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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Discussions => Topic started by: dstrat1 on July 10, 2011, 06:17:58 pm

Title: registration fee
Post by: dstrat1 on July 10, 2011, 06:17:58 pm
is my memory going bad, i just got my 2011 reg papers and they want 353.00 in texas.... ..seems it was 195 last year, but cant find my records..what are the rest of you paying for tags?.....
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Michelle on July 10, 2011, 06:28:57 pm
is my memory going bad, i just got my 2011 reg papers and they want 353.00 in texas.... ..seems it was 195 last year, but cant find my records..what are the rest of you paying for tags?.....

I just looked ours up for this year (due in August).  $356.  Last year it was somewhere around $250.  Must have been an increase somewhere along the line.  On a positive note, you can now do a 1, 2, or 3 year renewal.

Michelle
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: J. D. Stevens on July 10, 2011, 08:01:53 pm
... i just got my 2011 reg papers and they want 353.00 in texas....
Austin County, TX
1997 U295 36'
GVWR 30,000#
Empty Wt per registration 24,600#
Gross Wt per registration 24,600#
Registration renewed March, 2011, through March, 2012 $183.90
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: jeff on July 10, 2011, 08:17:12 pm
Sioux Falls, S.D.  $20.00.  ::)
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Dwayne on July 10, 2011, 08:19:21 pm
Florida $72.90
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Bill Willett on July 10, 2011, 08:26:31 pm
Florida DV tag 3 bucks.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Ron & Connie Sedgley on July 10, 2011, 08:53:21 pm
Don't even ask about Georgia. I could have covered all above with GA's registration plus Ad Valorem.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: sam7 on July 10, 2011, 09:22:09 pm
Come to California and pay like I do at $1,465.00 per year. And we are still going broke. Too many give a ways (entitlements).
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Scott Beard on July 10, 2011, 09:35:32 pm
I too suffer with Sam...$1380.00.  You have to love the "Golden State".
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Scott Beard on July 10, 2011, 09:36:38 pm
Sorry Jon.  I didn't look past your handle.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Brad & Christine Slaughter on July 10, 2011, 09:58:14 pm
Did something change?  My 2002 U270 was assessed by weight last year and, since it is over 5 yrs old and about 27,000 lbs, it was $190.  Too bad I had to convert to AZ:  It was $1180 this year for my AZ tags.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: PatC on July 11, 2011, 12:30:48 pm
New York State - 2 years - $164.50 figured by weight.  Tax is paid once, the first time you title it, 8%, and no tax after that.  Have to go thru an annual safety inspection with a fee of $15.00.  And no personal property tax!!  They don't call NYS the land of taxes for nothing  :-X??
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Jerry & Coleen on July 11, 2011, 04:01:04 pm
Good info guys.  I am in the process of deciding where to register my coach.  No sales tax in AZ if the title is passed from owner to owner.  I didn't know the tags were that expensive in AZ.  Texas charges 6.25% now matter how the title is transferred.  But the tages appear to be lower in Texas.  We own property in both states and can register either place.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Michelle on July 11, 2011, 05:39:53 pm
I am in the process of deciding where to register my coach.  No sales tax in AZ if the title is passed from owner to owner.  I didn't know the tags were that expensive in AZ.  Texas charges 6.25% now matter how the title is transferred.  But the tages appear to be lower in Texas.  We own property in both states and can register either place.

Jerry,

Texas charges 6.25% sales tax plus 1% diesel vehicle tax for new registrations, plus apparently a "sales tax fee".  The annual tags (on top of that) are based on empty weight of the coach.  You can do the latter one of two ways - get certified weight from a scale or bring in the info on the weights and measures plate next to the driver's seat (some have used a photo for this).  Ours was originally registered using certified weight of 34,050 lbs, resulting in this year's renewal of $356.

See Pat Hatfield's excellent writeup on establishing Texas domicile for more details  Full-timing - establishing a domicile (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12203.0)

Michelle
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Brad & Christine Slaughter on July 11, 2011, 06:41:33 pm
One side-issue while deciding where to domicile as a full-timer.  A dozen years ago, I was in Livingston, Texas as I started retirement and wanted to ditch the CA plates.  I was all set to register it in Texas when they informed me that my driver's license class was insufficient for TX with a coach over 26,000 lbs. 

They told me I could trade my CA DL for a standard TX DL, then, AFTER a minimum of 3 days to allow me to get into their computer system, THEN I could make an appointment to come down and take a driving test in the coach to get the proper Non-Commercial license.  In other words, go ahead and drive it down with the wrong class of license.  I wasn't too keen on what would happen to my insurance if I drove it there with the wrong class of license.  I also never had my ex-wife behind the wheel, and didn't want her to have the stress of a Trooper beside her that early in her driving career. 

Then I got on the internet and learned about South Dakota.  No weight issues on a regular license, no annual inspections, no income tax, and no big license fees.  It was a no-brainer and I headed North to SD.  Easy renewals, easy to maintain a legal residence, and if you buy something else in the way of a motor vehicle, you pay 3% sales tax (on the difference between purchase price and trade-in).

Choosing a state of residence is a complicated issue with a lot of issues to consider.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: amos.harrison on July 11, 2011, 06:51:19 pm
$219.80 on 12/10/10 for my Texas Registration.  Something's wrong with your bill!
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Michelle on July 11, 2011, 07:04:15 pm
$219.80 on 12/10/10 for my Texas Registration.  Something's wrong with your bill!

Research shows a fee increase was pushed through, apparently effective with August renewals.  Here's one example.

Vehicle Registration (http://www.wilco.org/CountyDepartments/TaxAssessorCollector/MotorVehicleDivision/Registration/tabid/1913/language/en-US/Default.aspx)

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to push Texas lawmakers to consider fee hike to pay for (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20110123-lt.-gov.-david-dewhurst-to-push-texas-lawmakers-to-consider-fee-hike-to-pay-for-roads.ece)

Michelle

Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Keith and Joyce on July 12, 2011, 11:46:55 am
Illinois $102

Keith
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: The Wingers on August 10, 2011, 02:25:03 pm
Arizonato and one of the Dekodas (I think South but I am not sure) will allow you register your RV in that state and still live in yours.  We registerd our RV in AZ and we pay $50/yr for tags.  We live in California and the renewal is mailed to us here.  Contact KC Auto Title Service at 520 622-1213 and speak to Susan Drake (she is the most Knowledgeable).
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Jerry Galliart on August 10, 2011, 08:10:52 pm

Arizona vehicle registration $404.97 for a 1995 U320se 40'
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on August 10, 2011, 09:54:12 pm
California 2010-2011 was $181 for '93 U300/36
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Dave M (RIP) on August 11, 2011, 06:47:27 am
Virginia has a little different way of charging for a RV, the cost of the actual tag is about $45.00, however the personal property tax on my 10 year old is in the $5k range.

So I wonder what other states have for the  bottom line on cost to own a motor home ?

You can regester your coach in another state, but you are always looking over your shoulder and jump through hoops to keep out of trouble from your local govt at home.

Maybe if / when I retire, have no business to write it off, I will take a closer look at my options.

No such thing as FREE in Virginia.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: John S on August 11, 2011, 07:29:08 am
I am with Dave on this one. My two motorhomes and my cars cost  11,0000 a year.
Not really happy with virginia as to why they allow that wish they would repeal it. Means, i stick with old vehicles. There loss really. 

Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: txforetravel on August 11, 2011, 09:14:09 am
Our Texas registration for the '02 42ft was $352 this year.  Interesting that it was cheaper than Steve and Michelle's.  Must be due to different counties we register in. 

Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Michelle on August 11, 2011, 09:36:43 am
Our Texas registration for the '02 42ft was $352 this year.  Interesting that it was cheaper than Steve and Michelle's.  Must be due to different counties we register in.

The $356 includes the cost of using txonline.com to register.  My actual registration receipt shows $354.50, which is

Windshield sticker - $340
Reg Fee-DPS - $1
CNTY Road Bridge Add-on Fee - $10
Child Safety Fund - $1.50
Automation Fee - $1
Mail-in Fee - $1

Our original registration of the coach used actual certified scale weights done at the time of purchase so is based on 34,800.  Our VIN/weight plate shows 33,350 as the UVW of the coach (back in 2004 we didn't know using the plate info was an option; we were told to get a receipt from certified scales).  I guess I could always try requesting a revision and get it reduced a couple of bucks a year. 

Michelle
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: txforetravel on August 11, 2011, 09:51:28 am
Those couple of bucks savings could mean another glass of vino! 
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Dan Stansel on August 11, 2011, 09:59:14 am
My plates, license, and registration is all based on my home address.  I pay my taxes to the great state of Texas.  I see people with Montana or New Mexico plates not sure where their tow is from or their insurance.  May not matter.  DAN
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Paul Smith on August 11, 2011, 10:29:18 am
We own property in CA and our U320 and Honda are registered in CA.

I would not dare to go the South Dakota route as the financial risk is too great if CA ever found out I used South Dakota to avoid use tax and registration fees.

best, paul
Quote
My plates, license, and registration is all based on my home address. I pay my taxes to the great state of Texas. I see people with Montana or New Mexico plates not sure where their tow is from or their insurance. May not matter. DAN
Title: Registration in Texas
Post by: David Bethard on December 01, 2011, 07:47:52 pm
 I renewed my registration in Texas last week. Last year I paid $167 on a 95 U320, this year $352 on a 2003 U320. I checked and the 95 would have cost the same $352.

Tax office told me the fee structure was changed by our legislators effective last September. Used to be based on weight incremented every 100 pounds, now weight is broken into 7 brackets.

If you're registered in Texas and haven't had to register your coach since September you may be in for a surprise. No new taxes but they can sure raise fees.

David Bethard
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: PatC on December 02, 2011, 11:05:18 am
In VA , a goodly number of big rig trucks have Maine tags .Don't know about that wrinkle ,but it's been going on for many , many years .
It is only the trailers being pulled by the big rigs.  And here is the reason:  "There are more trailers registered in Maine than any other state (except California - and that requires it's own explanation) and that's been true for over 40 years?

It's very simple - the cost to register is very low versus most states and, most often, no sales taxes are due. For instance a 5 year plate costs $90. If a title is required, that is only $45."
Frequently Asked Questions for Maine Trailer Registrations - (http://www.mainetrailerregistrations.com/faq)
But they don't do motorhomes at those low prices.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Don Hay on December 02, 2011, 11:20:28 am
Ouch! My registration comes due in April. Have been paying around $180. I never heard about the change in fee structure. That will hurt.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Jimmy Freytag on December 02, 2011, 08:18:58 pm
Hey Don, come on up to Oklahoma, I just got my new tag only $42.50.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Jerry Steele on December 02, 2011, 09:42:24 pm
Texas also doubled their whisky tax in August.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: spoiled122843 on December 02, 2011, 11:35:07 pm
Just got my 93 GV tag and it was $21.00 plus $1 to look at the insurance verification and $1 to mail it.  I think it has bottomed out in Oklahoma.
Title: Re: registration fee
Post by: Chad and Judy on December 03, 2011, 08:04:43 am
Quote
[Texas also doubled their whisky tax in August.]

Still a tad better than the TLCB (Texas Liquor Control Board) and bottle-clubs, which is the Texas I lived in during the late 60's.