What do you pay to get your car tag each year? (Austin: car registration, insurance)

[Deelightful]

Hello everyone,

I live in Wisconsin. I'm hopeful that I will be moving to Texas soon. Here in Wisconsin, we have to pay $95 to get our sticker for our car each year. I feel this is outrageous...although I've heard that other states make you pay a percentage of what your car is worth. Can you tell me what kind of fee you pay to register your car each year?

Thank you.

[LittleCityATX]

HA! In California I paid $300-ish to register my car. In Austin I think I'm paying less than $70.

[centralaustinite]

I just paid about $74 for auto registration BUT you should see the size of the property tax check I write each year!!!

Ouch!

[10scoachrick]

$75-ish for each of our two vehicles. Both are newer and stickered over $45K. Not sure if the fee is related to value. Back in Fulton County, GA(Atlanta), we paid roughly 1% ad valorem tax on personal vehicles(annually)---happy to leave THAT behind!

You'll also pay for emissions/safety inspection each year(approx $28).

[RooCeleste]

I think mine is about $75/year (I don't pay attention, because I have to pay it regardless). Here is the link to car registration information for Texas: Register your Vehicle Passenger cars are based on model year and/or weight, plus other fees.

[eichlerfan]

Your first year here in TX it is expensive to register your car. It cost me about 197.00 dollars, but starting next year it will be 58.00 but that's because I drive an older car too.

[calel]

I think mine was around $60. 4 year old small sedan.

[Zzyzx]

When you assess costs in an area, you really need to look at the whole picture, not just one item in a whole line of fees.

When I moved from Las Vegas; my car registration, car insurance, gasoline, and electricity went down.

When I moved to Austin;my Home insurance doubled, property tax quadrupled, water rates tripled and food prices went up as well. The water rates and property taxes fluctuate all over Austin.

Overall my cost of living is considerably higher in Austin compared to Las Vegas. But my quality of life is better

Just be careful you account for ALL fees for the area you choose live in.

[XLadylawX]

Originally Posted by Zzyzx

When you assess costs in an area, you really need to look at the whole picture, not just one item in a whole line of fees.

When I moved from Las Vegas; my car registration, car insurance, gasoline, and electricity went down.

When I moved to Austin;my Home insurance doubled, property tax quadrupled, water rates tripled and food prices went up as well. The water rates and property taxes fluctuate all over Austin.

Overall my cost of living is considerably higher in Austin compared to Las Vegas. But my quality of life is better

Just be careful you account for ALL fees for the area you choose live in.

Excellent advice!!

[mickey65]

$54 for mine - a Toyota Echo.