I bought a "Totaled/Reconstructed" (says so right on the title) '95 Mazda Miata for my daughter this summer. I paid 5,000 for the car. When I went to license it, I was told that, in order to pay tax on the ACTUAL PURCHASE PRICE of $5,000, I'd either need to go to a Mazda dealership and have them put in writing, on their letterhead, that the car has only a $5,000 "fair market value" OR I could argue my case to the Department of Revenue.

I went to the Mazda dealership, which did as I asked, no problem-no hassle.

Sooooo.....

I recently looked at the registration for this car... Guess what the "Value Code" section says???

"$17,500"!!!! Guess what I paid for the licensing? (And would continue to pay year after year if I-695 hadn't passed)???

Let's see:

"Use Tax" - $385.00 Based on the DMV "Value Code" of $17,500 "Excise Tax" - 253.00 Based on... ??? "Other" - 53.10 What the Hell is THIS??? "Filing Fee" - 7.50 Ok, I can live with this, I suppose "Subagent Fee"- 7.50 Huh??? Ok, whatever... "Total Fees" - $706.10

Sure am glad we voted to end this madness.

Oh, and BTW - I spoke to my Mother last night. Her car is so old that her tabs will actually go UP 65 cents in 2000. She laughed when she told me this, and assured me that it was ok with her as I was planning to move to Oregon if it hadn't, and she didn't want me to.

-- Diane (SSSTANG@aol.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

Oh my GAWD... I thought I was getting screwed on my 97 Olds (at 850 dollars). But over 700 for a MIATA??

For me.. I'm taking the chance on getting a ticket and waiting until Jan 3 to renew my car (which as Dec tabs on it). My understanding from police officer friends of mine is that they can't pull you over for *just* having expired tabs. It has to be something else and *then* they can site you for the tabs. I'll just be a good boy for a few days and borrow a car from my Dad.. :) Besides, what happens.. the WaSP's give me a 75 dollar ticket and then I pay another 30 bucks to the DOL? By my calculations I'm still ahead...

-- David Orriss Jr (davidorrissjr@hotmail.com), November 04, 1999.

WARNING: The police CAN AND WILL pull you over just for driving with expired tabs! Between now and the end of the year, the police will be stopping any and all vehicles with expired tabs! Be careful out there!

Stay legal... either buy your tabs now, or find other means of transportation (walk, bike, bus, taxi, etc...) and DO NOT drive your car with expired tabs to the licensing agent or DOL. The cops will have these places staked out on January 3rd.

One more thing to note: a "driving with expired tabs" ticket is classified as a moving violation and could impact your car insurance rates. Whether you know it or not, your insurance carrier runs a Motor Vehicle Record check every couple of years.

-- just a guy (torijosh@yahoo.com), November 04, 1999.