Ride On

Greetings to all California Corvette friends

It's been over 20 years since I lived in Cali, and that was before the internet was much help with info. Now I'm moving to Ventura area in May after having been working for the Army overseas for the last 3 years.

I sold my current '07 Vette instead of paying 3k to ship it, and am looking to buy a new Vette in SoCal. Well, maybe not "neeuuww".

I happened to use the CA DMV Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator, and all I got to say is What the Heck is Going ON? Can anyone help explain some of this?

Next is a sample.
[Source: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/wasapp/FeeCal...ehicleFees.do]

Questions:

I'm all about doing my part to help society, but...
1. What are these 3 rows and WHY WOULD I PAY THEM? Penalites?

Current Registration Penalty: 10.00
CHP Penalty: 10.00
Current Vehicle License Fee Penalty: 28.00

Seriously, CA expects me to pay somebody else's penalties to buy their car [this car is on a dealer lot]?

For many cars I got this result:OK, thanks for wasting my time, DMV. [??]

Then...here's another which is actually for a Mercedes. What's all this Prior Year crap? It looks like whoever buys the car is expected to catch up all the Registration fees since it was last registered, which in the case of this car looks like it hasn't been registered since 2012. Certainly there's a better explanation??

Prior Penalites?? I didn't buy the car yet!?

In the immortal words of forum member PLRX:
[https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ic-2016-a.html LOL]

wow just wow



If you read this far, any advice or info on avoiding the traps in buying a Vette in CA is greatly appreciated...maybe it's better to buy out-of-state?


======================================
Transaction Date: April 30, 2016
Type of Calculation: Used Vehicle Purchase
Vehicle License Number: 6FCC582
Vehicle Identification Number: WDBSK70F59F156673
Type of Vehicle: Automobile
Model Year: 2009
Make of Vehicle: MERZ
Motive Power: Gas
Acquired From: Purchase
Acquired/Purchase Date: April 21, 2016
Purchase Price: $42,000.00
County: Ventura
Zip Code: 93013
Registration Period: Aug 20, 2012 - Aug 20, 2016
Current Registration: 43.00
Current California Highway Patrol: 24.00
Current Vehicle License Fee: 271.00
Current County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies Fee: 1.00
Current Fingerprint ID Fee: 1.00
Original Smog Abatement: 12.00
Alt Fuel/Tech Smog Fee: 16.00
Current Auto Theft and/or DUI Crime Deterrence Program: 1.00
Current Air Quality Management District: 6.00
Alt Fuel/Tech Reg Fee: 9.00
1st Prior Year Registration: 43.00
1st Prior Year California Highway Patrol: 24.00
1st Prior Year Vehicle License Fee: 339.00
1st Prior Year County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies Fee: 1.00
1st Prior Year Smog Abatement Fee: 2.00
1st Prior Year Fingerprint ID Fee: 1.00
1st Prior Year Smog High Polluter Repair Fee: 4.00
1st Prior Year Auto Theft and/or DUI Crime Deterrence Program: 1.00
1st Prior Year Air Quality Management Dist: 6.00
2nd Prior Year Registration: 43.00
2nd Prior Year California Highway Patrol: 23.00
2nd Prior Year Vehicle License Fee: 407.00
2nd Prior Year County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies Fee: 1.00
2nd Prior Year Smog Abatement Fee: 2.00
2nd Prior Year Fingerprint ID Fee: 1.00
2nd Prior Year Smog High Polluter Repair Fee: 4.00
2nd Prior Year Auto Theft and/or DUI Crime Deterrence Program: 1.00
2nd Prior Year Air Quality Management Dist: 6.00
Transfer: 15.00
Use/Sales Tax: 3,150.00
Current Registration Penalty: 30.00
CHP Penalty: 180.00
Current Vehicle License Fee Penalty: 163.00
1st Prior Year Registration Penalty: 50.00
1st Prior Year Vehicle License Fee Penalty: 271.00
2nd Prior Year Registration Penalty: 100.00
2nd Prior Year Vehicle License Fee Penalty: 651.00
Total Registration Fees: $2,753.00
Total Use/Sales Tax: $3,150.00
Grand Total Registration Fees: $5,903.00

skyavonee

This is news to me, but the solution seems pretty simple: find a car that is currently registered. Otherwise, use the added cost of prior year fees/penalties in your negotiation process to reduce the sale price of the vehicle. Good luck.

forzav12

How do you think California pays for all their "free" services? And, yes, those "fees" are accurate.

HBsurfer

No idea what any of that stuff is about. My 2007 Corvette cost me $187.00 to register this year. Never did any research and have no clue how it all breaks down. I just write a check every year and they send me a new sticker.

Ride On

Excellent point, Skyavonee. Shoulda' just thought that myself but I'm still having a hard time believing they try this! Still stuck at 'wow'!

LOL - but Ouch! Seems like this might cut down on the car selling biz a lot.

Yeah, I'm new and still just trying not to get surprised by fees, but it seems like if you keep a car year after year then you only pay registration fees and it's a lot cheaper.

I checked the fee on the 2014 Mercedes GLK that I did ship, and it's only $400 to register. Maybe I should have shipped my '07 Vette but I am also looking to move up some years - might depend on how many surprises CA has in store for us, haha. Still can't wait to get back.

Thanks all for the info.

HBsurfer

Welcome back. A lot of people complain about California but I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I surf every morning before work. Many times on weekends, I have surfed in the morning and gone snowboarding after lunch. One hour from the desert. 40minutes to the mountains. 40 minutes to the beach. 4 hours to Vegas or the Colorado River. Drive my Corvette all year. Not many places like this and I use it all. It is worth a few fees and regulations.

ClipperFan

Most people who leaves CA and come back have the same sticker shock look

Ride On

Thanks, HBSurfer, I completely agree. And there's just no better place to cruise in a Corvette, year-round.

Ride On

LOL - SHOCK is right on.
But you get what you pay for, and IMO, all those extra sunny days are worth a lot.

pkincy

+1 to all above. And don't forget our income taxes. Yet, it is all worth it and this is coming from someone that was a tax refugee to LV for 2 years and Az for 5 years now back here and loving it.

Varmit

That's a consequence of a liberal socialist state government