Hello,

I'm thinking that soon I'll be able to lease an S2000.
Probably I'll get the car from the East Cost area (maybe NJ) - since it's cheaper than California and I'll have to use it for work as well - in VA.
I live in San Diego, CA, but during the week I'm in Fairfax, VA.
If any member has info on the legal issues, I'd appreciate any input.
I'm planning to take the car back to CA in a few months / 1 year. Is it possible to register it in VA or DC area and then re-register it in CA?

Thank you,
George

 

George, the only issues I can think of are Virginia personal property tax (SUCKS!) and the fact that by retitling it, it converts to a used car on the title...

 

Thank you!
George

 

Unless you're in the military or a full-time student, Virginia requires you to register the car here if it is kept here for over six months of the year. Now that said, if you don't intend on getting a VA driver's license, and you plan to eventually bring the car back to California, the path of least resistence is registering it in CA from the start. This is your best bet if you planned on bringing the car back to CA withing 30 days, the time in which you have to register a car in VA after you purchase a car here or move here. However, there may be some restrictions on the lease agreement prohibiting that type of arrangement, you'll have to check with the dealer about that. If you plan on registering it in CA, let the dealer/finance company know that you plan on taking it out of state within 30 days, otherwise they may require you to register it in VA (especially if they are under the impression that you'll be leaving it here even though you're going back to CA). I used to live in Seattle but had always kept my car registered in VA. When I moved back, I got pulled over and Fairfax County's finest were very suspicious of the fact that I had a WA licence issued less than one year before and a car that had been registered (in my name) in VA for four years. There was nothing illegal about it (I was within the 30 day limit) but they gave me a real hard time.