Fantasy world of the department of licensing

Geez.. went to the DOL today to transfer title on my '58.. finally.. don't know what I've been waiting for. Anyway... because I hadn't titled it right away I had to be "fined". They must base it on value of car I guess. Now lemme just say.. this thing was a BEATER! Needs tons of work and I'm getting it done, but there is no way this thing could have been driven around. Anyway.. to make a long story a little longer.. the gal behind the counter came out with a "Classic Cars" Value type magazine that I guess they get their figures off of. She said that a 1958 Chevy wagon's SCRAP value is over $10K!! What? I'd be lucky to get $10K after I finish it.

Just shows you how in tune those that want your money are in tune with what your cars value is... in their eyes. :banghead3:

 

Very sorry dude. Never fun to deal with puppets of the bureaucracy. You really have to make it easy for them or they get out the manuals or call over a supervisor. Both of those options generate more cost and headaches.

I worked for Oregon Department of Transportation and for the first couple of years was a model employee... which meant I cost the people lots! By the third year I changed and became an advocate of the people... and by the 13 year said "why am I doing this?"
Now in the private sector (never to go back), I understand the mindset of the man/woman behind the counter. Only option we have is to make sure you have all the correct boxes marked and never get angry with the "man". Or it never works out in your favor.

The questions on my mind 73super... did you get the title changed? :confused:

 

Actually the gal behind the desk that handles title transfers is quite friendly and knows me by name. She just does as she is instructed. I don't blame her.. I blame their processes. Oh well... I'm going to buy up as many '58 Chevy wagons on their last leg as possible and make some real money... ha!

 

I've heard a lot of stories about 'the great Northwest' and their ways - mostly HORROR!!
But, then again, from my Sister in Seattle - how much is true?

 

Anyway to squeeze a nickle out of the public.. but still, I think we have it better than California. For the most part I've had pretty good experiences.. no real horror stories. This is the first time that I really had to scratch my head and wonder. :confused:

 

Well, mostly the west coast is a pleasant place to live. But I have to admit that government has grown significantly in Oregon these last dozen years. We are only slightly behind California regarding intrusiveness in private peoples lives and over taxation.

The very first state to institute a State fuel tax was Oregon. Today we are one of the highest at .48 cents per gallon.

 

For such a big state, California really has it all together as far as licensing. Only bad part about the Cal. DMV is the lines.. Had to go there while I was down in SoCal last week. Was fairly easy this time - only 45 minutes.....

 

NY is 2nd highest with State and Fed combined at 67.9

Oregon is way down the list at 17th from the top. We even beat California by .4 hahaha. Oh, why am I laughing?

http://www.commonsensejunction.com/notes/gas-tax-rate.html

Now not sure what it costs you guys to Register your stuff. But when I renewed my Roadmaster it cost me $56 for 2 years of registration. Title fees are $75 and sales tax is 8.75%, I have to do this all over again when I get home and buy some cheap wheels to get my by for a few months. Then do the title and tax again as well as a small registration transfer when I have money saved up to buy a better vehicle in a couple months.

 

Re-registration in Oregon is $86 for two years. Plate fees vary depending on the style of plate choosen, from $24 to $100 (one time fee).
Title change is $77.

 

here in pa it seems like the DMV is run by Vogons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbN1NaQ7yQI

 

The MVD here in Arizona isn't to bad. If you know what locations to go to on which days, it's walk in and walk out. The Service Arizona site makes things much easier, you can do pretty much everything online now.

I'm still debating on getting the Historic 77 plates for the Cruiser cause it may involve an "inspection". I have a feeling that may be fun...

 

Texas was pretty good to me up until 2007 with the whole "standard presumptive value" thing. If you buy a car from a dealer or a government auction, you pay sales tax based on WHAT YOU PAID which makes a trailer load of sense. If you buy from a private party or a non-government auction you pay 80% of NADA value based on their book which doesn't match the "consumer" NADA book.

To give you an example, in 2007 I bought a 1997 Dodge Intrepid. Ten years old, 136000 miles on it, blown head gaskets. I paid $800 for the car. They charged me sales tax based on a standard presumptive value of $3000, coming out to 6.25% of 80% of that $3000, or $150 in tax. Incidentally, I feel sorry for people who pay $3000 for ten year old Intrepids. That meant I had to pay TRIPLE the tax versus the 6.25% of $800, which would have only been $50.

But here's the kicker. If you feel the SPV is too high for the car, you can appeal it by bringing in an appraisal showing diminished value. So you can get this from a used car dealer (who would rather sell you a car) or a licensed insurance adjuster (who would rather be writing lowball claims for his customers). But the state REQUIRES that they charge you $100 for the service. In my case, even money. Now if you're buying a $40,000 Corvette with a recon title for $20,000 then yes, you'd want to go do this. But for those of us who have money but don't Have Money, this is a serving of fried bureaucrap on a stick.

I did fix up the Intrepid, I drove it for a few months, then I fancied another bumpside pickup and I sold it for $1500 to buy a '71 F-250 with no brakes for $1000. But I broke even on the Intrepid. I would have made $100 if it wasn't for the SPV garbage.

 

You write very well Alan! And, incidentally, that is the first bad thing I have heard about the "Lone Star State" in regards to government.

 

I tried to title my 69 Ford PU 1 ton flatbed at the Covington DOL. She said that according to the books my truck is worth $8600.00! I bought the thing for $500. It is a beater. She said I had to take the truck to a body shop and get a quote of what it would take to make it worth book value. The truck will NEVER be worth that much, and it never has been worth that much. The main problem was that it is a factory flatbed, titled as a commercial vehicle.

I went to another city and got it transfered no problem.

 

Its the same in my home town area. The DMV at Mayville, NY, has 3 nice people who have been doing their jobs for years. They all will help a guy out, give hints and wink at you and say, I didn't tell you that. I can go in there and walk out, even with a small line, in 15 minutes and feel good about the whole trip, because its always pleasant people working WITH you.

Now on the other hand, take Jamestown, NY's DMV. You walk in the door and before it even closes, 2 bitter looking old women are at one counter and say "can I help you, step in line" OUCH right off the bat. Stand in line with 30 other people. They ask you what you need done, hand you forms and tell you to go fill them out and come back up. You do this, then stand in line and all they do then is look at the forms to see if you filled them out correctly. They then hand you a numbered ticket and tell you t have a seat and wait your turn. Well its been 30 minutes already and you have not even done anything. Wait another 15-30+ minutes for your number to be bellowed out by another "happy" old lady behind the actual "does something productive" counter. You go up, she never says a word, just hold out her hand. You give her your stuff and she slams away at her keyboard like it owes her $1000 and she knows it will never pay her back. Then she gets up, walks to the shared printer and waits for your forms, comes back and sourly tells you the total. You pay and walk out the door, anywhere from 30 minutes(on a great day) to over an hour later(usual time).

I have only been to the Jamestown DMV a handfull of times. Its about the same distance from where I lived to get to either, but Jamestown I usually make the trp worth the drive because it is one of our larger local cities. Mayville, is nothing, 1 gas station, a small over priced supermarket and the home of our County Jail and Police Dept. Many a time I drive my not so legal car to the DMV to make it legal, so I avoid driving to Mayville when I am not so legit, but Jamestown, I can sneak right into town the back way, and park in a parking ramp with a not so legal car and not have to really worry about it, Mayville, forget it, you are gonna get busted!