Car buyers wary of future tax increase

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (Aug. 8, 2011) — The San Bernardino Auto Mall is experiencing a rush of customers as car buyers hurry to purchase new cars while the state’s vehicle tax is at a historical low rate, according to Cliff Cummings, owner of  the Toyota of San Bernardino, Mitsubishi of San Bernardino, Subaru of San Bernardino and the I-10 Toyota dealerships.

Vehicle licensing fees were reduced from 1.15 percent to 0.65 percent when the temporary additional vehicle license tax expired at the end of June.  This was one of  the popular steps Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took when he came into office.

As the budget battles go on in Sacramento, it is expected that the vehicle tax will rise again to help cover budget shortfalls. Cummings said many customers are trying to purchase vehicles before they are hit with increased licensing fees.   “People are hurrying to buy now because they anticipate it will be more expensive in the future,” he said. “Now is a great time to get a good deal on a new or used vehicle, while the car tax is still low.”

The San Bernardino Auto Mall is home to the local Toyota/Scion, Mitsubishi and Subaru dealerships.

“We have a great selection of vehicles available, including the Toyota Prius, which is a perfect choice for people who want to save money on gas,” Cummings said. “The Prius is one of Toyota’s most popular models. This fall we are expecting the Prius V, a SUV-like car that is geared towards families.”

Cummings also said that Toyota is also expecting new selections of several popular models such as the Camry and the Tacoma in the next few months.

About Toyota of San Bernardino

Toyota of San Bernardino provides a wide range of Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles to customers in the Inland Empire. The service department is staffed by courteous factory-trained and ASE-certified mechanics. Toyota of San Bernardino’s service department utilizes state-of-the-art diagnostic machines, computerized equipment and a well-stocked parts department to get the maximum performance out of vehicles. For more information about Toyota of San Bernardino call 909.381.4444, go to www.toyotasb.com, or follow them on Facebook.