Hawth0rn

Hi Everyone

I have purchased a car for when I arrive in the US off someone returning to the UK. I was wondering apart for Insurance and breakdown cover what other costs are involved. E.g are there any registration costs or something similar to road tax?

Thanks for the help.

Regards
Joanne

Mummy in the foothills

Yes there is registration to get the stickie tags that go on the rear license plate.
If you go to the states DMV website you can read more.
Also you pay sales tax here.

Bob

What's the State?

Usually, you'll have to pay sales tax on the car purchase.

You then pay the cost of registering the car, anything from $50-100 a year and either done annually or every other year. This is usually the sticker that goes on the plate, but goes on the window in Texas, and can be transferable in some states but not in others. This is the equivalent to road tax.

There's usually a cost for getting a set of plates made, anything from $20-100.

There's usually a town excise tax paid annually, it's $25 per every $1000 that the town values your car, in mint blue book fashion in this state.

There's usually a annual inspection done at most garages, ranges from $13-50 depending on the state. Not all states have this. Sometimes this is transferable, some times it is not, the level of standard needed to pass can range massively depending on the state. This is the MOT.

If the car is over a certain number of years, the insurance company might want you to get the car inspected by certain assessors who'll take photo's of any dings and what not so you can't claim those in future accident claims, this shouldn't cost you anything.

fatbrit

It's a little bit more in some states. Like 5x or so!

ljaw2002uk

In our state its: $47 to register it in your name (equivalent to completing the V5 in the UK), then sales tax (depends on the value and age of the car, over 10 years old its a flat fee of $10) we don't mess with the plates, and the tabs transfer over to the new owner and are valid for a year ($35 to renew for a year).

So here it's under $100.

robin1234

I think town excise tax is just a Massachusetts thing, isn't it?

Bob

We had it up in Maine too, but it was about $20 or something really cheap in total

Oh yeah and there's a fee for getting a new title made out in your name or the lien holder if there's a loan on the car.