Registration fees - California

[chief]

The problem with CHANGE is, it isn't always change for the better!

[John Hopkins]

Our biggest problem with public transport is that although it might run to most places it will only run when there are a lot of people needing it..I had a suspected heart attack a few years ago and was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital 30 miles away..to get back I had to hitch a lift to the nearest town then catch two buses to where I had parked and ride the last five miles..It took over 4 hours to travel the 30 miles..Now imagine if I had to do that to get to and from work on three shifts..

John.

[chief]

No. I did the repairs myself, the mechanic who did the MOT was very good at explaining exactly what was required. The VAT is a rip-off everywhere its been enacted... we (USA) have fought it here for decades.

I lived in Scotland and  England, about 15 years apart. The mass transit was very good... if you include taxi's... not a real problem at night since the only things open were the pubs and they had to close at 10pm and 11pm back then. Plus in the small villages you could walk to most places. I worked 7 miles from my house... so I often rode my 10 speed. I did have my Triumph GT6 as well.
I was always surprised by the cost of things... if it cost 10 bucks in the USA, it cost 10 pounds in Scotland... and a pound was worth between $1.50+ during that period.
But things change, sounds like fuel is up and mass transit has gone downhill... the working stiff always loses.

[John Hopkins]

Unless things have REALLY changed since I lived there, the annual MOT is VERY extensive. My almost new Triumph (from USA) didn't pass the first time. You pay $155 a year... plus whatever repairs the MOT requires... NOT FREE!!!     I don't think the UK ever met a tax they didn't like... but its not as bad as some other EU countries. Gasoline has always been about 2-3 times what it is in the USA... and it has little to do with supply and demand.  Its a good thing mass transit, taxi/bus/train/ferry, is so good there... and likely why its good.

I don't know when you were here but yes the MOT gets more extensive every year, the inspection and certificate cost is about £30 so about $45, you can do your own repairs and the retest is usually free..but with an American accent in one of the cities you were probably ripped off..Our bus service is good during daylight hours in the cities but pretty non-existant in the small towns and villages and if you work three shifts there just isn't any public transport to get you to work and home, you have to own a car or bike..

About half the cars are Diesel powered but we pay even more for diesel fuel and yes we do farm rape seed for oil but biodiesel costs as much as dino diesel due to government taxes..Some years ago someone discovered that they could run a diesel engine off cooking oil which was half the price of dino diesel so the government bought out a new law with heavy fines for anyone caught using it..Then cooking oil prices increased almost overnight to the same price as dino diesel so they no longer police the new law...

And yes they even tax our taxes, they call it value added tax and it is 20% on top of everything sold, this is what we call a hidden tax because it doesn't always show on the receipt (it's just included in the total) unless you ask for a VAT receipt.

In TN, I pay about $30 for my bike tags (custom), no inspections, no insurance requirements for tags. Yes, there is a State insurance requirement, but its not tied to tags... Now in MA you can't get a tag without proof of insurance, and they specify the limits etc. So it varies by State.

[DC]

Some states like VA have a personal property tax that you also pay annually, based on the trade-in value of the vehicle.  $4.57 per $100 !

[chief]

Unless things have REALLY changed since I lived there, the annual MOT is VERY extensive. My almost new Triumph (from USA) didn't pass the first time. You pay $155 a year... plus whatever repairs the MOT requires... NOT FREE!!!     I don't think the UK ever met a tax they didn't like... but its not as bad as some other EU countries. Gasoline has always been about 2-3 times what it is in the USA... and it has little to do with supply and demand.  Its a good thing mass transit, taxi/bus/train/ferry, is so good there... and likely why its good.

In TN, I pay about $30 for my bike tags (custom), no inspections, no insurance requirements for tags. Yes, there is a State insurance requirement, but its not tied to tags... Now in MA you can't get a tag without proof of insurance, and they specify the limits etc. So it varies by State.

[ChilliDrift]

Are the bulk of the new cars in the UK running gas? What is going on with the diesels? What are the percentage of new car models that are gas compared  to diesels. Is farming for bio diesel becommming popular?

[John Hopkins]

Registration is free in Britain..

We pay a yearly roadworthyness test (MOT) fee of about $45, a yearly road tax fee of about $110 and of course insurance, it is illegal to ride without insurance and you have to present the certificate before you can buy the road tax..

Buying or selling a vehicle is free of charges for registration but if you import a vehicle from another country the first registration costs about $40.

Our fuel costs more than yours because there is a tax of over 65%. Gas is currently $9.75 per UK gallon.

John.

[Troll]

    Somehow, I would suspect that a nominal inspection fee to be sure the vehicle is road worthy, and a title search to be sure it's legal seem reasonable, but as to how much, that's a question you might need to research. http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr13.htm
Field services in various states may or may not know what they are talking about depending on who you ask....

[Anti-hero]

Yea the title or whatever says salvaged are they allowed to fee me if it's salvaged?

[Anti-hero]

State of California

[Troll]

What state (besides confusion) are you in? Every one has a different game. There is a big difference between salvage, reconstructed and home made...

[Anti-hero]

So I bought my drifter salvaged two years ago and slowly put It back together now I'm ready to register it. DMV charges me 700 bux but waived it to 300 not a bad deal I guess but a tech at the DMV said they couldn't charge me if it's salvaged now I'm sorta confused. Any help or suggestions? By the way it's my first bike or vehicle owned, bought, fixed, etc.
Any suggestions? Thanks much appreciated?