Moving to GA ? on car registration tax

[NoRush993/951]

Was considering a move to Atlanta and read about the GA 7% car title registration tax on the current retail value applied to all incoming new resident's autos. Tax applies to any year auto and based on their current assessed retail value. Sounds like a money grab to me and can't believe double taxation is legal. (Meaning sales taxes paid in prior state and then retaxed again on GA entry). Anyone have any experience with this to share?

[legion]

I moved to Georgia for one year. It cost me around $2000 to register two cars for that year.

[MBAtarga]

That might be a big $$ hit when you move here, but tag renewal will cost you only $20/year/car and about $20/year/car for emissions testing if your car is "newer" than 25 yrs of age (exempt otherwise.) The 7% tax is federal tax deductible (assuming you itemize.)

[Steve Carlton]

Doesn't sound too peachy.

[rattlsnak]

They made this change a few years ago. 2013 i think? EVerybody used to pay ad valorem taxes every year on each car that was based on value but then they changed it to a one time fee. Older cars were grandfathered in, but anything after the cutoff has to pay the one time huge fee. An example, my 993 was about $325.00 a year and when I got my 996 the new law gone into effect and it was a one time fee of @$1,500.


Just found this> Motor vehicles purchased on or after March 1, 2013 and titled in this state are exempt from sales and use tax and annual ad valorem tax, also known as the "birthday tax". These taxes are replaced by a one-time tax that is imposed on the fair market value of the vehicle called the title ad valorem tax fee ("TAVT").

Here is the calculator. https://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/tap/welcome.aspx

[masraum]

Florida did something similar many, many years ago (25) and that was eventually thrown out and refunds given. I'm not saying that will happen in GA.

[Chocaholic]

It's to discourage more people from moving here. We're full!

[NutmegCarrera]

I moved there in 2012. Paid more to keep my 2011 Subaru registered in 3 years than I paid in sales tax originally. Ad valorem tax is their name for it.
We were in cobb county. It does vary by location.
I left there this year. Needless to say, I've gotten three reminders that my ad valorem tax is due.
Yes. It is a money grab.
Yes. There are many additional hidden costs to living there. Financially and otherwise.
Moving back to WI my auto and homeowners insurance dropped by over $2k/year.
Others are utility cost (run 3 A/C units non stop in a home with low R-value insulation for 9mos of the year) and the need for termite mitigation and other stuff you don't realize you need until your HOA tells you about it - oh, the HOA dues are another 600-1000/year.
It never seemed to end.

[NoRush993/951]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

They made this change a few years ago. 2013 i think? EVerybody used to pay ad valorem taxes every year on each car that was based on value but then they changed it to a one time fee. Older cars were grandfathered in, but anything after the cutoff has to pay the one time huge fee. An example, my 993 was about $325.00 a year and when I got my 996 the new law gone into effect and it was a one time fee of @$1,500.


Just found this> Motor vehicles purchased on or after March 1, 2013 and titled in this state are exempt from sales and use tax and annual ad valorem tax, also known as the "birthday tax". These taxes are replaced by a one-time tax that is imposed on the fair market value of the vehicle called the title ad valorem tax fee ("TAVT").

Here is the calculator. https://onlinemvd.dor.ga.gov/tap/welcome.aspx

Thank you guys for the responses.
I ran my vin #'s thru the dmv calculator and it's over $10k.
If that isn't robbery I don't know what is.

[NoRush993/951]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

I moved there in 2012. Paid more to keep my 2011 Subaru registered in 3 years than I paid in sales tax originally. Ad valorem tax is their name for it.
We were in cobb county. It does vary by location.
I left there this year. Needless to say, I've gotten three reminders that my ad valorem tax is due.
Yes. It is a money grab.
Yes. There are many additional hidden costs to living there. Financially and otherwise.
Moving back to WI my auto and homeowners insurance dropped by over $2k/year.
Others are utility cost (run 3 A/C units non stop in a home with low R-value insulation for 9mos of the year) and the need for termite mitigation and other stuff you don't realize you need until your HOA tells you about it - oh, the HOA dues are another 600-1000/year.
It never seemed to end.

I never thought of the termite costs. I'll have to look into this further.
What was the last straw that drove you back North?
Thank you for the insight.

[legion]

I will say this, I didn't like my work situation, my commute, or my HOA in Georgia, but the state (and most of the counties) was very well run. Property taxes were very low, and I never saw money get wasted quite like I see happen here.

[NutmegCarrera]

NoRush-
To the above - the termite costs aren't huge, but you need to tack on the additional bug mitigation (roaches, spiders, scorpions, etc...), and God forbid fire ants turn up.
The last straw was my work situation.
If you like the job and the environment where you're going - it's probably a good deal.
For me, work was not what I had anticipated. The commute was not fun. Changing jobs "locally" would have necessitated a move within the area. So, going back to a location we know was the conservative bet.

[Tobra]

If you think that is bad, be glad you are not moving to California

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by NoRush993/951

Thank you guys for the responses.
I ran my vin #'s thru the dmv calculator and it's over $10k.
If that isn't robbery I don't know what is.

For how many cars? That doesn't seem right. And annual termite fees are @$300 a year.

[Chocaholic]

Of course, you can buy a 4000 sq foot house on 2 acres for 1/3 of the cost almost anywhere else (property taxes would be under $4k/yr). Yep, termite bond is $300/yr. HOA dues is up to you. Sure, buy into a managed and manicured area and your dues keep it that way. But lots of alternatives around. And unless you have 9 cars, your calculation seems off. Lastly, I buy a $20 bottle of bug spray at Home Depot and treat my house twice a year. Problem solved.

The biggest complaint is traffic, especially if you buy on the north side of town. And of course we have anacondas, coyotes, bears, scorpions and buzzards.

[gogriz91]

The registration tax is a statewide screw job. If you're moving to Atlanta get prepared to be screwed more by emissions, traffic etc. i live in a more rural area and my property taxes per year are about a dollar per square foot of my house. Things seem to be pretty well run, have a good HVAC guy on speed dial and get ready for a lot of car events. Road Atlanta, Talladega, Barber Motorsports Park and even Daytona are manageable drives. This is about the best free car show on any given month you'll get to see Caffeine And Octane and there's a huge car community here for most makes.

[NoRush993/951]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

For how many cars? That doesn't seem right. And annual termite fees are @$300 a year.

Six cars in the family. The DB9 is the killer in the group. The old Porsches valued low. However their valuation on 993's is in the teens. Anyone transfer a 993 lately for real time valuation?

Thanks again to all for the insight! It's most appreciated.

[fintstone]

I lived in Georgia a few years and have had a rental there for decades. Overall, it is a reasonable state to live in if you make the right choices. If the Atlanta metro area, commutes are really tough and the mass transit does not work as well as some areas (to take you downtown from the beautifully manicured suburbia)....so depending on if you need the good schools in the suburbs or not...you might want to try to get a bit more expensive place in a gentrified area. I would certainly return there to live depending on job situation, etc. In general, gas prices are low, water and garbage pick-up is cheap, the climate is reasonable, home prices are low, etc. You can buy where there is no HOA if you choose...and much of the state is rural. Like most of "fly-over" America, if not in a major metro area and have a decent income, you can live like a king IMHO...although you might have to put up with lesser choice in services, restaurants, etc..

There is a big difference between counties as far as county taxes. For example, when I lived there, folks who worked in northern Fulton County bought just across the county line in Forsythe County.

I don't know if it is the same in GA (changed since I lived there), but we have something similar tax wise for autos in VA. where mine are registered now. Fortunately, in VA, they value all older cars at $200 (I would guess my 911s are worth about $35 and $40K respectively and both are valued at $200)...so they cost me little.

Do you still work? If so, what is the general area where you intend to work? Downtown? North part of the city?

[willtel]

Originally Posted by NoRush993/951

Six cars in the family. The DB9 is the killer in the group. The old Porsches valued low. However their valuation on 993's is in the teens. Anyone transfer a 993 lately for real time valuation?

Thanks again to all for the insight! It's most appreciated.

They don't place any collector value on old cars, if you pay $50k for a 993 the tax is still based on what they think it is worth. I have 5 cars that total less than $400 a year but 4 of them are over 25 years old, newest is a 2008.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

And of course we have anacondas, coyotes, bears, scorpions and buzzards.

You left out the *&^_% fire ants!