I currently drive a 2013 Porsche Cayenne Turbo (63k miles, white exterior with cognac/espresso interior, fully loaded). It’s in excellent condition, but I plan to sell it before relocating to California and purchase a newer vehicle (gas car like Wrangler or Bronco) upon arrival.
My wife drives a 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron, which we lease for $499/month. The lease is scheduled to end in October 2025. We are moving from Texas to Northern California next month, and her job will be providing her with a rental car through early August.
The Audi dealer in Texas recently reached out to us with an offer to upgrade into a new lease for a newer model Audi EV. Initially, I had planned to let the current Q4 lease run its course here in Texas, using it only when we return to visit (which we expect to do frequently), rather than renting a car during those trips. Then, upon arriving in California in June, I would lease a new vehicle for myself.
However, I’m now reconsidering. On one hand, I’m tempted to take advantage of the current lease offers in Texas—especially with potential upcoming tariffs on EVs—and just pay to ship the new vehicle to California (approximately $2,000).
The question I’m weighing is:
Should I take the Texas lease deal now and ship the car, or leave the current lease in Texas as planned and lease a new car in California? Open to any other ideas also? Looking to stay under $500 for lease.
What’s the offer? 99% chance it’s just a generic mailer that’s trying to get you to go into the dealership. In your circumstances, I would just get a new lease in California, and avoid the hassle of shipping.
If you are buying it doesn’t matter but if leasing wait till you get to California. Otherwise you are going to get double taxed since California taxes monthly payments and Texas taxes full selling price at lease inception.
And CA registration, roughly 1-1.2% of your MSRP. Adds up… which part of CA are you going to?
Watch out for insurance rates… just giving you a heads-up, adds up very quickly.
High, especially for EV’s. Shop around. At one point, many CA insurers were not even accepting new clients, but it looks like things have opened up again.
If you can legitimately claim both residences, I would bring the Cayenne to NorCal and keep the Q4 in TX and run out the lease there, ground it there, rent as long as her work allows but lease the replacement in CA.
