buying a HARLEY when DEPLOY

[hk-p2000]

AAFES has outlets just about everywhere overseas that you can buy Harley, Ford, Chrysler and Chevrolet products. I think you have to be on orders for at least 90 days, not sure though. You can order exactly what you want from the models they have available, and the pricing is pretty good. You choose the delivery dealer back home and pay taxes and dealer charges when you pick it up - so don't forget to factor that in. It's basically like ordering at the dealer except you'll probably get a little bit better deal.

Thanks for the info. and yes I was expecting that on taxes and delivery.

[todd2968]

I bought my Dodge Dakota that way. If you want to tag and title it you have to pony up the taxes for the sale price, but all and all it is a good deal. I probably saved over $4-5000.
I know people who bough Harleys there they custom ordered what ever they wanted and sent it to the dealer of their choice, for tax titile and registration.
If your not a Ca resident you can send it to your home of record if you wish.

[Sixtigers]

I bought my Fat Boy while I was deployed in the Gulf (Navy). AAFES had people right there on the carrier, selling all sorts of cars and Harleys. You arranged for your down payment (you could be making allotments for the down payment while you were there), they helped arranged financing, and then worked with your schedule to determine where you were going to pick up the vehicle when you returned to the world.

In 2004 I was going to buy a 2005 Fat Boy, but they offered me $1500 off if I took a brand new 2004, which I did. I put down $7500 (I was in the Gulf for a while), and with maximum warranty (at that time, 3 years--now it's 5), I saved almost $3400. That's actual price difference for a 2004 Harley Fat Boy in California (Chula Vista HD, to be exact, where I picked mine up) over what I paid for mine in the Gulf. It ended up being a good deal. If you're going to buy a new Harley from the dealership anyway, it's by far the best way to go.

Good luck, and stay safe.

[metalliman545]

theres a rep in kuwait. they dont like have them in stock its usually a trailer looking thing they sell trucks cars and bikes. its tax free as long as you pay it off while over seas from my understanding. and you can PICK IT UP when you get back to the states. and the whole 7500 miles thing is a lie! lol. i bought my FXCWC in georgia, and had it shipped back to cali before we deployed, it only had 3k on it. theres a reg in the DMV book that says if you bought the bike (vehicle) while stationed outside of california then you are good to go. it was a hassle because i didnt have all 3 emission stickers so i had to the dmv, chp back to dmv, n then get it registerd, just tell em you want to pick up the bike in california and itll save the hassle, registering an 09 out of state rocker cost me 400$

[todd2968]

To register it in a state you have to pay that states sales tax.

[xLusi0n]

I bought a car through the program. At the time it was a good deal because the economy was good and no one was realling willing to deal too much below MSRP.

Now with the economy in the ****, a lot of dealers are much more willing to deal and I think the price I paid is comparible to what dealers can go down to.

Point is, do some serious shopping stateside (meaning go in and haggle to find out what their bottomline is) then compare it to the overseas military sales program to see what's cheaper.

If you live in CA, you'll have to pay CA state sales tax to register it.

[desertram800]

On the way back, in Kuwait at the wts they have the affees office where you can buy from Harley, Chrysler, ford, and a few others. I believe the so called heartbeat of america withdrew from the program. You will save a bunch of money, no taxes, except state, and sometimes substantial savings on top of that. You're pretty much ordering direct from the factory, that means you can have it made with whatever options you want, then you decide which dealership they will deliver it to, and when. Seriously though, I almost bought a brand new Harley through them, but with the economy now, and the large number of weekend warriors out there, you can buy a barely used Harley for thousands less than a brand new one. I bought mine for $8000 and it has a msrp of around $15000 and it had under 6k on the ticker.

[INJUNTOM]

Without being a California model, it must have 7500 miles on it before it can be imported.

Not sure if it's the same way now, but it used to be that the law didn't apply to military personnel

the problem you're going to have, in addition to shipping it home

Not sure the exact specifics, but I believe that the military will ship your vehicle at no cost? I have a customer that brought his beat up and rusted out '96 Explorer back from Hawaii when he got out of the Navy. Very strange seeing a vehicle running around town with hawaii plates..

[KALIDAWG8996]

When buying a vehicle overseas through duty free, research, research, research.....shop around through the distributors. Get as many quotes as possible.

Whether through G.M., FORD, OR Harley, it may be tax free but beware of the sticker price.

I was contemplating on getting a Focus duty free while overseas until I compared and even with tax free found a better deal here in the states.