Just friendly reminder for anyone unlucky enough to register cars in California. I got my renewal fee for my M4. It always comes 2 or 3 months before it is due, so I put it in my desk and, you guessed it, just found it today. Paid the bill online, but a $550 registration turned into $881, a month late. Reminder to all. Pay the bill when you get it. I need a glass of wine now!
Jim

 

Yearly registration in WI. Under $100, even with my personalized plates

5.6% sales tax too

 

You don't need to pay the late fee actually

Just look for an affidavit on dmv and tell them you didn't get the bill. Dmv told me this trick

 

Are you kidding me? Oh how I wished I had posted before paying!
J

 

Much of what we pay as "registration fee" here in the People's Republic of California is actually a property tax that is deductible from our ridiculously high state income tax.

 

Gotcha. Home real estate taxes are a deduction on our taxes as well.

CA is ridiculous. From what I read the east coast is crazy too. Lived in NY for a short time.

FL and TX seem like one of the better options overall for overall lower taxes.

 

So you're going to lie on an official government document?

Yes, the late fee is stupidly exorbitant and unnecessary, but the OP screwed up, and when that happens, you pay the price.

unfortunate reminder.

 

I just registered mine in Colorado... $1,465.....

 

OUCH

 

TTL fees in WA State depending on county...10-12%

 

DMV, taxes, etc., just an idea but here is a generalization of a loophole with lots of specifics that I will skip. Establish an LLC (S or C) selling widgets in a low tax state (that is not your own). The LLC buys the car (registered, titled, tagged in that state). You drive the car in your own state while paying the fees etc., in the state it is registered. This is probably just on the right side of being legal, and then you have to figure out insurance. I am not sure how much money you end up saving but it is an option. I think that really wealthy people with lots of high priced cars do this as a tax minimization practice.

 

I see a lot of exotic cars here with Montana plates for this reason.

 

Just buy a new car in Nevada and move to California. When you go to register your new car in California they will want the difference in tax that you did not pay in Nevada which was 0%. Just hope you did not purchase a $100K+ or more car. You could be paying $10K and beyond for privilege of California plates.

 

WA State is wise to this scheme & whether technically legal or not, you will spend significant legal costs trying to explain it to a judge.

It's a revenue thing.

Also speaking of license plates (front), meter maids in nearly all WA metro areas will give you an expensive love note
if the front plate is absent.

 

I'm sure it's legal and a good tax consultant would probably recommend it. Another example of how our current tax system is beyond repair.