Buying car out of state

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Am I right that if I buy a car out of state that I just need to pay the difference in that state's sales tax and Louisiana's sales tax in order to register the vehicle in LA? So if I pay say 7% in the other state, then I need to pay Louisiana ~2% difference and I'm good?

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Yes. When I bought a car in GA they actually charged me TN sales tax so they took care of that difference at the dealership.

I am in the process of buying one in Ft Meyers, Fl. They will handle all the taxes and paperwork to Louisiana. I am paying full Louisiana tax. I am going to have mine shipped to a sister dealership in Pensacola and pick it up from there.

It's a good question to ask. For example, if you lived in MS, you could not do the same thing. FL would charge the tax, but there is no reciprocal agreement between the states. So, both FL and MS would charge separate tax to the MS resident. LA and FL are ok.

LINK

Bought a car in Texas last year and the dealership handled the taxes for us. Was mailed the plate a few weeks later.

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Bought a car in Texas last year and the dealership handled the taxes for us. Was mailed the plate a few weeks later.

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Same except they screwed up calculating the Louisiana state tax and it took the state DMV 180 days to refund the overcharge

Just make sure the dealer sends your paperwork to the correct DMV office. Mine didn’t and I got hit with late fees. LA DMV told me not your fault, but pay up

Hey! You’re on the right track with the sales tax. When you buy a car out of state, you generally pay that state’s sales tax at the dealership. Once you register the car in Louisiana, you’ll need to cover the difference between what you paid and Louisiana’s sales tax rate. So, if you paid 7% out of state and Louisiana’s rate is 9%, you’d pay the 2% difference.

I’ve been passionate about cars for years and think owning a car is fantastic because of the freedom, convenience, and the sheer joy of driving. I’ve been eyeing a new Audi lately but was worried about the logistics of shipping. A friend recommended using an auto transport company, and I found this helpful resource: https://www.a1autotransport.com/car-transportation-out-of-state/ . It made the whole process smooth since I couldn't do it myself. It’s worth checking out if you’re considering having your car shipped back from Florida. Safe travels!

Bought in Florida, no taxes collected. Paid sales tax and highway usage tax (basically a property tax on vehicle every year) at the DMV when registering it. Thankfully there is a separate dmv office for registrations vs the usual initial/renewal of driver’s license.

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I'm worried about shipping. Does anyone know a reliable company that could handle this?

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I’d ask the selling dealer for a recommendation. A friend in Louisiana bought a vehicle from SC and had it shipped via a company the dealer used. It was, a couple of years ago, like $800 on an open truck or $1,000 for a closed trailer.