What an in-transit permit actually is

In-transit permit is not a single national document. The permit described here is California’s specialized Foreign Resident In-Transit Permit, REG 34, for a qualifying foreign visitor buying a new American-made automobile or motorcycle. It is not the general answer for a resident moving a used car between states. California DMV section 25.015.

DMV describes up to 30 days of California operation without California registration fees or sales tax under this program. The visitor must have arranged the California purchase before entering the United States and provide passport or visa evidence of foreign residency. These conditions matter as much as the permit’s name. Eligibility conditions.

The vehicle must leave the United States or be delivered to a carrier before the permit expires. DMV says the permit fee is not refunded if the visitor fails to buy or collect the vehicle. The retailer and buyer need to establish that the purchase and export arrangements qualify; the permit should not be treated as a blanket sales-tax exemption for every foreign buyer. Export and refund conditions.

DMV’s current fee appendix lists $60 for this permit. That is the permit fee alone, not an estimate of purchase, shipping, insurance, import or destination-country costs. California permit-fee schedule.

If this program does not fit the purchase, identify the permit that does before moving the car. California TOP and one-day moving-permit categories have their own registration and movement conditions. TOP categories; One-day moving permits. Sharing the word temporary does not make the documents interchangeable.