Paso Robles city councilman bought and registered his car in Idaho. Is that legal?
Paso Robles City Councilman Steve Gregory has drawn attention around town for driving a car with Idaho license plates.
Is that legal, or is he required to register it in California? The Tribune looked into the question as part of its Reality Check series.
Gregory bought the car in Idaho in January 2024, after selling his previous vehicle to his son, he told The Tribune. Gregory owns a property in Idaho and considers it a permanent residence, though he regularly travels back and forth between his homes in Idaho and in California.
According to Gregory, who is running for re-election to his City Council seat in District 3, he was told by officials at his local Idaho Department of Motor Vehicles office that he could register his car there as long as he could verify his address, proving a permanent residence in Idaho.
Gregory’s intent was to leave the car in Idaho, but after he rented out a portion of his residence, he no longer had a place to safely park the vehicle, he told The Tribune.
The car was last in Idaho in August, he said.
According to Idaho Transportation Department spokesman John Tomlinson, an individual can register their car in Idaho when they establish residency, or within 30 days of establishing their “principal home.”
Idaho law defines a principal home as “that home or place in which his habitation is fixed and to which a person, whenever he is absent, has the present intention of returning after a departure or absence therefrom, regardless of the duration of absence.”
New residents must register their car in Idaho within 90 days of establishing residency, according to the Transportation Department, but can declare residency “at any time earlier, and vehicles may be titled and registered at that time.”
But California law does not recognize Idaho law, Gregory told The Tribune.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles website, an individual should register their car within 20 days of becoming a resident of California. There are no specific rules laid out on the website regarding individuals who split their time between two states.
DMV officials told The Tribune that all vehicles based or primarily used in California are required to be registered in the state. A person is typically considered a resident if they live in California for more than six months in a year, and are not visiting.
California also considers someone a resident if they hold a California driver’s license, are registered to vote in California or work in California, among other qualifiers.
Gregory says his intent in registering his car in Idaho was not to avoid high taxes or fees, he told The Tribune.
“Absolutely not,” he responded.
Eventually, Gregory plans on driving his car back to Idaho, where he’ll leave it to have the car available when he returns to his residence there.
But for now, Gregory told The Tribune, he has initiated the process to re-register his car in California to “do the right thing.”
He had an appointment scheduled at the DMV on Oct. 25.
This story was originally published October 28, 2024 at 10:29 AM.
CORRECTION: This story was updated on Oct. 30 at 9 a.m. with comment from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
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