[4 girls]

What is the story with taxes on cars? I read that on a blog thread. Can someone explain. Also, is CT car insurance less expensive overall than NY?Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

[AmyBergquist]

Cars are taxed as personal property in CT. Each year the town values your car and then you are assessed a tax amount based on the town's mill rate. So, presumably, the lower the mill rate in the town, the less you will pay in car tax. Car taxes are paid once or twice a year, it depends on the town and whether they collect taxes annually or semi-annually.

Car insurance rates will also vary by town. If you live in a city like Hartford, New Haven, etc, expect to pay more than if you live in a suburb.

[toddb]

Originally Posted by AmyBergquist

Cars are taxed as personal property in CT. Each year the town values your car and then you are assessed a tax amount based on the town's mill rate. So, presumably, the lower the mill rate in the town, the less you will pay in car tax. Car taxes are paid once or twice a year, it depends on the town and whether they collect taxes annually or semi-annually.

Car insurance rates will also vary by town. If you live in a city like Hartford, New Haven, etc, expect to pay more than if you live in a suburb.

As for pricing, the annual premiums for car insurance aren't too bad. They are anywhere from 20% - 50+% lower than New Jersey (where I moved from). Depending on where in NY you are moving from and where in CT you are moving to, I would guess lower or about the same.

[4 girls]

Thanks, I am moving from LI to probably Tolland or Glastonbury.

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by 4 girls

Thanks, I am moving from LI to probably Tolland or Glastonbury.

Then your rates should be lower then LI by at least 25%.

[hfd]

The car tax in Connecticut is somewhat controversial. I believe this state is one of only a handful that has them. Many states do not. It is not uncommon to see people register their cars in different states to save cash.
There has been efforts to repeal it, but they have failed.
If you are new to Connecticut, you will find it is sort of an overall fiscal mess. If it were a business, the board of directors would easily fire the CEO!
For example, many of the towns here are really small and could probably share police and fire departments and save some cash and lower the car taxes or get rid of them. Places like West Haven and Middletown actually have more than one fire chief, because "we've done it that way since 1885," is the response you usually get.
Connecticut's largest city, Bridgeport, is only about 130K people. If Hartford combined with the other Hartfords, East and West it would top 200K people and qualify for millions in federal aid, given to larger cities. Ditto for Bridgeport.
The antiquated way is forcing quaint towns like Canton and South Windsor to mow down several square miles of woodland for strip malls to bring in chains to pay taxes to support these inefficient government models.

[ambarstone]

Originally Posted by 4 girls

What is the story with taxes on cars? I read that on a blog thread. Can someone explain. Also, is CT car insurance less expensive overall than NY?Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

_________
Before you even move, call your insurance so you understand any changes that come from moving to a different state. Something I found out is that in NY was automatically covered for medical expenses derived from injuries in an accident. In CT, they come as a separate item that I now have to pay extra for ($10/per 1,000 of coverage in my case). This may be my insurance or may be general but it won't hurt spending a few minutes and understanding before hand. What they told me is that in CT you can have those injuries covered by personal medical insurance. Also, delay registering your car as long as it is legal, don't rush because as you may be able to read on this board, it is expensive to register a car in CT and as soon as you do it, you start being subject to the car tax. Good luck!

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by hfd

The antiquated way is forcing quaint towns like Canton and South Windsor to mow down several square miles of woodland for strip malls to bring in chains to pay taxes to support these inefficient government models.

I hate to tell you this, but having a "non-antiquated" government has not stopped sprawl in other parts of the country. In fact, I would say the Connecticut has a LOT less sprawl than other parts of the country and it is because we have "home-rule" and the people making the decisions about such matters have a vested interested in the community because they live there.

Also, your comments on having multiple fire districts also applies to other parts of the country as well. I also do not agree that the state is a "fiscal mess". It is not even close. I am not even sure we would qualify for any more Federal money if the metropolitan areas were incorporated as one rather than being separate. Jay

[reason180]

Originally Posted by hfd

For example, many of the towns here are really small and could probably share police and fire departments and save some cash and lower the car taxes or get rid of them. Places like West Haven and Middletown actually have more than one fire chief, because "we've done it that way since 1885," is the response you usually get.
Connecticut's largest city, Bridgeport, is only about 130K people. If Hartford combined with the other Hartfords, East and West it would top 200K people and qualify for millions in federal aid, given to larger cities. Ditto for Bridgeport.
The antiquated way is forcing quaint towns like Canton and South Windsor to mow down several square miles of woodland for strip malls to bring in chains to pay taxes to support these inefficient government models.

I agree. Unfortunately you will never get West Hartford to join Hartford or Fairfield to join Bridgeport. What we do have are those smaller towns taking from the cities and giving very little back.

For example, in Bridgeport there have been several proposals recently for developing condos/retail along the waterfront in the South End. However, I heard the city is going to allow a power company to expand their operation in the South End and build another giant smoke stack close to where the new housing is going to be. Why?????? This power is going to be used by everybody in Fairfield/New Haven County so why does the plant have to go in Bport? Paul Newman called Bport the armpit of America but he has no problem using electricity produced there so I suggest the power plant goes up in Westport in front of his house.

The NY Times had an article a few weeks ago about the homeless population in New Haven. According to the article if an inmate gets released from the prison way up in Enfield and they don't have anyplace to go the state drops them off in New Haven. If the state dropped them off in Woodbridge it would be big news. The cities get treated unfairly all the time.

[JViello]

We are in a fiscal CRISIS for crying out loud, don't let that "push up bra" of a surplus fool you.

Our state budget is OUT OF CONTROL and they keep raising TAXES! Most of our elected officials are NOT out for YOUR best interests.

It's a mess.