Ugh! DMV Options

[last337]

So I have had my 914 for about 3 months now. I get an email today from the DMV saying that they have frozen my title because the amount I paid listed on bill of sale ($1200) basically was not enough and that they value the car at $16800 and I now owe them the balance on taxes which is about $1200. I know they could contact the seller to ensure I paid what I say I paid but I cant imagine he would even respond to them since he is out of state and has no reason to deal with excess paperwork with an out of state DMV. Even if the number was lowered on the bill of sale from what was actually paid (a common practice I know takes place), how can they say it is worth $16800? Well I figured that out too. Check out this link and you will see. What a crock! At least I went through a title guy that can possibly take care of it all for me. He said to send him the paperwork and he will call someone there directly and see what the deal is.

[biosurfer1]

Yep, this is what happens with old cars. The values start to go all over the map. A $1200 914? Possible...a $16800 914? Possible.

Without seeing the actual car, there is no way to tell. Wonder if there is a way to challenge it??

[JamesM]

I have been required to provide an explanation before when the sale value was below what they thought it should be, but never had them force a tax payment like this after the fact, that is insane.

Do anything you can to prove that is what you paid for it. Copy of the check, pics of any damage, state is not running/blown engine, purchased for restore whatever.

This is some insane BS when they are deciding the value of a car they have never seen, no questions asked, and then taxing you on it.

...and here I thought the California DMV was the worst

[chads74]

That happened last time I bought a car in Texas. They took the average price of the car and I had to pay taxes on that, just another way for the state to bend you over.

[last337]

Well like I said, I spoke with my title guy and he is going to call them and see what he can do. I know there are probably other ways of challenging it as well but Im sure they consist of going to an actual DMV. Fortunately I am going to one on Friday with my girlfriend so maybe I can resolve it with them in person if my title guy cant. I will bring them pics of the fuel leak and rust spots it had when I got it and see if they still think it is worth $16800 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[carr914]

There are definately ways to contest it, I'm sure States are different. I've had to do it 2-3 Times and always prevailed

[last337]

Fortunately I have some pics of it before I started working on it. I will just show the DMV agent those and see if they can fix it for me.

[chads74]

There are definately ways to contest it, I'm sure States are different. I've had to do it 2-3 Times and always prevailed

Good to know I'll have to keep that in mind for future cars and see how I do with other states. FL will be the next state I will have to deal with anyway, might have to get some pointers.

[wndsrfr]

EXACTLY.....same thing here in Virginia when I went to title Kermee....$16,800! Sooo....when I went to price my Raby kit '72 in For Sale...it was hard to shake that claim of "average price" of 16.8K. Then again as we all get to sooner or later we're selling a $20K "investment" for 'way less....but the experience is "Priceless..."

[last337]

EXACTLY.....same thing here in Virginia when I went to title Kermee....$16,800! Sooo....when I went to price my Raby kit '72 in For Sale...it was hard to shake that claim of "average price" of 16.8K. Then again as we all get to sooner or later we're selling a $20K "investment" for 'way less....but the experience is "Priceless..."

What happened with your situation? Were you able to contest it?

[toolguy]

Get a receipt from the seller for $1500 for a parts car, not running. . .

[mepstein]

I've never purchased a 914 for more than $500 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[somd914]

Maryland has an awful MVA (DMV for most states), but at least they are reasonable when buying a used car. If the car is less than 7 years old and the buyer submits a notarized bill of sale then taxes are based on the sales price, otherwise they use NADA with no adjustments for condition. If it is more than 7 years old it's the honor system - pay taxes on the claimed sales price, notary not required.

[aircooledtechguy]

A good practice is to ALWAYS get a recipt (hand written is fine) signed for an agreed price. Here in WA state if you don't have a bill of sale signed, they decide on the spot via computer what the car is worth (read that; the high end of the price range).

What I have done is to download a pic of a total parts car and load it onto my camera memory card. Then IF there is any question at DMV, I just whip out my camera and show them the photo and ask, "Does that look drivable to you??" Officially, I never pay more than $500-600 for a car. The way I see it, the've made more money than the value of any car over the past 30-40 years anyway. SCREW 'EM!!

[ruby914]

I know they could contact the seller to ensure I paid what I say I paid but I cant imagine he would even respond to them since he is out of state and has no reason to deal with excess paperwork with an out of state DMV. Even if the number was lowered on the bill of sale from what was actually paid (a common practice I know takes place), how can they say it is worth $16800?

I'm sure they have already sent the seller a letter. Ask me how I know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[bigkensteele]

*** Edit - just don't lie. They can really come after you if you do.

[euro911]

A Bill of Sale should be the document for determining DMV fee evaluation (aka: 'Use Tax' in CA), not some arbitrary number they conjure up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

State treasuries that are facing budget cuts (due to their own rampant over-spending) are employing more and more tactics to obtain revenue (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sheeplove.gif)

[last337]

The thing is that I did have a bill of sale BC the Nevada title didn't have a place to put the sale amount. It wasn't notarized but being from out of state it shouldn't need to be. Even if they did contact the seller and he gave them a different number, the bill of sale with his signature and mine says a different number. This isn't about that, its about whether they can get more money out of me or not. I'm sure its something flagged in their system based on make and year that gets reviewed and a letter goes out.

[dcecc1968]

Had a similar issue a few months back with a County Personal Property Tax office in NC.... was easily resolved with an email explanation and a few photos. Good Luck

[Woody]

You need to have the car appraised and submit that paperwork to the tax office. Maybe talk to your local dealership, explain your situation, and see if they're willing to help.