I believe CA charges the difference in sales tax rates from the other state, but only if the car is brought into the state for registration within a certain number of days from the out-of-state purchase date.
Most states also have add a penalty if you don't register the car in their state within a certain number of days from when you bring it into the state. The trick is to remember that the date you "bring" the car into the state must be after the sales-tax add-on, but before the penalty date for late registration.
It can be done. I did it more than once when I purchased a car outside of California, and then moved it into the state.
"have add" = "add"
Thanks, glad to have seen this post.. Not glad for R/Field.