Avoiding the car tax... (Arlington: sales, insurance, to buy)

[PhDLoser]

New resident here, please skip if you plan on giving me a demarche. My post is for those that have successfully avoided the fascist car tax.

My family is in Florida. Can anyone tell me what exactly I need to do to avoid paying the car tax here in Arlington? A Florida insurance rep said if my car is registered in Florida then the insurance must be written there as well and that my car's title should also be in my folks name in case I'm in an accident so the insurance company cannot claim I actually live in Virginia.

It is my understanding that the only risk after registering my car out of state is that a neighbor will report me and a silly county swat team will say I must register the car in Florida.

Please, I'd appreciate any advice on how to avoid the car tax. I just received my bill and it's $800.

Thank you!

[Middlin]

Move back to Florida

sorry, you asked for that one

[ghett61]

You can get rid of your car. Thus no car tax.

[beth98]

Originally Posted by PhDLoser

New resident here, please skip if you plan on giving me a demarche. My post is for those that have successfully avoided the fascist car tax.

My family is in Florida. Can anyone tell me what exactly I need to do to avoid paying the car tax here in Arlington? A Florida insurance rep said if my car is registered in Florida then the insurance must be written there as well and that my car's title should also be in my folks name in case I'm in an accident so the insurance company cannot claim I actually live in Virginia.

It is my understanding that the only risk after registering my car out of state is that a neighbor will report me and a silly county swat team will say I must register the car in Florida.

Please, I'd appreciate any advice on how to avoid the car tax. I just received my bill and it's $800.

Thank you!

Death and taxes...

I'm fairly confident if you register your car in Florida (even under your parent's name) and get in an accident here in Virginia you are going to get screwed (and rightfully so) by the insurance company. Odds they actually pay a claim when you are lying to them are pretty low IMO.

Car taxes are just the price you pay for the joy of not living in Florida.

[CaliTerp07]

Insurance on a car in Virginia may very well end up being cheaper than Florida to offset a good portion of that cost. I saved several hundred dollars a year moving from MD to VA.

[PhDLoser]

although only 3 responses I'm amazed that people can convince themselves the car tax is fair and those who would oppose it are value-less and un-american citizens.

you all do realize the car tax is a second tax on an asset already purchased.

also, regarding insurance: i contacted an insurance agent in florida and explained to her the situation straight up. she said registering the vehicle and having insurance in florida would cause a problem should i be in an accident in virginia. however, having the vehicle titled in my parents name therefore making me only a user of the car would not cause a problem should an accident happen. she was very clear they would pay a claim.

[beth98]

You inferred value-less and un-american all on your own. 3 of the 4 states I've lived in have had a yearly tax on your car. Do I like it? No, but I do value the quality of the roads I drive on, etc.

Every insurance company I've ever had has asked where my car is garaged, but if you want to believe the insurance agent that's advising you on how to commit fraud against their insurance company, go right ahead. Not to mention if you have already received a bill that means your car(s) are currently registered here and the county is aware of your car. It sounds like you are asking for trouble if you ask me.

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by PhDLoser

also, regarding insurance: i contacted an insurance agent in florida and explained to her the situation straight up. she said registering the vehicle and having insurance in florida would cause a problem should i be in an accident in virginia. however, having the vehicle titled in my parents name therefore making me only a user of the car would not cause a problem should an accident happen. she was very clear they would pay a claim.

Get it in writing if you want to have half a chance of them following through. They'll promise to pay anything to get you to buy a policy.

[ACWhite]

Longer term, if you want to pay less in car tax, get a cheaper car, or get a clean fuel car, such as certain hybrids, which qualify for a lower car tax rate. I pay only about $150 per year.

Why would you expect people to encourage you to take illegal or questionable actions to avoid paying taxes, when that means others have to pay more to make up for it?

Look at all of your taxes as a whole, since other states without car taxes may have higher income or sales taxes. Generally VA is not considered a high tax state. If you feel that overall the state taxes are excessive relative to the value you and your neighbors receive for them (and the quality of life here), you can always relocate to a state with lower taxes (and likely lower services or more budget problems).

[PhDLoser]

good advice, Terp. Will do.

Well, I've lived in Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, all three states had no income tax and certainly no car tax, but somehow manage to have functioning roads and transportation infrastructure.

So why does Virginia need a car tax to do the same things?