regestering a car

[OZ FMX]

one thing i always wanted to know is how you americans get their cars on the road considering i've seen some dead set crap heaps with more rust than the titanic and more garage structual mods than a back yard chop shop!

here in aus your car has to be rego checked by a mechanic and if 1 thing is wrong and it doesnt meet requirements you have to have it fixed or else you cant have it rego'd
if you passed you then have to go to the RTA (aussie version of DMV) and fork out amlost a $1000 (the festi was $780) for a sticker saying you car can be on the road for another year

any frame, major body mods or engine swaps to a bigger or diffrent size motor has to be engineered certified and this will set you back between $600-800

[jeffdjeffd]

This varies by each state here in the US. In Indiana, probably one of the more lax states, we have no annual inspections. No one but myself even knows I have a B6 in my car (well, except the big silver "1.6" I've got on the back of the car). I have a running '91 that I'll be registering soon as an '88 that I still have the title and vin plate from

Some states are more strict. In a way, it would be nice to see some of the crap off the road - but then we'd have rednecks walking the streets all over the place! :wink:
jeff

[mattswabb]

In ohio we have emission testing in some counties and that's all. Just about anything goes. I've seen cars without doors, body panels held on by tie down straps, no bumpers, rust holes you can stick your head thru, etc..

[Taylor_cook]

in texas there is manditory state safety inpections every year. in some counties there is emissions testing, depending on the smog and whatnot in the area. the safety test costs $12.50 and must be paid whether you pass or fail. all out of state vehicles that are to be registered in state must pass emissions. there is also state tax every year (i think it was about $90 on my 2000 galant). in all of texas insurance is required, in my county (bexar) if you get stopped without insurance they tow your car at your cost and give you 15 days to retrieve it from impound WITH insurance or they auction

[jeffdjeffd]

Oh, yeah - we still pay taxes, but it is prorated as the car gets older. My wifes 02 minivan had over $400 in excise taxes this year (4 years old!!!). The 93 Festiva, 92 Silverado and 66 Corvair were a whopping $12.50 each. Kind of encourages old cars, even!
jeff

[miami man]

registering cars

in Missouri in some areas you have to have the emissions tested and worst if you have a salvage title you have to go to the state troupers to get the inspection in which they nit pick the body dents. i have a friend that has a towing company that junks the cars rather selling one with a salvage title because of the headaches.

[freshtiva]

In the US, sales tax (percentage of original cost ) must be paid my the original owner. Then if that person sells the car, the second owner has to pay sales tax again on the same vehicle, at the price they bought it for. This repeats and sales tax must be paid by each new owner there after for the price they bought it for, even though the sales tax was paid by the original owner. We must also pay property( tax on any real property you own, including vehicles) in order to get your car licensed, which is in essence, renting your property from the government. If you dont pay your property taxes on your real estate they sell your real estate on the court house steps to pay for the taxes. Since no one want to drive an unsafe vehicle, the inspections, fees, penalties, etc are just sources of income for the state to waste on building the bureaucracy.

If you drive a car they'll tax the streets, if you walk, they'll tax your feet.

Still proud to live in the USA

[OZ FMX]

sounds like here in aus, we've got a GST (goods and services tax) this is on EVERYTHING!!!!! any thing you buy or have done or both you get slogged 10% gst of the price

[freshtiva]

A famous American once wrote : "Two things are certain in this life, death and taxes."

Id like to see Aus someday, if I could only get the festiva to fly or float.

[getnhi1]

In TX they don't care if you drive a bail of hay, as long as it doesn't pollute. Dallas is real bad, they have sensors set up at freeway on ramps to detect polluters. Some counties charge a property tax on vehicles 10 yrs and newer. Not fair because you pay tax on the sales price when you buy it.

I got my Aspire from Austin Tx because it failed emissions and they couldn't find the part. Not a prob here yet.

[TJinPgh]

PA is a weird state when it comes to inspections. It varies by county as to whether or not you need emissions.

(The feds attempted to force statewide state run emissions for everybody in PA a few years back while we were under Gov. Ridge, trying to hold federal highway funds to get us to comply. Thankfully, Ridge told 'em to go to hell)

I've seen them overlook some pretty severe problems with cars. Note that driving the car isn't actually part of the state inspection so if it doesn't present itself with a visual inspection, it's not considered an issue.

On the other hand, I've seen them flunk cars for some extremely petty "problems." Needing to change your windshield wipers, for example, can get you flunked.

I actually found out that there's a state law in the books that says if you have a tear in your seat they are supposed to flunk the car. Seat covers or tape repairs are not supposed to be acceptable. I've never known of a car to actually flunk because of that one, though.

Beyond that, we inspect and register our cars annually here in PA. $34/year for a little sticker to put on our license plate. Anywhere from $30 to $70 for the state inspection with emissions testing (all state inspection stations are licensed by the state, but independently owned unless part of a chain).

[BossMan]

:wink: Kansas does not have an emissions requirement as of yet, so that's good news. I did come from California and I think it was the toughest! Annual emissions testing or no registering. They're really strict on mods too. I'm glad in the land of OZ there is nothing. I share the roads with tractors sometimes!

I wonder how that guy with a Harley Davidson engine in his Festy gets through emissions testing? :lol:

[takeone51]

i love Florida, we have no inspections or emissions but muffler shops will still weld a cat on your ride.

[curtnuggets]

only inspections that i know of in Nebraska are
(1)if you register a car from out of state,they check the VIN. to make sure it isn't stolen.
(2) If your car is so heinous or modded that it attracts the police attention, they can force you to get a safety/emissions inspection.

I'm seen some pretty horrible piles of metal going down the road. Worst i can remember was a Honda civic that looked like it had been in multiple accidents. The radiator was leaking and steaming all over the place as it sat at a stop light. the windshield had two circular spider web spots where i suspect driver and passenger heads had hit. It had "crash test toy" spray painted on the sides and crumpled hood.

[takeone51]

awsome , i bet that guy was an extra from 2 fast 2 furious..