Anybody bought a used car since April of 2012? (sales, insurance)

[mag32gie]

I did and not only had to pay City tax of $200 but also county taxes of $200 for a $5,000 car. Something is very wrong in this place!

[emathias]

Originally Posted by mag32gie

I did and not only had to pay City tax of $200 but also county taxes of $200 for a $5,000 car. Something is very wrong in this place!

So? There's a lot of infrastructure for cars - you think you should get to use it for free?

[yoyoniner]

Originally Posted by emathias

So? There's a lot of infrastructure for cars - you think you should get to use it for free?

Wow that is quite the leap you made there, from being discouraged by our very high sales taxes (which I'm sure was the OP's point) and saying that he should "get to use our roads for free."

[myrc60]

In SC we pay $300 sales tax on any car purchase. Doesn't matter if the car was $1k or $65k. Then we pay property tax which is based on the car's value. This can amount to hundreds of dollars for a newer car every year. Plates cost $12 per year and I have not heard of any area having a city sticker down here. I'm thinking $400 doesn't sound so bad!

[Vlajos]

Why does the OP feel that the purchase/sale of a car should not be taxed? Or is the OP against all taxation in general?

[rparz]

Should have bought it new. That way the finance agent could have rolled it right into the final cost and you wouldn't have been the wiser.


In other words, the tax on vehicles have been the same for years. You just noticed it now.


That's why some of the more 'unscrupulous' types have been known to falsify bills of sale to reduce the tax exposure. The state dings you when you go to get title and registration. They know what they're doing, they've done this for years.

[mag32gie]

With the title transfer, license plates, city sticker, state taxes and the new county taxes, it cost almost $650. to buy a $5,000 car from a private owner. I was told the county tax started in March 2012.

[Ace Rothstein]

Originally Posted by mag32gie

I did and not only had to pay City tax of $200 but also county taxes of $200 for a $5,000 car. Something is very wrong in this place!

Was this just sales tax or in addition to the sales tax?

[Ace Rothstein]

Originally Posted by emathias

So? There's a lot of infrastructure for cars - you think you should get to use it for free?

Do you have any proof that this tax goes directly to pay for infrastructure?

[rparz]

Originally Posted by mag32gie

With the title transfer, license plates, city sticker, state taxes and the new county taxes, it cost almost $650. to buy a $5,000 car from a private owner. I was told the county tax started in March 2012.

Title transfer - to the state $100
Plates - to the state $100
City Sticker - $60

Right there is almost half in fixed expenses. These don't change if you buy a $500 car or a $50,000 car.


And newsflash, cars are expensive. Especially in the city with increased insurance and parking.
But, on the flipside, chances are you aren't driving as many miles as someone in the burbs, so you're probably coming out ahead.