.

This isn't a problem with Utah cars, as Mini of Murray will charge no tax at time of sale to California buyers. They issue you a temporary title to get you home.

[jwilk]

Ches if you get the form, MISCELLANEOUS STATEMENTS OF FACT, section I is where you get the tax credit. I am sure you can file this to get your money back.

[ches]

Thanks for the clarification regarding the sales tax.

No sales tax had been paid until time of registration, so it wasn't an issue for me. But I didn't realize you could this, so thanks for the tip.

[koopers]

[quote]Originally posted by olddad
The level of knowledge varies greatly from from office to office, as I discovered when registering a sailboat with a certificate of origin instead of an official title.

Olddad,

It looks like we have something else in common besides being from No. Calif and buying our MINIS from Murray. My husband and I are avid sailors (actually are racers) and have a boat on SF Bay. Where do you sail?