Best Place To Buy A Car In California Is Closer Than You Think (2024)

FAQs

Best Place To Buy A Car In California Is Closer Than You Think? ›

Aliso Viejo, in southern Orange County, has been named the #1 most affordable city in the state of California in which to buy a car. According to a recent survey by Autolist.com, Aliso Viejo is approximately $1,160 less expensive for buying automobiles than anywhere else in the state.

First things first, let's address the elephant in the showroom: Aliso Viejo. This Orange County gem has been crowned the most affordable city in California for car purchases, according to a study by Autolist.

The top three passenger cars sold in California in 2023 were the Tesla Model 3, the Toyota Camry, and the Honda Civic. The top three light trucks for the year were the Tesla Model Y, the Toyota RAV4, and the Honda CR-V. Toyota held its place as the top-selling brand in California again in 2023.

Best State for Initial Cost

If you're looking for the lowest initial cost, no state can beat Florida. When it comes to used car sales, Florida tends to has the cheapest prices. Florida's low initial vehicle costs are due to a variety of factors. First, Florida has one of the largest populations of older people.

New Hampshire is the least expensive place to buy a car. The hidden fees are small when you buy a car in New Hampshire. You can save money upfront since there are no state sales taxes and only a few registration fees.

There's no absolute number of miles that is considered too high for a used car. But consider 200,000 as an upper limit, a threshold where even modern cars begin to succumb to the years of wear and tear.

The Ford F-Series maintained its spot as the best-selling vehicle in America for over four decades straight. Of the two million cars that Ford sold last year, nearly 40% were of the F-Series. While the automaker has cut back electric vehicle (EV) plans for 2024, sales of EV models increased 18% over the year.

Extracting data for our Global Auto Database we are able to report on this ranking as several others. The Japanese Toyota is still the best selling Brand and has been for the past 10 years, selling 4.41 million vehicles up to June 2024, a 0.3% year-on-year loss.

What is the easiest state to buy a car in? ›

Best States to Buy a Car

First, let's explore the states that offer the most advantages when it comes to car buying. States like Alaska, Montana, Oregon, Delaware, and New Hampshire stand out due to their lack of statewide sales tax, as well as generally low unexpected fees.

When purchasing a car, it's important to consider which state you buy it in because it affects initial costs, such as taxes, fees, insurance, and warranties. Some of the best states to buy a car in include Florida, Indiana, Maine, and Oregon.

Do you owe tax on a car purchased in another state and then brought into California? Yes, unless you purchased and used your car outside California for at least 12 months before you brought it into the state.

On the downside, buying a car out of state might be more complicated, and the costs of getting the car home might counteract any savings you'd otherwise have. You may also have to spend more time having an out-of-state vehicle inspected before your DMV will issue a registration tag.

California Sales Tax on Car Purchases

According to the Sales Tax Handbook, the California sales tax for vehicles is 7.5 percent. Of this, 1.25 percent goes to the applicable county government. Districts, cities, and other local government entities may collect additional taxes up to 2.5 percent.

Taxes are by far the most painstaking aspect of buying a car in California. The state has among the highest tax rates in the U.S., with a standard 7.25% tax on all car purchases, whether new or used. In certain cases, you may also be charged an additional 2.5% of your purchase for local taxes.

So, what are the best states to register a car in? Arizona is the cheapest place to register a car, with a base registration fee of $8. Mississippi is the 2nd cheapest car registration state, only charging $15 for annual renewal. Most states charge between $30 and $35 for their base registration fee.