lpolo

hello guys, i moved to california, bought E500 10 months ago. today i received a vehicle registration renewal notice from DMV and the total amount due is: $403.00 --> is this correct? i came from ohio before and registration only costs like < $100.

the detail:
- registration fee = $40 (reasonable)
- vehicle license fee (VLF) = $343 --> what is this??
- smog abatement fee = $12

can someone please verify?

awiner

Welcome to California where everything costs at least twice as much !


Vehicle License Fee (VLF) (Revenue & Taxation Code §§10751, 10752, 10755)

The VLF was established by the Legislature in 1935 in lieu of a property tax on vehicles. The formula for VLF assessment established by the Legislature is based upon the purchase price of the vehicle or the value of the vehicle when acquired. The VLF decreases with each renewal for the first 11 years. The VLF is prorated if the assignment/reassignment of a registration year results in a registration year of less than 12 months.

The DMV returns almost all vehicle license fee revenue to the cities and counties. For more details on how your VLF money is used, contact your local city or county government officials.

FThornton666

I used to live in ohio, and i too also now live in california. What part of Ohio you from?

HELL ONA HARLEY

L.O.L..........

lpolo

Thanks a lot guys. I just want to clarify if they are all correct and all benzos drivers here are paying about the same. When I opened the bill, it just gives me a little heart attack :p

DancingBenzos: I was from Columbus, Ohio (buckeyes) now in SF Bay area.

Brian_I.

Just be thankful the Governator cut the "Triple Car Tax" that had us paying into the thousands on registration. Those of us who paid the higher fees thankfully received a nice refund check earlier this year.

W211 Ryda

If it makes you feel any better, I just paid mine this week. A whopping $408.

MB SF

Yes that is correct. The money goes to our great roads . Haven't you noticed the nice pot holes and completely thrashed roads? The other thing you will notice: There is always 5 cal Trans workers on any given project at one time. 1 works and the other 4 watch (true story in time you will see).

Welcome to Kaalivornia.

SAguirre

I think that Colorado has all of you beat!! My E320 cost $986 to register in Boulder County! I think that is a bit high, don't you think?

Next year it will drop to about $500 and stay at that price for 3 years. Then drop to about $300 and go lower every year after that. My 1991 300E was costing the same as my Audi: $30.00 per year. As you can see, at least it is a tax that goes down, here in Boulder County.

It reminds me of living in Germany. Having a big engine there sure was expensive. But I bet that the European people seeing these prices are jealous of us.

Steve

pa28pilot

You're probably right about that. I heard on the BBC that there's a real debate in Germany right now. The EU wants member countries to require renewals for driving licenses every 10 years. I understand Germany has licenses that cost about US$1000 to get and are valid for a lifetime.

I don't think I would want to change that either, if I were in Germany.

SAguirre

[QUOTE=pa28pilot]You're probably right about that. I heard on the BBC that there's a real debate in Germany right now. The EU wants member countries to require renewals for driving licenses every 10 years. I understand Germany has licenses that cost about US$1000 to get and are valid for a lifetime.

I was actually talking about the cost of just renewing the license plates of the car. However, where I lived in Germany (and I suspect the rest of the country) the big thing to get when you turn 18 is the money to pay for a driver's license. I got one of the first true EU driver's licenses when I lived there. I even have the higher weight endorsement and a motorcycle license as well. Since I was over 20 and was a licensed driver for a few years, the KBA in Germany let me just take the tests and not have to sit in all the classes. I still had to take a teacher and the tester in a school car (a MB A170) for a ride while I was being evaluated. With 3 adults, the A170 was so slow that the bugs hit the rear windshield!

For the Motorcycle endorsement, I actually had to ride with them following me. I had a radio in my helmet and they told me where to go. I had to ride in the city, in the countryside and on the Autobahn. Overall, this was a great experience because it confirmed that even though I am an American, I really do know how to drive! :-) I have driven all over the word.

The whole deal still cost me about $450.00, but now I have a driver's license for life. Also, since I lived on the border with the Netherlands and Belgium, when I got pulled over in either country I used my US license. How sneaky of me :-)!!

Steve

dacbiet

[QUOTE=SAguirre]This story above clearly illustrates why Europeans, generally speaking, are able to drive better, faster, with more discipline, on smaller roads than their American counterparts. Here in California, the bulk of the time spent getting your driver's license is just sitting in a chair at the DMV waiting for your number to be called. The written test is multiple guess and the driving test takes 5-10 minutes on a couple of quiet, city streets. Unless an applicant's previous driving experience is limited to a water buffalo, you are virtually assured a passing grade on the first attempt. If by rare chance you do fail, just make an appointment and return the following day... your odds of failing again are about the same as winning the state lottery.

SAguirre

I have driven all over the world and I have to agree (unfortunately). Yes, in other parts of the world like South America, Japan and Southern Europe might have great skill, but no discipline. To those, I prefer the American idiot drivers.

For the most part, Americans are very courteous (I know the are a lot of A. Holes out there though) but terribly unskilled and unpracticed! They know to stop completely at stop signs and to yield. They are generally nice (this is a generalization). However, the minute they are put in a stick shift and or have to drive in the mountains all hell breaks loose!

I passed my restricted driver's test at 15 years old without studying or even looking at the book. A monkey could have guessed the answers on the test. I actually had to parallel park (in a 80s Cadillac Fleetwood B 5.7 L), but shortly after that Florida eliminated that part. During my test I never left the PARKING LOT!! Having grown up in Florida, I find it hard to believe who is driving! Some people are "literally" "DEAD" at the wheel driving in the fast lane with their blinker on since 1955!

Germany has quite skilled drivers and they are very law abiding. I felt very much at home driving in Europe. I also had the chance of taking racing lessons and wearing out a set of $1500 tires on 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo on the Nurburgring. That was my best B-day gift EVER!! I hit 184 MPH a few times!! I also do a lot of winter driving stuff (tons of fun!).

Just my stupid thoughts here,

Steve A

FThornton666

Yes....**** Michigan, **** the Steelers, and **** the Ravens, am i right?

mbman002

500 dollars for registering an E500

Here in Belgium these are the taxes (I mean only taxes for registering, VAT is 21%) when you buy an E500:

€ 5.000 = $ 6.700 once
€ 1.200 = $ 1.607 yearly

SAguirre

That is what I though. Even when I have to pay $986 the first year and then half the next. It is much cheaper than in Europe. The taxes I paid when I bought my car (but an E320 4 Matic) were about $4,000.

O!!!! Most of the ownership taxes paid every year are deductible on the federal income taxes here in the US. So a significant percentage of the tax comes back since it saves us in the Federal Income Tax level.

The US does not have a VAT taxing system, but the sales tax is dependant on where you live. In my city we pay 7.2%.

And "mbman002," you forgot to mention the taxes you pay on your fuel. That ends up making it about 4 times more expensive.

If you are only paying about $400.00 to register a luxury car, that is a deal.

Steve

johna1

Come to New Zealand, guys.

I pay US$100 per year to register the car, and US$19 per month for full insurance with a US$500 excess.

SAguirre

The US has plenty of areas that have cheap taxes, but I don't want to live there. No offence!

Steve

krispykrme

You are complaining at mere $400?

Had David not been recalled, you would have to pay $1200.

YeeHaw

interesting this is like complaining about a $100 docking fee for a 40ft yachet....the tax system is progressive if you can afford a benz then that means you can afford the tax....cant have you paying the taxes of a kia for a lux car

SAguirre

I totally agree. Higher costs just comes with the territory. However, in some parts of the US the taxes are strictly based on weight of the car (thinking that the heavier the car is the more it will ruin the roads). This leaves the E class in the same price range as a Buick or a F150. Not exactly the same, but really close in cost as far as registering them.

I am not complaining, but I just wanted to point out that it is to be expected. Also, the nicer areas to live in also tend to have higher taxes (imagine that??).

Your analogy with a yacht is very accurate. I have family and friends who complain about $2,000 fuel bill to fill up the tanks on the yacht. They forget that having a yacht is not necessary. But you know people, if there is something they can complain about, they do it and find it.

Steve