Tax Guide for
Motor Vehicle Dealers

Tax Guide for Motor Vehicle Dealers

New Information: On June 29, 2020, California passed Assembly Bill (AB) 85 (Stats. 2020, ch. 8) and AB 82 (Stats. 2020, ch. 14). Beginning January 1, 2021, certain used vehicle dealers are required to pay the applicable sales tax on their retail sales of vehicles directly to the Department of Motor Vehicles. For more information about new reporting and/or payment requirements for used vehicle dealers, please see our Frequently Asked Questions for Used Vehicle Dealers.

Helping your business succeed is important to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). Taxes you collect and pay to the state help fund state and local services and programs important to you and your community. We recognize that understanding tax issues related to your industry can be time-consuming and complicated, and want to help you get the information you need so you can focus on starting and growing your business.

To help you better understand the tax obligations specific to car dealerships, we have created this guide detailing the tax issues and information important to your business.

If you have a repair or service center, you may also want to see our Auto Repair Garages guide.

How to Use This Guide

Each section of this guide contains information relevant to your business. The Getting Started section provides key resources related to registration, filing returns, account maintenance, and other important information you need.

The Industry Topics section covers the most common topics in an at-a-glance format that can be expanded to provide more extensive information if you need it.

The Recordkeeping section covers the common records used and document requirements.

Lastly, the Resources section provides links to a wealth of information, including web-based seminars, forms and publications, statutory and regulatory information, and access to live help from our customer service representatives.

Please note that the information included is general in nature and is not intended to replace any law or regulation.

If You Need Help

If at any time you need assistance with topics included in this guide – or with topics not included – feel free to contact us by telephone or email. Contact information and hours of operation are available in the Resources section.

If you have suggestions for improving this guide, please contact us via email.

If you own a business in California, and you expect to be making taxable sales, you must register with us for a seller's permit and file regular sales and use tax returns. You may be required to register for other licenses or accounts using our online registration service and file other returns. Listed below are some tax and fee programs that are often applicable to vehicle dealers.

California Tire Fee Account

You must register with us for a California Tire Fee Account and pay the California Tire Fee if you sell new tires at retail or if you sell/lease/rent vehicles (including trailers) with new tires to your customers.

Registration

Online Registration – Register with us for your seller's permit and apply for any of the licenses, permits, or accounts listed above, or add a business location to an existing account.

If you have already registered with us, you will find these tools helpful in maintaining your account.

Filing and Payments

Notice of Business Change – Keep your information current by using the links below and notifying us of any business changes.

General Information

In California, all sales are taxable unless the law provides a specific exemption. In most cases, taxable sales are of tangible personal property, which the law defines as an item that can be seen, weighed, felt, or touched.

Use tax is a companion to California's sales tax, and is due whenever you purchase taxable items without payment of California sales tax from an out-of-state vendor for use in California. You also owe use tax on items that you remove from your inventory and use in California when you did not pay tax when you purchased the items. Examples of taxable uses include oil, grease, gasoline, and parts that are used for company vehicles or service department vehicles. The cost of such items must be reported on your sales and use tax return under, "Purchases Subject to Use Tax."

As a motor vehicle dealer, you must obtain a seller's permit, and report and pay tax on your vehicle sales. Registering for a seller's permit is free, although in some cases a security deposit may be required.

If you have multiple locations, you must register each location with us. You can register with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) for a seller's permit or consolidated seller's permits using our online registration service.

Be sure to let us know about any changes to your business, or to your mailing or email address so that we can keep your records up-to-date and inform you of important changes in law, tax rates, or procedure. You can easily update your account information by contacting our Customer Service Center or any one of our field offices throughout the state. Contact information is available in the Resources tab of this guide.

When making sales for resale, you must obtain a resale certificate from your customer in a timely manner. See section Resale Certificates under the Recordkeeping tab for recordkeeping requirements.

If you sell or trade a used vehicle to another dealer for resale, you are not required to report tax on the sale. You must complete a Wholesale Report of Sale to report sales of used vehicles between dealers, wholesale transactions to out-of-state dealers, scrap metal processors, and dismantlers. The Wholesale Report of Sale is a controlled form that can only be obtained from the DMV Occupational Licensing Section.

Generally you are not liable for reporting tax on the gasoline that is in the vehicle at the time of the sale. Therefore you have two options:

  • You may issue a resale certificate for gasoline you intend to be resold with the vehicle, or
  • You may pay tax on the gasoline you purchase and claim a tax-paid purchases resold credit for gasoline in the vehicle at the time of the sale.

However, you generally owe tax on gasoline that you use for:

  • Company cars, service cars, tow trucks.
  • Vehicles that are being held for resale or lease and used prior to their sale.
  • Vehicles whose use is taxable under the 1/40th or 1/60th formulas.
  • Vehicles that are used as demonstrators only.
  • Loaned vehicles that are taxable based on the cost of purchase or their fair rental value.

If the amount of gasoline you purchased with a resale certificate is more than the amount of gasoline sold with vehicles, you must report the difference on your sales and use tax return under "Purchases Subject to Use Tax".

If the amount of gasoline you purchased with a resale certificate is less than the amount of gasoline sold with vehicles, you may claim a deduction for the difference under "Tax-Paid Purchases Resold".

Sales of Vehicles

The majority of your vehicle sales will involve purchases made by individuals who will use the vehicle in California for personal or business use. Generally, these sales are taxable. Some sales are exempt from tax under the Sales and Use Tax Law. See "Specific Exemptions" below for more details. All exempt sales should be properly documented.

You are required to report and pay sales tax on your retail sales of tangible personal property; however, you may pass the cost of the sales tax onto your customer, provided it is agreed to as part of the sale. For more information, please refer to Regulation 1700, Reimbursement for Sales Tax.

Recently enacted legislation Assembly Bill (AB) 85, (Stats. 2020, ch.8), AB 82 (Stats. 2020, ch. 14), AB 176 (Stats. 2021, ch 256), and Senate Bill 1496 (Stats 2022, ch 474), requires certain used vehicle dealers, that hold a license issued pursuant to Vehicle Code, to pay sales tax on their retail sales of motor vehicles when the dealers submit a vehicle registration application to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

On January 1, 2021, new licensed dealers, dealers whose seller's permit were reinstated within the last two years, and dealers with a previous finding of underreporting within the last two years were required to pay sales tax directly to the DMV when submitting a motor vehicle registration application to the DMV.

Beginning January 1, 2023, dealers that currently do not pay sales tax to the DMV and did not make more than 300 retail vehicle sales in calendar year 2021, will be required to pay their tax directly to the DMV.

All other dealers will have their payment requirement postponed until January 1, 2026, unless otherwise notified by DMV.

Additionally, all used vehicle dealers (except used vehicle dealers who deal exclusively with wholesale transactions) were required to file their sales and use tax returns on a monthly reporting basis beginning January 1, 2021, even if their payment method has not yet been changed. You will be notified by the DMV when your payment method is scheduled to change. Once you have been transitioned to the DMV payment process, you will be required to:

  • Report and pay sales tax, including any applicable district taxes, on your retail sales of motor vehicles directly to the DMV. Sales tax is generally due at the same time you submit a vehicle registration application.
  • Provide additional information to the DMV, including your 9-digit Seller's Permit Number in the electronic Report of Sale system to ensure your sales tax payment is correctly applied to your CDTFA return. Note: 8-digit account numbers require a leading zero (e.g. 012345678).
  • Ensure your dealer location address is correctly provided to the DMV for accurate local tax allocation.
  • Continue to timely file your sales and use tax returns and submit additional information with your returns, including:
    • Your dealer license number, and
    • Sales transaction detail – Report of Sale number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), selling price reported to DMV, and sales tax and/or penalty amounts paid to the DMV.
      • Note: The selling price reported to DMV generally does not include other charges related to the vehicle (including, but not limited to document fees, smog certification fees, and mandatory warranties). These other charges must be reported on line 1, Total Sales.

Return instructions explain how to provide your sales transaction detail for your retail sales of vehicles.

For more information about your new reporting and/or payment requirements as a used vehicle dealer, please see our Frequently Asked Questions for Used Vehicle Dealers.

Effective January 1, 2021, the reporting basis of all used vehicle auction houses (except used vehicle auctioneers who deal exclusively with wholesale transactions) was changed to a monthly reporting basis. In addition to the change in reporting basis, an additional schedule detailing your wholesale transaction information may be required. Please call our customer service center if you have any questions.

You are entitled to reduce the amount of sales tax that you owe on your vehicle sales by the amount of tax you paid when you purchased your gasoline (MVF) or diesel fuel when you sell the vehicle with fuel.

The sales tax rate for the sale of a vehicle is currently 7.25% plus applicable district taxes; however, the sales tax rate for gasoline is only 2.25% plus applicable district taxes. The sales tax on diesel fuel is 9.00% plus applicable district taxes.

Because the tax rate that applies to sales of gasoline and diesel fuel is different than the tax rate that applies to the sale of a vehicle, and the price you pay at the pump is a tax-included price, you will need to calculate the allowable amount of your deduction.

Some retailers file a CDTFA-401-GS return allowing them to properly recover the correct amount of tax paid on their purchases of gasoline or diesel fuel. For information on claiming your Cost of Tax-Paid Purchases Resold (TPPR) deduction on MVF or diesel on CDTFA-401-GS refer to the CDTFA-401-GSIN. Paper returns show the form number in top left hand corner. If you are filing an online return and your return has a Schedule G button, you are filing a CDTFA-401-GS return.

When you sell vehicles to leasing companies, you need to determine two important factors that affect how tax is reported:

  • Is the vehicle a passenger vehicle or mobile transportation equipment (MTE),
  • Does the lessor plan to report and pay tax on their rental payments?

Passenger Vehicles

You may accept a resale certificate from a leasing company when they purchase passenger vehicles and the leasing company will report tax based on the rental payments to the lessee. If the lessor purchases both tax paid and resale vehicles, you may obtain a blanket resale certificate and the lessor must indicate on their purchase orders whether each purchase is taxable or for resale.

Leased vehicles must be registered in the name of the lessor only or the lessor and lessee jointly. If the vehicle is registered in the name of the lessee only, the sale should be considered a retail sale subject to sales tax based on the selling price of the vehicle.

Mobile Transportation Equipment (MTE)

Generally, lessors of MTE are considered the users of these vehicles and you should report and pay tax on the sales price of the vehicle to the lessor. However, a lessor may issue a resale certificate if they indicate it is for the limited purpose of reporting tax based on the fair rental value of the MTE.

For more information please see Regulation 1660, Leases of Tangible Personal Property-In General or Regulation 1661, Leases of Mobile Transportation Equipment. See section Resale Certificates under the Recordkeeping tab for recordkeeping requirements.

Tax applies to the total selling price of previously leased or rented vehicles regardless of any tax that may have been previously paid on the lease or rental receipts.

If a lessee chooses the purchase option as part of the lease agreement, tax generally applies to the purchase amount.

If you are licensed by the DMV as a lessor-retailer, the following special rules apply to your retail sale of a leased vehicle:

  • If you sell the vehicle to the lessee, you are not required to file a report of sale with the DMV and you are not liable for the tax. The lessee will pay use tax directly to the DMV. If, however, you do file a report of sale, you will be liable for the sales tax.
  • If you make a retail sale of a leased vehicle to anyone other than the lessee, you are required to file a report of sale with the DMV and report and pay the sales tax.

Sales of Company Vehicles and Demonstrators

Tax applies to the total selling price of company cars, parts and service department vehicles, tow trucks, and demonstrators as if it were a retail sale.

Repossessed Vehicles

If you transfer a repossessed vehicle to a third party who assumes the unpaid contract or sell it to a new customer, you must report and pay sales tax based on the total sales price.

Consignment Sales

If you sell a vehicle on consignment for another person, the transfer and sale are considered to be made by you, and you must report and pay sales tax on the sale.

Specific Exemptions

Some of your sales may qualify for an exemption from tax. You should still include these in your total sales on your sales and use tax return and then take the appropriate deduction. For more information regarding special exemptions related to vehicle sales refer to publication 34, Motor Vehicle Dealers.

You must obtain and keep copies of government purchase orders or remittance advices to support your nontaxable sales to the United States Government.

Sales tax does not apply to:

  • Sales to the United States government or its unincorporated agencies and instrumentalities.
  • Sales to any incorporated agency or instrumentality of the United States owned wholly either by the United States or by a corporation wholly owned by the Unites States.
  • Sales to the American Red Cross, it chapters and branches.

Generally, the following organizations are not considered exempt agencies of the United States and sales to these agencies are subject to tax:

  • State, county, and city government agencies.
  • American Legion Posts in federal areas.
  • District agricultural associations.
  • National Guard.

Sales of vehicles to federally owned banks are exempt from sales tax. Sales to other banks or credit unions are generally taxable.

For further information, please refer to Regulation 1614, Sales to the United States and Its Instrumentalities and publication 102, Sales to the United States Government.

Sales of vehicles to members of the military who are on active duty may not be subject to sales tax.

For further information, please refer to Regulation 1610, Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft, or publication 52, Vehicles and Vessels: How to Request a Use Tax Clearance for DMV Registration.

You generally do not have to report and pay California sales or use tax on a vehicle that is sold and delivered outside of California, for use outside California.

You must show evidence that the vehicle was delivered to the purchaser outside California (for example by an employee or common carrier) and that the purchaser did not take possession of the vehicle in California. See, "Required Documentation for Vehicles Delivered Outside of California" under recordkeeping for requirements.

Beginning January 1, 2020, Assembly Bill 321 (Stats. 2019, ch. 226), amends the sales and use tax exemption for trailers and semitrailers provided by Revenue and Taxation Code (R&TC) section 6388.5 to also apply to certain new, used, or remanufactured trucks. The exemption applies to trucks delivered to both California residents and non-residents in California that are removed from the state within a specified time, and thereafter used exclusively out-of-state or in interstate or foreign commerce. The expanded sales and use tax exemption is operative from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2023.

Beginning October 9, 2019, through December 31, 2025, a partial sales and use tax exemption applies to eligible purchases and leases of zero-emission technology transit buses by the following qualifying purchasers:

  • City, county, or city and county, or
  • Transportation or transit district, or
  • Public agencies that provide transit service to the public
Eligible Buses Description
Articulated bus A 54-foot to 60-foot bus with two connected passenger compartments.
Bus A rubber-tire vehicle designed to transport passengers by road with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 pounds.
Cutaway bus A vehicle in which a bus body designed to transport passengers is mounted on the chassis of a van or light- or medium- duty truck chassis, and that has a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 pounds, but not more than 26,000 pounds. A cutaway bus includes an original van or light- or medium- duty truck chassis that has been reinforced or extended. Accommodating some standing passengers does not disqualify a cutaway bus from being considered a transit bus for the purposes of this section.
Double-Decker bus A high-capacity bus that has two levels of seating, one over the other, connected by one or more stairways, of a height that is at least 13 feet, and carries between 40 to 80 people.
Over-The-Road bus A bus characterized by an elevated passenger deck located over a baggage compartment used for long-distance bus services or connecting outlying areas with central cities with limited stops.
Shuttle bus A commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,501 pounds or greater, sized Class 2b through Class 8, that transports passengers in a fixed destination route.
Transit bus An articulated bus, bus, cutaway bus, double-decker bus, over-the-road bus, shuttle bus, or trolley bus.
Trolley bus A rubber-tired, electrically powered passenger vehicle operated on city streets drawing power from overhead wires using trolley poles.

As a motor vehicle dealer, your sales of eligible buses to qualifying purchasers are subject to tax at a reduced rate of 3.3125 percent (7.25 percent current statewide tax rate less the 3.9375 percent partial exemption) plus any applicable district taxes. The reduced sales or use tax rate is applied to the total selling price of the vehicle before any incentives are applied.

To report your sales of eligible zero-emission technology buses on your sales and use tax return, report the total selling price in your total sales. You may claim a partial exemption for eligible sales of eligible buses to qualifying purchasers as a Zero-Emission Transit Bus deduction on your return.

To document the partially exempt sale, you should obtain a timely partial exemption certificate from your customer. Form CDTFA-230-HB, Partial Exemption - Zero-Emission Transit Bus, can be used in documenting the partial exemption. For more information, see Regulation 1667, Exemption Certificates.

Recently enacted legislation, Senate Bill 1382 (stats. 2022, ch. 375), provides for a partial sales and use tax exemption on qualifying zero or near-zero (zero) emission motor vehicles (vehicles) purchased or leased by qualified buyers. The partial sales and use tax exemption is operative from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027. Eligibility for the exemption is based on the buyer's household income level, where they reside, and the vehicle leased or purchased.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB), in association with local air districts, administers the Clean Cars 4 All program (CC4A). The program is designed to provide incentives to lower-income California drivers to scrap their older, high-polluting motor vehicles and replace them with zero emission vehicles. The current CC4A program provides qualified buyers with grants of up to $9,500 for California residents who purchase or lease an eligible vehicle and meet certain residence and income requirements.

To qualify for the partial exemption, the purchaser must:

  • Be a qualified buyer who has received an award letter from a participating air district, and
  • Purchase a qualified motor vehicle for which a grant letter has been awarded to you under the Clean Cars 4 All Program.

CC4A qualification guidelines are set and maintained by the participating local air districts. For a listing of participating air districts, please visit the CC4A Implementing Air Districts webpage.

Dealers

Motor vehicle dealers are generally required to receive authorization from a local air district that has implemented the CC4A program to participate in the program. For information about becoming an authorized dealer, please contact a participating local air district. For a listing of participating local air districts, please visit the CC4A Implementing Air Districts webpage.

As a vehicle dealer, your sales of eligible vehicles to qualified buyers are subject to tax at a reduced rate of 3.125 percent (7.25 percent current statewide tax rate less the 3.9375 percent partial exemption) plus any applicable district taxes. The reduced sales or use tax rate is applied to the total selling price of the vehicle before any grants or incentives are applied.

To report your sales of eligible zero emission vehicles on your sales and use tax return, report the total selling price in your total sales. You may claim a partial exemption for qualifying sales of vehicles to qualified persons as a Zero-Emission Vehicle Exemption deduction on your return.

To document the partially exempt sale, you should obtain a timely partial exemption certificate from your customer. Form CDTFA-230-ZEV, Partial Exemption – Zero-Emission Vehicle, can be used in documenting the partial exemption. For more information, see Regulation 1667, Exemption Certificates.

Special Pricing and Incentives

If you accept a trade-in on the sale of a vehicle, you must still report the total selling price of the vehicle in your gross receipts. You cannot deduct the allowance for the trade-in.

For example, you sell a car for $20,000 and accept a trade-in for a credit of $4,000. You must report and pay tax on the $20,000 selling price.

If you allow a trade-in value higher than the fair market value of the vehicle, you cannot treat the excess as a discount or otherwise deduct the additional amount. If you allow less than the fair market value, the CDTFA will presume the allowance agreed upon is the fair market value.

When you offer a customer a discount, you are only required to report tax on the total selling price of the vehicle.

For example, you sell a $20,000 car and offer a 10 percent discount. Your tax is based on the $18,000 selling price.

The sales records should clearly show the discount, the taxable amount, and the tax reported and paid. If you offer a discount and take a trade-in on the same sale, the records must clearly show the amount of each allowance. Otherwise, the discount may be considered an over allowance and the total sales price will be taxable.

Dealerships are consumers of free incentives offered to customers.

Tax applies to the dealership when they purchase supply items necessary to offer these incentives.

Sometimes a vehicle manufacturer will offer a discount to dealerships on a vehicle that allows you to sell that vehicle at a lower price.

Only the actual selling price of the vehicle must be reported for sales tax purposes. You do not have to include the discount received from the manufacturer in the total taxable selling price of the vehicle.

Sometimes a third party, such as a vendor or the manufacturer will pay you directly or offer rebates to your customer that they pass back to you in the sales transaction.

When you receive rebates from third parties, you must include that amount received as part of the total taxable selling price of the vehicle.

For example, a manufacturer offers a $1,000 rebate to your customer on the purchase of a car. The customer then assigns the rebate to you as part of their down payment on the vehicle. You must report and pay tax on the $1,000 rebate.

For more information on these topics, please refer to Regulation 1671.1, Discount, Coupons, Rebates, and Other Incentives.

There are many common charges associated with vehicle sales. Tax applies differently to each type of charge and may change depending on whether they are listed separately or grouped together.

Sales tax does not apply to license fees that you collect and remit to the DMV, unless you collect an amount in excess of the fee required by the DMV. Excess amounts collected are taxable.

Documentation Fees

Charges for preparation of documents you make in connection with a sale are taxable.

Financing, Interest and Insurance Charges

When you sell a vehicle on credit, you should show the sales price separate from charges for insurance, interest, financing, or for carrying the contract. When you do not separate out these charges they are taxable.

Smog Certifications

The fees determined by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) for smog certification are not taxable. Amounts charged in excess of the DCA fee are taxable. Other charges, such as inspection charges are taxable if done for a vehicle you plan to sell.

Broker's Fees and Commissions

If you use a broker acting on your behalf, commissions paid to the broker are taxable. If the broker is acting on behalf of the customer, the broker fee is not taxable.

Dealer — Free Full Tank of Gas

When you sell a vehicle with a full tank of gas, and do not itemize a charge for the gasoline, you are not liable for reporting the tax on the gas and may purchase the gas with a resale certificate. If you make a separate charge for the gas, you are liable for the tax. You must keep adequate records to support gas purchases made using a resale certificate.

Modifications to Accommodate Persons with Disabilities

Sales tax does not apply to the sales price of the portion of a vehicle that has been modified to accommodate physically handicapped persons when the vehicle is sold to the physically handicapped person. For example, you sell a car to a physically handicapped person for $20,000 and $5,000 is attributable to modifications of the vehicle, sales tax is due on $15,000.

Tax does not apply to the sale or installation of items and materials that:

  • Are used to modify a vehicle so that a person with disabilities can operate it or when such items and materials are necessary to enable the vehicle to be used to transport a physically handicapped person or persons, and
  • Are incorporated into, attached to, or installed on the vehicle.

Sales of tools and materials that are not incorporated into the vehicle are taxable.

If you use items for personal or business use that you purchased without paying tax, you owe use tax measured by its purchase price. Some of the most common items you may owe use tax on are listed below.

Oil and Grease

You must report and pay use tax on oil and grease used in company cars, service cars, loaner cars, tow trucks, and any vehicles subject to tax under the 1/40th or 1/60th formulas.

Parts and Accessories

You must report and pay tax on the cost of parts and accessories installed on the following vehicles:

  • Loaner cars whose use is subject to tax based on the cost of purchase.
  • Company cars, service cars, and tow trucks.

You are not required to report or pay use tax on the cost of parts and accessories installed in the following:

  • Vehicles held for resale or taxable lease, including vehicles used for demonstration and display.
  • Vehicles whose use is subject to tax under the 1/40th or 1/60th formulas.
  • Loaner cars whose use is subject to tax based on the fair market value.

When you use oil, grease, or parts and accessories that you remove from inventory without paying tax on, you must report theses on your sales and use tax return under "Purchases Subject to Use Tax".

Tools and Equipment

You may not issue a resale certificate for tools and equipment purchased for use in your business. You must pay tax when you purchase these items.

Vehicles Used for Other Than Resale

If you purchase a vehicle for resale or lease, without paying tax, and use it for other than demonstration and display, you generally owe use tax for such use based on either the vehicle's cost or its fair rental value.

A salesperson specifically refers to employees who directly participate in negotiating sales. The following information assumes you purchased the vehicle in question with a resale certificate. Vehicles can be assigned, rented or sold to the salesperson.

If you assign a vehicle for 12 months or less, you must report and pay use tax on the vehicle's fair rental value, calculated at 1/60th of the purchase price for each month used.If you assign the vehicle for longer than 12 months, you must pay and report use tax based on your cost for the vehicle.

If you do not know how long the vehicle will be used, you can report and pay tax based on the fair rental value for the first 12 months at 1/60th of the purchase price; on the 13th month you must pay use tax based on the cost of the vehicle minus the tax previously reported.

If you rent a vehicle to a salesperson, you must report and pay use tax on the rental receipts.
If you sell a vehicle to a salesperson, you must report and pay use tax based on the amount paid by the salesperson.

When you assign vehicles to employees other than salespersons, it is presumed it is for business purposes or personal use unless you can clearly establish otherwise.

If a vehicle is assigned for 12 months or less, you must report and pay use tax on the fair rental value, computed at 1/40th of the purchase price for each month the vehicle is in use.

If you assign the vehicle for longer than 12 month, you must report and pay use tax on the cost of the vehicle.

If you do not know how long the vehicle will be used, you can report based on the fair rental value for the first 12 months at 1/40th of the purchase price; on the 13th month you must pay use tax based on the cost of the vehicle minus the tax previously reported.

If you assign a vehicle to a person other than an employee or officer of the dealership, you generally will pay and report use tax based on the cost of the vehicle.

The vehicle is not presumed to be held for resale. However, if such loans are 30 days or less, the tax you must report and pay may be based on the fair rental value.

As a motor vehicle dealer (dealer), you may choose to provide courtesy vehicle loans (loaner vehicles) to customers in various situations. How tax applies depends on how you obtain the vehicle and under what circumstances you loan the vehicle to your customer.

When you buy a vehicle to be used exclusively as a loaner vehicle for your customers while you service or repair their vehicles, it is considered a company vehicle and you cannot issue a resale certificate when purchasing the loaner vehicle. Tax applies to the sale of the vehicle to you, or, if you purchased the vehicle without paying tax, you owe use tax based on your purchase price of the vehicle. If you later resell the vehicle, you are responsible for the tax, based on the selling price of the vehicle, since the sale is a separate sales transaction.

However, there may be instances in which you buy or lease a vehicle to loan to customers, and the vehicle is not used exclusively as a loaner vehicle. Typically you would obtain the vehicle without tax from one of the following:

  1. Resale or lease inventory, or
  2. Leased from a third-party lessor (i.e., car rental agency), or
  3. Purchased or leased under a special accommodation program (explained below).

Special Accommodation Programs:

Many vehicle manufacturers offer incentives to dealers to participate in "Special Accommodation Programs." Under these programs, dealers are required to maintain an inventory of a certain number of vehicles as courtesy loans to customers who wait for their leased and/or owned vehicles to be repaired or serviced. Generally, dealers purchase these courtesy loan vehicles under a resale certificate. Distributors sell vehicles to dealers under special accommodation programs with the understanding that the dealer will use the vehicle exclusively as a courtesy loan for a certain period of time. After that period, the dealer may sell the vehicle and collect tax reimbursement from their customer.

In many cases, the transaction between the distributor and dealer involves a finance company (generally related to the distributor) in which the vehicles purchased by the dealer are immediately sold to the finance company which leases the vehicles back to the dealer. In most cases, the lease from the finance company to the dealer is actually a sale at inception (an agreement to purchase the leased vehicle at fair market value at the end of the lease term). Under these circumstances, tax is not due on the sale when the dealer purchases the vehicle under a resale certificate under the special accommodation program.

However, in some instances, the lease between the financing company and dealer may be a true lease in which the financing company collects tax reimbursement from the dealer measured by the lease payments.

How Tax Applies

The following explains how tax applies to three different types of courtesy loans when the vehicles are not from your tax-paid loaner vehicle inventory.

  1. Customer is provided a loaner vehicle as a favor

    When you loan a vehicle to your customer solely as a courtesy or favor (for example, your customer's vehicle is being repaired or serviced under an optional warranty or your customer is awaiting delivery of their new vehicle) you are making a use of the vehicle. In general, you owe tax as follows:

    Loaner vehicle is from resale or lease inventory

    You owe tax based on the fair rental value for the duration of the loan. The fair rental value is the amount that you charge to rent similar vehicles for similar periods to persons other than your customers awaiting delivery of their new vehicle.

    Loaner vehicle is from third-party lessor (a car rental agency)

    You may not issue a resale certificate to the lessor. If the third-party lessor charges you tax on the lease payments, you may not claim a tax-paid purchase resold credit on your sales and use tax return and you may not file a claim for refund for the tax paid on the lease.

    Loaner vehicle is purchased without tax under a special accommodation program

    You owe tax based on the fair rental value for the duration of the loan.

    Loaner vehicle is leased from finance company under a special accommodation program and dealer pays tax to finance company measured by lease payments

    No additional tax is due. You may not claim a tax-paid purchase resold credit on your sales and use tax return and you may not file a claim for refund for the tax paid on the lease.

  2. Customer's vehicle is being repaired or serviced under a mandatory warranty, standard manufacturer's warranty or mandatory safety recall

    When you loan a vehicle to a customer whose vehicle is being repaired or serviced under a mandatory warranty, standard manufacturer's warranty or mandatory safety recall, generally, no additional tax is due. The loan is considered part of the original vehicle sales contract that includes the mandatory or standard manufacturer's warranty. A mandatory safety recall is treated like a mandatory warranty and is considered covered as part of the original sales contract.

    Loaner vehicle is from resale or lease inventory

    No additional tax is due.

    Loaner vehicle leased from a third-party lessor (a car rental agency)

    No additional tax is due. You may issue the third-party lessor a timely resale certificate (that is, within the normal billing cycle, or any time prior to delivery of the property).

    If you do not issue a timely resale certificate to the third-party lessor and pay tax to the lessor measured by the lease payments, you may claim a tax-paid purchase resold credit on your sales and use tax return or file a claim for refund for the tax paid to the third-party lessor on those lease payments for the period(s) of nontaxable use.

    Loaner vehicle is purchased without tax under a special accommodation program

    No additional tax is due.

    Loaner vehicle is leased from finance company under a special accommodation program and dealer pays tax to finance company measured by lease payments

    No additional tax is due. You may claim a tax-paid purchase resold credit on your sales and use tax return or file a claim for refund for the tax paid to the finance company on those lease payments that are for the period(s) of nontaxable use.

  3. Customer's leased vehicle is being repaired or serviced or customer is awaiting delivery of their newly leased vehicle

    When you loan a vehicle to a customer whose leased vehicle is being repaired or serviced or to a customer awaiting delivery of their newly leased vehicle, generally, no additional tax is due if the customer's regular lease payments continue to accrue. The loan is considered part of the original vehicle lease contract to your customer.

    Loaner vehicle is from resale or lease inventory

    If the customer's regular lease payments continue to accrue on the lease of their vehicle, no additional tax is due.

    Loaner vehicle leased from a third-party lessor (a car rental agency)

    If the customer's regular lease payments continue to accrue on the lease of their vehicle, no additional tax is due. You may issue the lessor a timely resale certificate (that is, within the normal billing cycle, or any time prior to delivery of the property).

    If you do not issue a timely resale certificate to the third-party lessor and pay tax to the lessor measured by the lease payments, you may claim a tax-paid purchase resold credit on your sales and use tax return or file a claim for refund for the tax paid to the third-party lessor on those lease payments for the period(s) of nontaxable use.

    Loaner vehicle is purchased without tax under a special accommodation program

    If the customer's regular lease payments continue to accrue on the lease of their vehicle, no additional tax is due.

    Loaner vehicle is leased from finance company under a special accommodation program and dealer pays tax to finance company measured by lease payments

    If the customer's regular lease payments continue to accrue on the lease of their vehicle, no additional tax is due. You may claim a tax-paid purchase resold credit on your sales and use tax return or file a claim for refund for the tax paid to the finance company on those lease payments for the period(s) of nontaxable use.

For additional information, see Regulation 1669.5, Demonstration, Display, and Use of Property Held for Resale –Vehicles.

California Tire Fee Account

If you sell new tires with your vehicle, you must register for a California Tire Fee Account to collect and pay the California Tire Fee on every new tire sold. New tire sales include separately sold tires, new tires included with the sale/lease/rental of new or used motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, trailers, construction equipment, or farm equipment.

The fee of $1.75 per tire is not taxable. You may keep one and a half percent of the fees you collect as reimbursement for your related costs. If you charge any amount higher than the $1.75 per tire, you are required to report tax on the excess amount. For more information, see publication 91, California Tire Fee.

You must keep adequate records that support the amount of tax that is due. You may be required to present the records to the CDTFA in an audit. Failure to maintain accurate records could result in negligence or intent to evade tax and may result in penalties.

Records should be kept for at least four years unless the CDTFA gives written authorization to destroy them sooner. If you are being audited, retain all records for the audit period until the audit is completed to support any differences that may arise from the audit.

Under the Sales and Use Tax Law, you are required to keep adequate records that show:

  • Your gross receipts from sales or leases of vehicles and other tangible personal property, whether you regard the receipts as taxable or nontaxable.
  • All deductions allowed by law and claimed on your sales and use tax returns.
  • The total purchase price of all tangible personal property purchased for sale, use, or lease.

These records must include:

  • The normal books of account.
  • All bills, receipts, invoices, repair orders, contracts, or other documents of original entry that support the entries in the books of account.
  • All schedules of working papers used in connection with the preparation of tax returns.

Most new vehicle dealers have detailed records that reflect their daily operations. These records are prescribed by the major automobile manufacturers.

You will generally have a stock book listing all vehicles delivered into your inventory from the manufacturer. Typically you will use different sales journals such as new car retail, new car fleet, new car commercial, etc. to track your different types of sales transactions. Your basic sales document is the motor vehicle contract and sales agreement, usually containing four copies for the deal jacket, customer, financing company, and your own files.

You will also have report of sale books obtained from the DMV for all new vehicle sales. These forms must be maintained in numerical sequence including copies returned to the DMV or voided.

Your inventory will come from a variety of sources including trade-ins on sales of other vehicles, retail auctions, or from other new and used car dealers. You will generally use car envelopes and inventory books to track your sales.

You should assign an inventory number to vehicles with car envelopes prepared for each unit. Details of each purchase and sale should be placed on the proper lines on the printed face of the envelope. All documents of purchase, reconditioning, and sale are then inserted in the envelope.

If you use an inventory book as a combination purchase and sales journal, you should enter the details of the source of purchase, date, description, and cost of each vehicle reflecting each purchase. The date of sale, name of customer, and selling price are recorded at the time of sale. When using this method, it is not uncommon to purchase a vehicle in one period and sell it in a later period. You should be sure to reconcile all purchases and sales each period to make sure sales are reported in the appropriate period.

You will also have report of sales books obtained from the DMV. These forms must be maintained in numerical sequence including copies returned to the DMV or voided.

As a vehicle dealer, you must generally report and pay sales or use tax at the statewide tax rate (currently 7.25%) plus any applicable district taxes.

Many cities, counties, communities, etc., impose additional sales tax amounts to fund local public services. Whether or not you must report and pay the additional district taxes will depend on the location where a vehicle is registered. If you are unsure of the applicable tax rate at any location you may visit Know Your Sales and Use Tax Rate webpage to lookup the correct rate to charge. Additional resources may also be found in the resource section of this guide.

Effective July 1, 2018, if you are a retailer who makes sales of tangible personal property that take place on the real property of a California state-designated fair ("state-designated fairground"), you must separately state the amount of those sales on your Sales and Use Tax return.

Sales that take place on state-designated fairgrounds include over-the-counter sales on the fairgrounds and also may include sales in which the property is shipped or delivered to or from the fairground. The separately reported amount will be used for funding allocation purposes only. There is no additional tax or fee due on these sales.

For more information on the new reporting requirement, please see Tax Guide for Reporting Requirements on State-Designated Fairgrounds.

When making sales for resale, you must obtain a resale certificate from your customer in a timely manner.

Property purchased by issuing a resale certificate must be described either by an itemized list of the particular property to be purchased for resale, or by a general description of the kind of property to be purchased for resale.

Your sales of salvage vehicles are taxable retail sales unless the sale is to a licensed dismantler, repair dealer, or qualified scrap metal processor and you obtain a form CDTFA-230-F, California Resale Certificate, Sales by Auto Auctions and Auto Dismantlers to support the sale. You can easily verify seller's permit numbers on our website. You can also search for a dealer's license online, or check the current status of businesses licensed by the DMV using their Occupational License Status.

You should retain all resale certificates with your records for not less than four years. For more information, please see Regulation 1668, Sales for Resale

You may be able to take a bad debt deduction for losses resulting from repossessions of vehicles as well as uncollectible accounts. Deductions can be claimed once they are written off for income tax purposes.

When claiming a repossession loss, you:

  • Can claim a deduction only to the extent that you sustain a net loss of gross receipts upon which you have paid tax.
  • May base the wholesale value of the repossessed vehicle on industry-recognized wholesale pricing guides.
  • Cannot use estimated or unsupported figures or percentages to calculate the repossession loss.
  • Cannot claim a deduction for expenses incurred in attempting to collect an account or for that portion of a debt that is retained by, or paid to, a third party as compensation for collecting an account.
  • Must report and pay any amounts that you recovered after claiming a repossession loss on the first tax return following the recovery.

Note: You cannot claim a deduction for nontaxable charges such as installation or repair labor performed in connection with the sale of a vehicle.

Below is an example of how to compute the allowable bad debt deduction using the pro rata method:

a. Retail sales price   $ 12,000
b. Taxable fees (i.e., doc/smog)   230
c. Total amount subject to tax (a + b)   12,230
d. Sales tax (7.5%)* (c × .075) 917  
e. License fees 240  
f. Other non-taxables 0  
g. Total non-taxable charges (d + e + f) 1,157  
h. Total sales price (c + g) 13,387  
i. Down payment 2,000  
j. Balance on contract (h - i)   11,387
k. Finance charges/accrued interest   3,000
l. Total contract value (j + k)   14,387
m. Payments received on contract   2,100
n. Balance on date of repossession (l - m)   12,287
o. Unearned finance charges   2,750
p. Net contract balance (n - o)   9,537
q.Value of repossession   6,000
r. Repossession loss per records   $3,537

*sales tax rates can and do change, be sure to use the same rate charged at the time the sale occurred.

Step Two:  Compute the Taxable Percentage of Loss

This is done by dividing the total amount subject to tax (line c) by the total sales price (line h).

12,230 ÷ 13,387 = 91.36%

Step Three: Compute the Allowable Deduction

This is done by multiplying the taxable percentage of loss (step Two) by the repossession loss per records (step One).

91.36% × 3,537 = $3,231.40

For more information, please refer to Regulation 1642, Bad Debts.

You are urged to get statements notarized and maintain all documentation in your files for all sales claimed as sales in interstate or foreign commerce.

Suggested documentation includes:

  • Evidence of the purchaser's out-of-state address, such as utility bills or property tax bills.
  • If delivery is made by common carrier, customs broker, or forwarding agent, documents supporting the delivery or shipment (for example bills of lading).
  • If delivery is made by you or your employee:
    • Expense claims that include fuel or hotel receipts, and
    • A statement signed by the delivery person and the purchaser certifying delivery of the vehicle to an out-of-state location. You may use a CDTFA-448, Statement of Delivery Outside California

If you know that a purchaser is a California resident and they state the vehicle is being purchased for use outside the state, it is important to obtain a CDTFA-447, Statement Pursuant to Section 6247 of the California Sales and Use Tax Law certifying their statement. If you do not get the certification, the vehicle will be considered purchased for use in this state and you must report and pay tax on the sale.

Even if you are not required to report and pay tax on vehicles delivered outside California, the buyer may owe use tax. See publication 52, Vehicles and Vessels: How to Request a Use Tax Clearance for DMV registration for more information on this topic.

You are responsible for obtaining a seller's permit and reporting and paying the sales tax on the retail selling price of consignment sales.

When you have possession or control of the item you are selling, and can transfer ownership or use of the item to the buyer without further action on the part of the owner, you are considered the retailer of the item.

For example, your store accepts pipes and accessories to sell on consignment. You agree to sell the products, but will not pay for the product unless it sells. Your agreement authorizes you to sell the products and transfer ownership to the buyer. You are considered the retailer of the accessories you sell in this way and must pay sales tax based on your retail selling price.

For more information, please see publication 114, Consignment Sales.

You must offer an optional contract cancellation option on used vehicles purchased for less than $40,000, sold for personal use.

This option gives the buyer a right to cancel a purchase and receive a full refund, including amounts charged for sales tax, under specific conditions that must be shown on a separate agreement.

The charge for this option cannot exceed the amount defined by law, based on the cash price of the vehicle, and is not taxable. The price defined by law is in the table below:

Cash price* of vehicle Maximum amount dealer can charge for cancellation option agreement
Up to and including $5,000 $75
$5,000.01 up to and including $10,000 $150
$10,000.01 up to and including $30,000 $250
$30,000.01 but less than $40,000 1% of the purchase price

*Cash price excludes document preparation fees, tax imposed on the sale, pollution control certification fees, prior credit or lease balance on trade-ins, service contract charges, surface protection charges, debt cancellation agreement charges, contract cancellation option agreement charges, registration, transfer, titling, license, and California tire fees.

Buyers must provide you with the following upon cancellation of a contract:

  • A signed statement indicating that the buyer chooses to cancel the purchase of the vehicle.
  • Any restocking fee specified in the contract cancellation option, less the cost the buyer pays for the contract cancellation agreement.
  • All documents originally provided to the buyer from the seller, including the vehicle purchase contract and the original contract cancellation option agreement.
  • All original vehicle title and registration documents.

The vehicle must be returned in the condition in which it was sold, except for normal wear and tear, and must not exceed the maximum mileage stated in the agreement. For more detailed information, please refer to Regulation 1655, Returns, Defects and Replacements or contact the DMV.

Required documentation on cancellation option agreements includes:

  • The names of the seller and buyer, a description of the vehicle purchased, and the VIN number.
  • The time period in which the buyer may cancel the purchase and return the vehicle. This cannot be before the dealer's close of business on the second day after the day the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
  • The maximum number of miles the vehicle may be driven before it is returned under the agreement. This may not be less than 250 miles.
  • The buyer must pay any restocking fees if they cancel the purchase.
  • The specific requirements for returning the vehicle for refund.

You may charge a restocking fee based on the cash price of the vehicle as shown in the table below. This fee is not taxable.

Price of vehicle Maximum restocking fee
$5,000 or less $175
Between $5,000 and $10,000 $350
$10,000 or more $500

Need to know more? Follow the links below for more information about the topics covered in this guide, as well as other information you might find helpful.

Special Notices and Notification Letters

Regulations

Publications and Manuals

Forms

Related Websites

Other Helpful Resources