alt Hacker News> You're technically correct, but a dealership is one of the most highly taxed entities in California. In any city or county, a dealership, dollar for dollar, pays one of the highest taxes than any business there.
That's true for most dealerships, but most of the taxes are transaction based (probably some for property tax on inventory though). If you have a sham dealership that primarily exists so you can have dealer plates and to massage transactions on your personal vehicles, you can probably avoid a lot of taxes.
Not my style, I just left the state when I was tired of everything. I'm happier where I landed, but if people want to live in California and use out of state plates, that's less people where I am, so go nuts.
> probably some for property tax on inventory though
Most dealerships in the last three decades have not owned their own inventory for a long time. Trade-ins are held by dealerships in a manner very different than just "owning" them outright. These are all financed, leveraged deals.
> If you have a sham dealership that primarily exists so you can have dealer plates and to massage transactions on your personal vehicles, you can probably avoid a lot of taxes
I would imagine you have not worked at a dealership or don't own one, so let's not continue this discussion further because you are severely underestimating what it costs in California (both in time and money) to be a dealer.
> I'm happier where I landed, but if people want to live in California and use out of state plates, that's less people where I am, so go nuts
It's actually great to talk to a transplant because most of my relatives and friends have moved to other states, whereas I've stood steadfast.
Are you happy where you are? What made you be in California? Did you grow up here? Was it for work?
Would you come back if California was split into two, where one part of California was closer politically or regulatory to Texas or Florida?