When it rains, it pours

**Syn D** · 09-01-2011, 12:09 PM

and we're soaking wet...

In our town you have to pay property taxes (here property taxes isn't on land, it is on anything you own with wheels ~ vehicles, trailer, mobile homes. ~ not bicycles, etc.) before you can register your vehicle every year and for us, every odd year we have to get our vehicles inspected. Well, this is the odd year, and hubby took the truck to get inspected and we now know that some inspection requirements have changed and are looking at the least $300 to get both vehicles to pass inspection, by the time we get our tags for both vehicles we will of put out at least $400 to $450. Also, unlike any other state I have lived in, here your tag cost goes by the size of your engine, not the year of your car. Our car is a 93 and our truck in a 91, so if someone has a 09 with the same size engine as our car, they are paying the same price in tags as we are.. I still haven't figured out how doing tags this way and not charging property taxes on land helps with $$ for the city.. Yet, the city often says the can't afford this and that.

Our town sends out a monthly newsletter (waste of my tax money) and not once in this newsletter were we informed requirements have changed.. We don't find out till the month we need to get the tags, instead of being able to prepare for it and fix a little at a time, we now have to fix it all at once.. We live in a pretty much low income town and I think advance notice would of been helpful for many residents..

In this economy we can't move, just got to deal with it, but I can still complain.. Now we'll have to pay an extra $5 per vehicle when we get the tags, cos' we'll be late.

Vent done, Thank You!!!

**Russ** · 09-01-2011, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Syn D

Well, this is the odd year, and hubby took the truck to get inspected and we now know that some inspection requirements have changed and are looking at the least $300 to get both vehicles to pass inspection, by the time we get our tags for both vehicles we will of put out at least $400 to $450.

How the hell can they change the requirements?

**Syn D** · 09-01-2011, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by Russ

How the hell can they change the requirements?

In this town nothing surprises me.. The inspector is a guy that has always inspected our vehicles, he showed my hubby a list of new things they are required to look for.

They are a little behind times here.. The new requirements are probably things other states have always required..

**Russ** · 09-01-2011, 01:26 PM

There is no grandfather clause on a 10 y/o vehicle? I would love to see that list.

I can understand safety items and loose parts and do not question them. But other than that what can they inspect for besides emissions?
BTW, One trick to pass emissions is to run your vehicle hard just before inspection.

**Syn D** · 09-01-2011, 01:54 PM

New vehicle, 10 yr old vehicle, no difference here.. Wait, the only difference is when you register it for the first time, the owner of the new vehicle pays more than I would, but every year after we pay the same.

Not sure what they check for now..

This towns thinking is least 10 yrs behind and I'm not exaggerating.

**Russ** · 09-01-2011, 01:59 PM

actually, here in Mich, there are no vehicle inspections.

**craftypam** · 09-01-2011, 02:06 PM

Could you petition to change the law? Just asking. You don't have to pay taxes on land? I would think that would be alot more. Don't you agree Russ?
SynD. We used to have to have our cars inspected; what a racket!!! The cars that needed repairs were exempt; I think it was because of age and/or income of people who owned them.
We should have a thread that posts your state and what you have to pay taxes on; should be interesting.

**Russ** · 09-01-2011, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Could you petition to change the law? Just asking. You don't have to pay taxes on land? I would think that would be alot more. Don't you agree Russ?
SynD. We used to have to have our cars inspected; what a racket!!! The cars that needed repairs were exempt; I think it was because of age and/or income of people who owned them.
We should have a thread that posts your state and what you have to pay taxes on; should be interesting.

Yes!
2 examples:

I live on 10 acres, 2 hours North of Detroit. Property taxes ~ $2300/year

Wifes Niece lives in Dearborn (near Detroit), city lot, 3 bedroom house ~ nearly $4000/year!

And I used to live in Oakland County years ago and the tri-county area did have emissions inspections at that time. And it was just that, a racket. Nothing more than a money making adventure for the gooberment.

**jas** · 09-01-2011, 02:24 PM

No car inspection here in Florida.

**piney** · 09-01-2011, 04:08 PM

No car inspection here in Ar.now there were a few years back.Can't remember when it started and when it ended they only checked all lights and brakes & made sure winshield was not broke on driver side.

**craftypam** · 09-01-2011, 05:25 PM

piney;
our city does that every time you drive or drive through it.
Woo woo my taxes are less than yours Russ LOL!! Not enough though considering all that land you live on. My sil and db live in Columbus and every time we go there we drool!! We were looking for property to build; that was until the economy took a dive!!

**Syn D** · 09-01-2011, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Could you petition to change the law? Just asking. You don't have to pay taxes on land? I would think that would be alot more. Don't you agree Russ?
SynD. We used to have to have our cars inspected; what a racket!!! The cars that needed repairs were exempt; I think it was because of age and/or income of people who owned them.
We should have a thread that posts your state and what you have to pay taxes on; should be interesting.

Nope, no property taxes on land. Yes, they could make a good chunk off of that here and also going by the year of the car, not engine.

No exemptions here.

Disputing things here don't work to well..

**Ponderer** · 09-01-2011, 07:36 PM

I am in Olympia/Lacey WA and have no vehicle inspection required.

I have a 3 bedroom home, approx. 1550 square feet on a .14 acre city lot. My property taxes are $2253.99 for 2011.

**craftypam** · 09-01-2011, 09:18 PM

I live in Southeast MI; I live in 1400 sq ft house and my property taxes are $2140

**Nishu** · 09-01-2011, 10:15 PM

Does that newsletter print letters? They'd be getting a sassy one from me, at the very least about not informing people of the changed requirement. What else could they possibly need a newsletter for except to tell people about stuff like that.