Bought a new Boat, CA or AZ registration

[crzy2bealive]

Bought a new boat last weekend.

Trailer and Boat are currently registered in CA.

I have a house in AZ.

Should I keep the trailer registered in CA?

Should the boat be registered in AZ? Do I need AZ insurance like when I registered my Polaris.

Need help with figuring out the pros and cons.

If I do register boat in AZ can I use a third party to register instead of driving to kingman.

2006 Tige 22ve worth around 30k

 

[satellitemike]

Without digging into your background, AZ all the way!

 

[Jay Dub]

Bought a new boat last weekend.

Trailer and Boat are currently registered in CA.

I have a house in AZ.

Should I keep the trailer registered in CA?

Should the boat be registered in AZ? Do I need AZ insurance like when I registered my Polaris.

Need help with figuring out the pros and cons.

If I do register boat in AZ can I use a third party to register instead of driving to kingman.

2006 Tige 22ve worth around 30k

100% AZ if you have a house there

 

[Chili Palmer]

If you register in California they’ll ding you for “unsecured property tax” so you can help fund more of this state’s bullshit programs.

 

[Singleton]

If you register in California they’ll ding you for “unsecured property tax” so you can help fund more of this state’s bullshit programs.

Depends on county.
Since my boat is stored in AZ (i own the storage condo), but registered in CA San Diego county, no taxes paid.

 

[socal0487]

What’s the value of the boat? Over ~30k it’s cheaper in AZ as a non resident.

 

[FlyByWire]

With that value, keep it registered in CA but stored in AZ

 

[Boat 405]

Did you buy it used private party? If so there is no sales tax on used vessels in the state of arizona if it was a private party transaction. If you bought from a dealer then you have to pay the tax. Either way reg in AZ so you don't get the luxury tax moving forward

 

[boatpi]

Trailer always in ca, permanent tags and you will get dinged if on road in ca if still a resident.

 

[MooreMoney]

Make sure you register it in AZ. 2 years after I bought the M31 CA came after me for a tax on it. I had to show them its at our place in AZ.

 

[crzy2bealive]

Did you buy it used private party? If so there is no sales tax on used vessels in the state of arizona if it was a private party transaction. If you bought from a dealer then you have to pay the tax. Either way reg in AZ so you don't get the luxury tax moving forward

Yup private party

 

[spark2678]

The cheapest route is actually to register in CA and store it in Arizona if you are a SD County resident. You can mark on your CA application that it is stored in AZ and it waives your luxury tax. Did it for years. The registration for a CA resident is cheap compared to AZ Non resident registration, it's the luxury tax that gets you.

 

[evantwheeler]

The cheapest route is actually to register in CA and store it in Arizona if you are a SD County resident. You can mark on your CA application that it is stored in AZ and it waives your luxury tax. Did it for years. The registration for a CA resident is cheap compared to AZ Non resident registration, it's the luxury tax that gets you.

What about sales tax though? Registration may be cheaper in CA yearly, but no sales tax in AZ due to PP sale pays for many many years of registrations in AZ.

 

[crzy2bealive]

The cheapest route is actually to register in CA and store it in Arizona if you are a SD County resident. You can mark on your CA application that it is stored in AZ and it waives your luxury tax. Did it for years. The registration for a CA resident is cheap compared to AZ Non resident registration, it's the luxury tax that gets you.

I’m actually in La county

 

[Mikes56]

I’m actually in La county

I’m in LA County too. My trailer is registered permanant in CA, with the boat registered in AZ as a non resident. I also didn’t pay any sales tax because it was a private party sale, then registered in AZ. Just the sales tax would have been $8000.

I was required to register it where I use it more than 50% of the time. Yep, AZ, it works for me.

 

[crzy2bealive]

I’m in LA County too. My trailer is registered permanant in CA, with the boat registered in AZ as a non resident. I also didn’t pay any sales tax because it was a private party sale, then registered in AZ. Just the sales tax would have been $8000.

I was required to register it where I use it more than 50% of the time. Yep, AZ, it works for me.

Thanks!

 

[BoatCop]

Thanks!

Another note. Even if you own a home in AZ, unless it's your permanent home, you still have to register it as a non-resident. You can only be a "resident", in the legal sense, of one state at a time. For boat registration, even if you just moved here and established legal "residency", you must be a legal resident of Arizona for 6 months, before being eligible for in-state registration.

 

[UltraLucky]

Boat, Nevada, non resident. No sales tax and low registration fees.
Trailer in CA

 

[PDQH2O]

If I recall correctly, CAs unsecured property tax or luxury tax is 10% of the acquisition price, and it never depreciates as the boat does. I wouldn't register anything in CA if there is another option.

 

[sirbob]

If I recall correctly, CAs unsecured property tax or luxury tax is 10% of the acquisition price, and it never depreciates as the boat does. I wouldn't register anything in CA if there is another option.

Don’t know what it is now but last time I had a boat in a slip in CA the tax was around 1% per year.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Uh, Montana, duh! Just ask all the big ballers here.

 

[Singleton]

If I recall correctly, CAs unsecured property tax or luxury tax is 10% of the acquisition price, and it never depreciates as the boat does. I wouldn't register anything in CA if there is another option.

It has never been that high.
The unsecured property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 is 1.17973782%.

 

[PDQH2O]

It has never been that high.
The unsecured property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2023 – 2024 is 1.17973782%.

I beg to differ because I paid the bill every year. The boat was in my driveway.

 

[77charger]

Like said depends on cost of the boat.Need to ask the non resident az fees vs the tax and registration in ca.And in some cases if youcan prove its stored out of state you may not have to pay the tax

 

[NicPaus]

I beg to differ because I paid the bill every year. The boat was in my driveway.

10% my bill would of been $5300 a year on my Ultra. It was in the $600 range.

 

[Singleton]

I beg to differ because I paid the bill every year. The boat was in my driveway.

The state determines the assessed value, it is not what you paid.

 

[Bajastu]

I beg to differ because I paid the bill every year. The boat was in my driveway.

Example…..If you purchased a new boat for $100,000.00

Sales tax @ 7.75% - $7,750.00

Property tax @ 1.1% - $1,100.00

Your math may be a bit off. Plus, you could write off the property tax on your taxes, if you submitted 10%, you would be red flagged by the IRS.

There could be some confusion with deferred use tax on a vessel that is registered with the USCG.

Since then, I always register my boat and trailers in AZ. I too own a place out there but since I’m not permanent resident, I still pay the out of state registration. It’s still cheaper than paying sales tax on a used private party transaction.

 

[Bajastu]

Oh yeah, here is another way CA will screw you. If you sell the boat after January 1st, you will still be liable for the complete property tax bill for the whole year. Ask me how I know this……

Fuck CA

 

[FlyByWire]

“ What about the CHP and my AZ registered trailer”? Tell the CHP to suck it and you’re driving it to your CA home for maintenance. They can’t ticket you for that. Storing / using in CA vs AZ is where the issue lies with the CHP.

Challenge accepted.

 

[dirtslinger2]

Ca boat reg is cheap, like $50 for 2 years. When you register it for the first time, just note that it is stored and used primarily in Az waters.
I've never received a CA tax bill on either of my boats, and 1 of them has been registered this way for 20+ years. Trailer is also registered permanently in Ca.

Sales tax on used private part is a different animal, that could save you big time depending on the price that is on your Bill of Sale, wink wink.

 

[dirtslinger2]

Challenge accepted.

LOL, nope, I learned this the hard way a long time ago with a truck registered in AZ, and I got pulled over with my CA DL. I tried to explain that the truck was stored in AZ and I only brought it home to move some trailers around. Officer had no part of that excuse.

 

[Bajastu]

Challenge accepted.

I've been pulled over a couple of times towing my AZ boat and trailer. I'll gladly fight any ticket pertaining to an AZ registered trailer and boat as they don't hold up in court if you own homes in both states along with insurance complications.

Now if you have a truck / car with an AZ plate and a CA license, thats where the issue lies.

I even run my AZ registered boat in Canyon Lake, CA. My boat constantly is used in Parker and occasionally in Canyon Lake (90% Parker)
Registered to my house in AZ and insurance from an AZ company.

 

[Meaney77]

So I am confused by reading through this thread…

I run the risk of getting pulled over and getting a ticket on my way home in CA because my CA-registered boat trailer is trailering my AZ Registered boat?

 

[Bajastu]

So I am confused by reading through this thread…

I run the risk of getting pulled over and getting a ticket on my way home in CA because my CA-registered boat trailer is trailering my AZ Registered boat?

Zero risk in your situation as far as the cops go. But do be aware that each county assessor’s office uses Google maps to see if you have a boat stored at your house.

 

[FlyByWire]

I run the risk of getting pulled over and getting a ticket on my way home in CA because my CA-registered boat trailer is trailering my AZ Registered boat?

No.

But I’d recommend not putting any weight behind all the other misinformation in this thread.

 

[crzy2bealive]

all the CF numbers are painted on does that make a difference?

 

[FlyByWire]

all the CF numbers are painted on does that make a difference?

Nah! Little EZ off will take them right off and you can have them re-painted or order custom vinyl ones.

 

[Bajastu]

No.

But I’d recommend not putting any weight behind all the other misinformation in this thread.

Enlighten us with your knowledge.

 

[FlyByWire]

Enlighten us with your knowledge.

Sure, happy reading;

California Codes: Codes Tree - Vehicle Code - VEH

 

[River Dirt 2]

Enlighten us with your knowledge.

Now that made me spit out my beer

 

[Bajastu]

Sure, happy reading;

California Codes: Codes Tree - Vehicle Code - VEH

I have no need to read the vehicle code. I've already battled the CHP in court and won.

 

[FlyByWire]

I have no need to read the vehicle code. I've already battled the CHP in court and won.

Hell yeah, brother. Fuck those guys.

 

[Bajastu]

Hell yeah, brother. Fuck those guys.

I would say that’s your opinion, I have no hate against the guys that protect us. The real problem is the way border states don’t play well with each other when it comes to the vehicle code.

Plus, I’m quite sure you’re a cop.

 

[FlyByWire]

The real problem is the way border states don’t play well with each other when it comes to the vehicle code.

Couldn’t agree with you more. It’s actually quite comical in a sad kind of way.

 

[boatpi]

Like I said, AZ on boat NO tax PP, CA on trailer get a bill of sale for $500, CA DMV, cheap

 

[OCMerrill]

My Boat trailer is registered in CA , my Boat AZ.

I am fairly certain I would not have had to pay any property tax in CA based on it being a 1997 boat however just in case. It was already registered in AZ so I just did the AZ non -resident, paid the 260 bucks, and have been for the past 5 years or so.

The trailer was missing the MFG. Tag and it was a bitch to get to the right people a Zieman for an Extreme mfg sticker so I could put CA plates on. A vin is not enough to register an out of state trailer so I found out. All that was during the very beginning of Covid and the fact that everything is difficult in CA.

 

[BoatCop]

Not gonna address every other answer here, but here is the fact for CA residents:

If you are a CA Resident and you are driving a motor vehicle or towing a trailer owned by/registered to you, on ANY roadway in CA, that vehicle MUST be registered in CA. The violation is misdemeanor offense.

*This applies to the vehicle and/or trailer only. Anything on the trailer (boat, other vehicle, OHV, motorcycle, SxS, etc) doesn't factor into the equation, as they are not traveling directly on the roadway. Although, if you unload the vehicle, OHV, MC, SxS, etc. onto a city or other public street/road, and they're registered somewhere else, that is a violation.

As has been stated here, they don't care what the reason is for having it in California. Taking it for repairs, warranty work, Boat broke down in Needles and you have to bring the trailer from Havasu to pick it up. No excuses. California is so serious about this provision, that 1/2 of the fine goes to the Police Agency that wrote the ticket, to give them incentive to proactively enforce that law. When I and/or my wife had to go into Hemet to care for her elderly mother, which was 2-3 times a month, Hemet cops would see our AZ registered vehicle(s) in and about Hemet and San Jacinto quite a bit, and we'd get pulled over and checked about every 2nd or 3rd trip, even knocking on MIL's door, with our Tahoe parked in the driveway.

If you're lucky, you may only get a VERY expensive ticket. But if the cop's having a bad day or is a stickler for the law or just doesn't like you, you can be:
1. Arrested
2. Vehicle in question towed/impounded (your cost, including storage)
3. Will not be released until Fine, towing/impound fees paid, past registration paid, past taxes paid, penalties paid, etc.
4. They WILL research how long you've had the vehicle/trailer in your name while a CA resident. The law presumes that you've been in violation for all of the time you've been a CA resident and owned the vehicle in question, registered in the other jurisdiction, and back fees, taxes & penalties will be imposed as far back as the statute of limitations allow.
5. I've known people who have had to sell their boat*/trailer/vehicle in order to afford the fines, fees, etc.

*None of this applies to a boat that sits on the trailer. Boats are required to be registered in the state where they're operated the majority of the time. As far as using the Colorado River, the boat can be registered in either/any state adjoining the River. CA, AZ, NV, UT. It would be up to the cops to prove that you operate the boat in one state more or less than another one, so this is pretty much never successfully enforced. It doesn't matter, in any state, that you might have an Arizona (or any state) registered boat on a California registered trailer. As far as boat registration laws are concerned, when it's on a trailer or anywhere off the water, registration laws don't apply, except if the registration/numbers/certificate of numbers/decal is fake or fictitious.

 

[FlyByWire]

Not gonna address every other answer here, but here is the fact for CA residents:

If you are a CA Resident and you are driving a motor vehicle or towing a trailer owned by/registered to you, on ANY roadway in CA, that vehicle MUST be registered in CA. The violation is misdemeanor offense.

*This applies to the vehicle and/or trailer only. Anything on the trailer (boat, other vehicle, OHV, motorcycle, SxS, etc) doesn't factor into the equation, as they are not traveling directly on the roadway. Although, if you unload the vehicle, OHV, MC, SxS, etc. onto a city or other public street/road, and they're registered somewhere else, that is a violation.

As has been stated here, they don't care what the reason is for having it in California. Taking it for repairs, warranty work, Boat broke down in Needles and you have to bring the trailer from Havasu to pick it up. No excuses. California is so serious about this provision, that 1/2 of the fine goes to the Police Agency that wrote the ticket, to give them incentive to proactively enforce that law. When I and/or my wife had to go into Hemet to care for her elderly mother, which was 2-3 times a month, Hemet cops would see our AZ registered vehicle(s) in and about Hemet and San Jacinto quite a bit, and we'd get pulled over and checked about every 2nd or 3rd trip, even knocking on MIL's door, with our Tahoe parked in the driveway.

If you're lucky, you may only get a VERY expensive ticket. But if the cop's having a bad day or is a stickler for the law or just doesn't like you, you can be:
1. Arrested
2. Vehicle in question towed/impounded (your cost, including storage)
3. Will not be released until Fine, towing/impound fees paid, past registration paid, past taxes paid, penalties paid, etc.
4. They WILL research how long you've had the vehicle/trailer in your name while a CA resident. The law presumes that you've been in violation for all of the time you've been a CA resident and owned the vehicle in question, registered in the other jurisdiction, and back fees, taxes & penalties will be imposed as far back as the statute of limitations allow.
5. I've known people who have had to sell their boat*/trailer/vehicle in order to afford the fines, fees, etc.

*None of this applies to a boat that sits on the trailer. Boats are required to be registered in the state where they're operated the majority of the time. As far as using the Colorado River, the boat can be registered in either/any state adjoining the River. CA, AZ, NV, UT. It would be up to the cops to prove that you operate the boat in one state more or less than another one, so this is pretty much never successfully enforced. It doesn't matter, in any state, that you might have an Arizona (or any state) registered boat on a California registered trailer. As far as boat registration laws are concerned, when it's on a trailer or anywhere off the water, registration laws don't apply, except if the registration/numbers/certificate of numbers/decal is fake or fictitious.

Heyyyyyy here’s some facts.


It’s 8804 VC for those still non-believers. But. What do I know?

 

[BoatCop]

And for all you non-Arizona residents, you pay the exact same registration fee for your boat/watercraft that we residents do. However, non-residents will pay an extra "Non-Resident Boating Infrastructure Fee" which, coincidentally and by design, is exactly equal to the old non-resident fee, in the amount above resident fee.

For decades, AZ had the two separate fee schedules, one for residents and another, more expensive, for non-residents. Someone sued the state, that having different fees was unconstitutional/unfair, as it was Federal Law that required boats to be registered where they're used the most, which the boat owner had no control over. So they dropped the excess registration fee, and added the "Non-Resident Boating Infrastructure Fee" with the thought that residents help pay for Boating Infrastructure (docks, ramps, campgrounds, pump-out, etc) through their AZ State Income Taxes.

 

[BoatCop]

Heyyyyyy here’s some facts.


It’s 8804 VC for those still non-believers. But. What do I know?

For those who don't want to, or can't, look that up:

CA VC 8804:

Every person who, while a resident, as defined in Section 516, of this state, with respect to any vehicle owned by him and operated in this state, registers or renews the registration for the vehicle in a foreign jurisdiction, without the payment of appropriate fees and taxes to this state, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

CA VC 516:

“Resident” means any person who manifests an intent to live or be located in this state on more than a temporary or transient basis. Presence in the state for six months or more in any 12-month period gives rise to a rebuttable presumption of residency. The following are evidence of residency for purposes of vehicle registration:

(a) Address where registered to vote.​

(b) Location of employment or place of business.​

(c) Payment of resident tuition at a public institution of higher education.​

(d) Attendance of dependents at a primary or secondary school.​

(e) Filing a homeowner’s property tax exemption.​

(f) Renting or leasing a home for use as a residence.​

(g) Declaration of residency to obtain a license or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to a nonresident.​

(h) Possession of a California driver’s license.​

(i) Other acts, occurrences, or events that indicate presence in the state is more than temporary or transient.​