Register your NEW GX in Utah

[mickey]

If you buy a new one in California and drive it back to Utah, as I did, here is the drill:

You'll need to bring all your paperwork to the Utah DMV. In addition, you will need an Insurance Binder. (Proof of insurance for your new car.) These things, plus a pile of money, will get you a TEMPORARY registration for your window.

In order to register a car in Utah it must have a Utah title. Have the dealer mail the "MSO" (kind of a Honda "pre-title") to your home address. When it arrives, in a week or two, go back to the DMV and have a title processed. You can then get your registration and license plate.

Do NOT let the Utah DMV hose you out of sales tax! If you paid it in CA, you don't have to pay it in Utah. (Exception: If the Utah rate is higher than the CA rate, which it won't be, you must pay the difference.)

Believe it or not, a brand new car must have a safety inspection in Utah. BUT, the MSO counts as a safety inspection.

Finally: When you go back the second time with the MSO make sure you take the car, too, so that the DMV people can do a VIN Inspection to ensure they're not titling a non-existent vehicle.

-mickey

[Go CNG]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

Thanks for the instructions Mickey. I'm headed to the DMV to do "the drill." Don't you just love your new GX?

Hey everybody, get 'em while supplies still last.

[Timon]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

Just curious but did you have to pay for a California License?

[Curtis]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

Ca Lic fee's are around $230 I believe.

[Timon]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

So they pay the license fee with an address out of state. The dealer then gets plates which will never get to the buyer. Makes total sense to me Oh I forgot, this is California.

[John Mitton]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

Great info, mickey
I am going to move it to the Utah forum for better visibility with the Utah crowd.

[utahngv]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

If you buy a new one in California and drive it back to Utah, as I did, here is the drill:

You'll need to bring all your paperwork to the Utah DMV. In addition, you will need an Insurance Binder. (Proof of insurance for your new car.) These things, plus a pile of money, will get you a TEMPORARY registration for your window.

In order to register a car in Utah it must have a Utah title. Have the dealer mail the "MSO" (kind of a Honda "pre-title") to your home address. When it arrives, in a week or two, go back to the DMV and have a title processed. You can then get your registration and license plate.

Do NOT let the Utah DMV hose you out of sales tax! If you paid it in CA, you don't have to pay it in Utah. (Exception: If the Utah rate is higher than the CA rate, which it won't be, you must pay the difference.)

Believe it or not, a brand new car must have a safety inspection in Utah. BUT, the MSO counts as a safety inspection.

Finally: When you go back the second time with the MSO make sure you take the car, too, so that the DMV people can do a VIN Inspection to ensure they're not titling a non-existent vehicle.

-mickey

The above which indicates the car must be titled in Utah is incorrect. I financed the car through Honda which required the car to be titled in California (where the car was purchased). This is really no different than moving to Utah from out of state with a title held by a finance company; it's not titled in Utah until after the vehicle is paid off.

As Mickey stated above, however, do have a copy of the MSO, or you will have to pay for a vehicle inspection (when I heard that statement from the DMV clerk, I thought I was back in California again - what a revenue gimmick)

Dan

[Beej]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

Ca Lic fee's are around $230 I believe.

The dealer in Cali I'm getting my new GX from said that she will get me a one time trip permit for $15. That will allow me to drive home all legal like.

[utahngv]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

The dealer in Cali I'm getting my new GX from said that she will get me a one time trip permit for $15. That will allow me to drive home all legal like.

Which dealer did you go with?

Dan

[Beej]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

I got it at Unicars in Indio, CA. I called around to the dealerships in SoCal until I found one that actually had one on the lot. Turns out that a deal fell thru a couple hours before I called so I was able to pick up their last one (according to the sales lady).

[takeoffeh]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

I just had a new GX shipped to me from CA. I now have the vehicle and MSO (minus any type of registration - temporary or no) and I didn't pay CA sales tax or anything like that.

Does anyone know if I can just make one trip to the DMV with my proof of insurance, MSO, and pile of money and have them title the car and give me a temporary registration?

Thanks - Ryan

[Beej]

Re: Register your NEW GX in Utah

You're in the best place possible, the fact that you have the MSO means you can actually walk out with your plates.

You just need the MSO, bill of sale, proof of insurance and the VIN Inspection form found here http://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-661.pdf . (You will need to bring your car along so the friendly state employees can fill out the form.) Pay your sales tax and you're off to the races.

The registration fees were more than I had expected. I was told that the clean air plates cost about $5 extra, that's true, but they didn't tell me that I was going to have to pay about $80 in "clean fuel" fees and surcharges.

For me it broke down as:
Title Fee $6
Clean fuel fee<26k lbs $47
Clean fuel surcharge $35
Special plate $5
County assessed fee $150
Some other fees $8.50
Passenger registration $22.50

It's been 3 weeks and I'm still waiting for my MSO, good thing they gave me a 60 day temporary permit.

Congrats on your purchase!