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CA
Moving to California
Once you live here, you typically have 10 days to get a driver license and 20 days to title your car.
Taxes and housing
| State income tax | 1%–12.3%, plus 1% over $1M (13.3% top) |
|---|---|
| Average sales tax (state + local) | 8.99% |
| Average property tax (real estate) | 0.76% effective |
| Personal property tax (vehicles) | Yes — 0.65% effective. Vehicle license fee of 0.65% of value (not a county PPT) |
| Median home value | $778,217 |
Car title and license
| Tax on buying/titling a car | 7.25% |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $23.00 |
| Registration (base) | $70.00 |
| Car inspection | Smog check in most counties |
| Nurse license from another state | Usually need a new state license |
Parks and people
| State parks | 280 |
|---|---|
| National parks | 9 |
| Population | 39,345,844 |
| Population density | 253.0 per sq mi |
| Demographics | 34.3% White (non-Hispanic) 40.2% Hispanic 5.4% Black 15.5% Asian |
| Violent crime | 486.0 per 100,000 |
Estimated income tax in California
Uses 2026 single-filer tax brackets (top listed rate 13.3%) after a per-dependent exemption. Not your actual tax bill.
Estimate car title cost in California
Uses this state’s title fee, plate, base registration, and 7.25% tax. County extras are not included.
Pick an origin or destination to open a pair page with deadlines and fee estimates for that specific move.
I am moving to California
I am leaving California
Your to-do list in California
- Get a CA driver license within 10 days. Bring your current license, Social Security number, and two proofs you live in California.
- Title and register the car within 20 days. Inspection: Smog check in most counties.
- Make sure car insurance meets 15/30/5.
- Register to vote. California elections site.
- Nurse license: California is not in the nurse compact. Plan on a new CA RN application — a compact license typically does not carry over.
Get a driver license10days after you become a resident
Title your car20days
Register to vote15days before an election (typical)
Moving from California
Open a pair page with deadlines and fee estimates for a move from California to any other state.
CA → ALCalifornia to AlabamaCA → AKCalifornia to AlaskaCA → AZCalifornia to ArizonaCA → ARCalifornia to ArkansasCA → COCalifornia to ColoradoCA → CTCalifornia to ConnecticutCA → DECalifornia to DelawareCA → DCCalifornia to District of ColumbiaCA → FLCalifornia to FloridaCA → GACalifornia to GeorgiaCA → HICalifornia to HawaiiCA → IDCalifornia to IdahoCA → ILCalifornia to IllinoisCA → INCalifornia to IndianaCA → IACalifornia to IowaCA → KSCalifornia to KansasCA → KYCalifornia to KentuckyCA → LACalifornia to LouisianaCA → MECalifornia to MaineCA → MDCalifornia to MarylandCA → MACalifornia to MassachusettsCA → MICalifornia to MichiganCA → MNCalifornia to MinnesotaCA → MSCalifornia to MississippiCA → MOCalifornia to MissouriCA → MTCalifornia to MontanaCA → NECalifornia to NebraskaCA → NVCalifornia to NevadaCA → NHCalifornia to New HampshireCA → NJCalifornia to New JerseyCA → NMCalifornia to New MexicoCA → NYCalifornia to New YorkCA → NCCalifornia to North CarolinaCA → NDCalifornia to North DakotaCA → OHCalifornia to OhioCA → OKCalifornia to OklahomaCA → ORCalifornia to OregonCA → PACalifornia to PennsylvaniaCA → RICalifornia to Rhode IslandCA → SCCalifornia to South CarolinaCA → SDCalifornia to South DakotaCA → TNCalifornia to TennesseeCA → TXCalifornia to TexasCA → UTCalifornia to UtahCA → VTCalifornia to VermontCA → VACalifornia to VirginiaCA → WACalifornia to WashingtonCA → WVCalifornia to West VirginiaCA → WICalifornia to WisconsinCA → WYCalifornia to Wyoming
Moving to California
Open a pair page with deadlines and fee estimates for a move to California from any other state.
AL → CAAlabama to CaliforniaAK → CAAlaska to CaliforniaAZ → CAArizona to CaliforniaAR → CAArkansas to CaliforniaCO → CAColorado to CaliforniaCT → CAConnecticut to CaliforniaDE → CADelaware to CaliforniaDC → CADistrict of Columbia to CaliforniaFL → CAFlorida to CaliforniaGA → CAGeorgia to CaliforniaHI → CAHawaii to CaliforniaID → CAIdaho to CaliforniaIL → CAIllinois to CaliforniaIN → CAIndiana to CaliforniaIA → CAIowa to CaliforniaKS → CAKansas to CaliforniaKY → CAKentucky to CaliforniaLA → CALouisiana to CaliforniaME → CAMaine to CaliforniaMD → CAMaryland to CaliforniaMA → CAMassachusetts to CaliforniaMI → CAMichigan to CaliforniaMN → CAMinnesota to CaliforniaMS → CAMississippi to CaliforniaMO → CAMissouri to CaliforniaMT → CAMontana to CaliforniaNE → CANebraska to CaliforniaNV → CANevada to CaliforniaNH → CANew Hampshire to CaliforniaNJ → CANew Jersey to CaliforniaNM → CANew Mexico to CaliforniaNY → CANew York to CaliforniaNC → CANorth Carolina to CaliforniaND → CANorth Dakota to CaliforniaOH → CAOhio to CaliforniaOK → CAOklahoma to CaliforniaOR → CAOregon to CaliforniaPA → CAPennsylvania to CaliforniaRI → CARhode Island to CaliforniaSC → CASouth Carolina to CaliforniaSD → CASouth Dakota to CaliforniaTN → CATennessee to CaliforniaTX → CATexas to CaliforniaUT → CAUtah to CaliforniaVT → CAVermont to CaliforniaVA → CAVirginia to CaliforniaWA → CAWashington to CaliforniaWV → CAWest Virginia to CaliforniaWI → CAWisconsin to CaliforniaWY → CAWyoming to California