Getting a Florida car tag - are they serious?! (sales, inspection)

[tricon7]

After moving here from Georgia, my wife did some preliminary checking on getting a car tag here. I believe she said that they're going to run us around $220.00 per car!? And this doesn't include me wanting to get a vanity plate, which will tack on an additional $75.00.

Does this sound right at all? We have two cars, and it would cost us well over $500.00!

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by tricon7

After moving here from Georgia, my wife did some preliminary checking on getting a car tag here. I believe she said that they're going to run us around $220.00 per car!? And this doesn't include me wanting to get a vanity plate, which will tack on an additional $75.00.

Does this sound right at all? We have two cars, and it would cost us well over $500.00!

It actually was worse at one point, running around $500 per car. Try to bear in mind that Florida has no state income tax or local taxes and relies on property taxes and sales taxes to pay for everything...which doesn't come free. No offense directly at you, but it does crack me up that so many move here expecting bottom dollar pricing and services for free. How is that supposed to work?

[mco65]

The No State Income Tax should help off set the cost of car tags.

[chopchop0]

The other posters have summed it up well

[MovedfromFL]

Also, no annual car tax like GA (based on value of your car)

One hint to folks who might move from FL and then back: If you have your old tag number, you can re-use it and save the money. That's what I did when we moved back to FL from GA in 2010. I think you have to mail in the actual plate, but the number can be used again.

[DodgeGirl78]

Actually when we moved here 3 months ago it was closer to 400.00 per car.

[DodgeGirl78]

From what I see it is only 15.00 extra for a personalized tag and around 25 for a specialty tag

[beckycat]

Everything practically doubled in September. We don't have annual property tax on vehicles either as another poster mentioned. Some states you pay that much every year depending on the age of your vehicle. It's a flat registration fee every year. We also don't have a vehicle inspection like other states.

I think it's expensive too but what are you going to do? As another poster said we don't have state income tax either, not that one has to do with the other. You save money in one aspect but you pay out in another. Taxes have to be covered somewhere.

[jdoty]

That's just for the initial new registration fee. After that, it's like $40 per year per car.

[OrlFlaUsa]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

It actually was worse at one point, running around $500 per car. Try to bear in mind that Florida has no state income tax or local taxes and relies on property taxes and sales taxes to pay for everything...which doesn't come free. No offense directly at you, but it does crack me up that so many move here expecting bottom dollar pricing and services for free. How is that supposed to work?

Bingo!!