where and how to purchase RV in US

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richo said:
Hi Jan
We are fellow Aussies who bought a 1999 29' Winnebago Brave SE Class A in June 2010 privately in California over the internet before we left Australia.  Yes, it was a risk, but it has worked out perfectly.  We had hired a motorhome in the USA a few years ago and absolutely loved it.  As we are in our 60's we felt we had to do it while we were prepared to drive on the other side of the road.  We have toured USA, Alaska and Canada over the last 14 months.  We are having the "time of our lives".  Reluctantly we will need to return home early October this year so will have to think about selling before too long.  Registration and insurance were arranged by the previous owner before we arrived and we are using his address in California.  Good luck with your plans and you will not be disappointed in North America it is a real BUZZ.

Cheers
Sue & Harold

Hi Sue and harold
I am just interested how high are taxes and all other expenses in California against the other states in US. I would have to do some research to find out.
 
Hello Jan...

Sounds like you have some great plans...

We are a British couple who have just spent 8 months touring the west side of the US and Canada including the Yukon and Alaska and it has been excellent...we are leaving at the end of December to go home as our visa will run out...so will be selling our van before we leave...

We bought our RV in Los Angeles at a dealer...a 22 foot Tioga Montara class C...which has been great!  We have driven 20,000 miles and not had any problems at all...it now has 41,000 miles on the clock and mechanically has been faultless...The van cost us $15,000 and an additional 9.5% tax...the beauty of California is the weather - no rust...There are lots of places to buy in California most of which advertise on the internet - RV Trader is really good...

The only tip I would give is if, like us, you spend most of your time in State and National Parks (which are incredibly beautiful), try and get a small (for the States) RV...under 25 foot...it will give you access to most places and when we have turned up to sites that are full they have normally been able to squeeze us in...an RV with a generator is also really useful...

Hope this assists...we have met so many great people on our travels and the States stunning!

Have a fantastic time...

Tara Williams

 
Hi Tara
Thank you for your post with informations. You will be well back home  in England by now. Looks like you have great time in us.
I am at the stage to choose what to buy right now. I was planing to buy something about 30 to 34 feet long A class, You think that I will have problems with motorhome that long?

There is so much to choose from on internet, but I am really just browsing to get the idea and will come shopping to California or Florida in person.

All the best to you, and thanks for your post.
 
Finally my journey will begin. Purchased my flight tickets just today.
I am flying to California on 7th of May and planning to purchase motorhome class a about 35 ft
Is my normal Australian car licence OK to drive this type of  RV and can I obtain insurance with out US driving licence? I have been told that to maintain insurance for RV in US the insurance companies asking drivers to gain US driving licence. This would be another unpleasant obstacle.
Since all flights from Australia go to California first, I decided to look there and try to find suitable motorhome. Hope that there are also good dealers recommended by members of this forum like Lazy Days. I will be looking for RV A class about 30 to 35 feet used value 50 to 70 thousand.
Maybe I should look at private sells also. Any good websites to look at? Or should I stick with E-bay?

I will be also needing to rent small camper to stay and drive in till I find my dream RV.


Thank You for your help.

Jan Stiskala.
 
I don't know of much around the LA area.  Lazydays has a location in Tucson, AZ, but that is 400 miles from Last Angeles. Should have a good selection, though, and Arizona has a lot of Rvers trading their rigs during the busy winter months.

Maybe Demartini in Grassy Valley?  They handle a lot of diesels, but that may be stretching the budget a bit.
 
Are you flying into LAX or SFO? They're approx 400 miles (over 600km) apart.
 
I am flying from Sydney to Los Angeles on my first leg. This flight is 15 hours long non stop. If I want to fly any further, I have to take another connected flight. If I don't find anything around LA. I would have to do that. I booked my return flight back in August, so I have lot of time to make the right choice. If I hire small camper, i will be able to move distances, but that would be limited I understand.

Is there some large dealer located close LA?
 
This might be a start:  http://www.rvexpo.com/

One caveat - I've never done any business with them.
 
Coming from Australia you will be landing in Los Angeles,CA  So make your purchase decision based on close proximity to LAX.  Sadly California is expensive to make your purchase.  Taxes alone will drive you crazy.  There are a number of states with little to no sales tax  Oregon for one, which is under a three hour flight from LAX.  Several MH dealers in Portland,Oregon.  Any of them will sell you what you want.
 
Thank you for the information and advice.
I did some research lately, and must say that you guys are right about the purchase in California to be more expensive mainly for sales tax reason.
There for I approached BENNETT LAW OFFICE P.C. and have been offered to Forming a Montana business entity. This will take care of paying high tax. Register the coach in Montana should sort this. Cost for all the services, providing address and registering business entity there will be about $1150 registration in Montana for new coach is $305.
They also offering for next year all the service with registering the motor home and forwarding all documents for yearly fee $125.
That way I can buy my motor home really anywhere I like. I ring Montana insurance and have quote $1800 for coach valued $69000
They don't require us driving licence. My Australian licence is fine.

Because I really have no idea about types of RV in US, I have done lot of Internet research. I really love new 20112 Thor ACE evo 29.2

All I have to now do is to find dealer who give me best offer and fly from LA to inspect my RV and make the purchase.

I hope that I have this all properly sorted. If not and if you guys think that I can improve in my plan, please reply here with advice.

I would like to Thank to all members in this forum for helping advice and private messages with extra information.

I also thank to people who are running this forum. Most of my information are from here, by reading members posts.
 
Jan Stiskala said:
Because I really have no idea about types of RV in US, I have done lot of Internet research. I really love new 20112 Thor ACE evo 29.2

All I have to now do is to find dealer who give me best offer and fly from LA to inspect my RV and make the purchase.
You might search dealers in Oregon.  Portland is only about 2-1/2 hours by air from Los Angeles, and we have zero sales Tax.  Camping World in Wood Village,OR is a Thor Ace dealer in case you are interested.
 
Thank You Gary

And regarding the Oregon, I will search there also. But in my case I don't have to worry about sales tax. I am registering in Montana.
This will give me opportunity to choose any dealer in the close proximity of Los Angeles ( I think about 600 miles) and fly there to pick up.

So Far I have been talking to 2 dealers from 2 different states, and waiting for fair quotation.
 
[quote author=Jan Stiskala]... I don't have to worry about sales tax. I am registering in Montana. This will give me opportunity to choose any dealer in the close proximity of Los Angeles ...[/quote]

Having a Montana LLC and having the LLC buy the RV from a California dealer does not relieve you of paying California sales tax, unless you take delivery outside of California. The selling dealer is required by law to collect taxes at the time of purchase, unless you qualify for an exemption by, for example, taking delivery in another state.

Forming an LLC is not necessary to legally avoid CA sales tax. A number of forum members, both CA residents and residents of other states, have legally avoided CA sales tax by using the out-of-state delivery option without needing to form an LLC. The selling dealer agrees to drive the RV to an adjacent state, and you take possession there.

You can research this for yourself at the CA State Board Of Equalization web site

If you buy from a dealer in another state, none of the above applies.

Registration is a different issue, and it makes sense for you as a non-resident to form an LLC to allow registering in Montana.
Edit: Minor typo.
 
Thanks Tom.
That explains the offer of one dealer to drive my rv to Nevada.
Thanks for that information mate.
But after when I get the RV in Nevada  and need to register the vehicle, I have to register in state with out sales tax as I understand. Is that right? that will explain to me the advice about LLC there.
 
I'm not familiar with Nevada registration or sales tax requirements, but Hopefully, some of our Nevada-based members will jump in. Meanwhile, you can do some research on the Nevada DMV web site.
 
I gather you expect to tile and register the coach in Montana?  You want to take delivery in a state that allows you to get a temporary registration (sometimes called a "transporter tag") to allow you to drive it until the permanent title and registration is completed wherever you choose. And also one that does not charge sales tax on vehicles that will not be titled in that state. 

California does tax everything sold in the state, which is why dealers offer to deliver (i.e. complete the sale) out of state for people like you. I think most other states in that region are more flexible, but that's a point you want to discuss in advance with whatever dealer you are considering doing business with. And also with the LLC attorney that is setting you up - make sure they will work with you to get the vehicle title and registration in place when you buy.

Sorry to be less than explicit about this, but taxes and vehicle registrations are done on a state by state basis here, so the rules vary by location.
 
Thanks Gary
You are more than helpful going out of your way to help me. This forum is really great. Looks like I made few frieds in US already with out ewer being there.
I spoken to the dealer in California and he told me that he can do delivery in Nevada and he recommend me the attorney who specialise on RV registrations. (I mentioned they name above). I am not sure which dealer I will use yet, but I will make sure that they are wiling to sell outside of they state. So far my information is that most of them do. My LLC will be established in advance before I arrive to US.
I have to arrange my self to come to your Wednesday campfire chat, just the time difference is the problem.
 

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