Anyone in California register a car with back registration due lately?, About to pull trigger on a '74 that hasn't been regist. in 5 years Options

[Mueller]

99% sure I'm going to pull the trigger and get a local '74 914 that has not been registered in 4 to 5 years.

If I do the California DMV calculator correctly I am looking at $501 based on a $2000 purchase price.

If I read the documents correctly the late fee is 160% of the Vehicle License Fee which according to the online cal. is only $5, so $40 in fees?

Any current real world experience in this?

Thanks,

Mike

[SixerJ]

UK has it even better than Mark (almost) - no sales tax, no transfer or registration fees

Pre 1972 cars even get free road tax and there is talk of making that rolling date year on year

Once your car is on the road and you decide that you want to store it, just declare a statutory off road notice (SORN) on line (which is free) and your done, the owner just needs to renew the SORN each year either on line, at a post office or via post

If you buy a car that has not been SORN'd correctly, yes there is a fine, but that's the PO's issue, not yours

For cars like my spitfire which has been off the road for 20+ years, when (if) it ever gets on the road again all I would need is an MOT (roadworthy check), road tax as she was registered in 1978 and insurance. If you really wanted to be sneaky buy a cheap pre 72 scrap spitfire and swap the pop riveted vin plates. For the record, I have not done this in the past (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Your car is your car, that's that and government cannot take jack apart from road tax (if applicable) and the MOT of which the most of the 75buck fee actually goes to the independent garage that tested it for you

If you have been taking your cars to the same garage for years, like me, even if you get a minor fail and they know for sure you will fix it, 90% of the time they will give you a pass anyway

Some of my best friends are American and the more I learn about the system I cannot help think you guys get skinned in any which way they can squeeze you for $

Don't take this the wrong way, but the land of the free? I think not