Watch out for Michigan Secretary of State BIG MONEY GRAB

[540964]

Today was my birthday so I went to the Michigan Secretary of State to renew license plates for my cars and trucks. My 911 has collector insurance and coverage isn't automatically reported to Secretary of State so I have to furnish proof.
The gal behind the counter asks if the insurance includes liability because they will be calling the insurance company to check and if the car has storage only insurance they will cancel my renewed plate! While not a problem for me because the insurance on the 911 is always in force but reduced in price because it's known that the car is stored in winter. But, I think many guys drop liability from a collectible car that isn't driven in the winter months so the unilateral action of the Secretary seems a bit unreasonable to me.
This is on top of the fact that Michigan requires renewal of expired plate every year and you must pay the full year fee...you cannot pay a prorated fee if the car was stored like you once could. Also, if you delay beyond a short time allowance, they charge a penalty for late renewal.
So, I'm being told that I have to renew the plate within a certain period or risk a penalty but that I also have to have liability coverage on a vehicle that isn't being driven?
Talk about a money grab. The office manager told me that if I didn't agree I should discuss it with my legislator!
How can the State insist I renew the plate for the whole year, assess a penalty fee for late renewal and require me to have liability on a car that is parked?
I don't get it.

[ThomO]

Remember the Secretary of state is a division of the department of revenue.

I grew up in Michigan I now live in Denver I wish I could pay Michigan fees. Before we left we got new plates on our two cars less than 200. Moved to Denver same cars 6 months later 1300 dollars

[ckelly78z]

They are in charge....that's why. They don't even own cars, they get driven around in a government issued stretch limo.

[john70t]

They got rid of non-op registration:
Michigan Car Registration Guide - Renewals, Online & Mail Options, Forms, & Fees - DMV.org

Even storing a piece of metal mass(object) requires private insurance for it to even exist, in the mind of 'The State'.
Automobiles only....
No insurance required on the heavy rock in my front yard.

That said, the gracious State of Michigan returned far more taxes than I ever expected compared to Federal.
And the additional fines are invested locally.

The yearly costs are much less than a daily Starbucks.

[stevej37]

I changed to State Farm a couple years ago and now pay less than $10/month each to insure both the 78 and 84 911 for year round driving. (no collision ins.)
When buying plates, I buy a new one for the 78 and transfer it to the 84. Then by buying another new plate for the 78, I save over $100 because of the diff rates. Lady working at the sec of state explained to me how to do this!

[group911@aol.co]

Behind every regulation is a company making money. Michigan has nothing to gain by requiring it but some lobbyist and the company that hired them sure did.

Originally Posted by 540964

Today was my birthday so I went to the Michigan Secretary of State to renew license plates for my cars and trucks. My 911 has collector insurance and coverage isn't automatically reported to Secretary of State so I have to furnish proof.
The gal behind the counter asks if the insurance includes liability because they will be calling the insurance company to check and if the car has storage only insurance they will cancel my renewed plate! While not a problem for me because the insurance on the 911 is always in force but reduced in price because it's known that the car is stored in winter. But, I think many guys drop liability from a collectible car that isn't driven in the winter months so the unilateral action of the Secretary seems a bit unreasonable to me.
This is on top of the fact that Michigan requires renewal of expired plate every year and you must pay the full year fee...you cannot pay a prorated fee if the car was stored like you once could. Also, if you delay beyond a short time allowance, they charge a penalty for late renewal.
So, I'm being told that I have to renew the plate within a certain period or risk a penalty but that I also have to have liability coverage on a vehicle that isn't being driven?
Talk about a money grab. The office manager told me that if I didn't agree I should discuss it with my legislator!
How can the State insist I renew the plate for the whole year, assess a penalty fee for late renewal and require me to have liability on a car that is parked?
I don't get it.

[Por_sha911]

I am against big govt creating bogus taxes to fund tax and spend policies. That said, I don't see where you have a complaint. You are registering a tag for one year. It is not a month to month plan. It doesn't matter whether you use it. Do you ask the phone company for a refund if you didn't use the home phone for a few months while you were out of town? If you want to cancel your phone service for six months fine but you will pay a fee to have it setup again...
I think the policies you are seeing are designed to prevent people from trying to not pay for insurance but then get tempted to drive on a nice day (early spring or moving the car from one storage place to another). Uninsured motorists suck.

[540964]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I am against big govt creating bogus taxes to fund tax and spend policies. That said, I don't see where you have a complaint. You are registering a tag for one year. It is not a month to month plan. It doesn't matter whether you use it. Do you ask the phone company for a refund if you didn't use the home phone for a few months while you were out of town? If you want to cancel your phone service for six months fine but you will pay a fee to have it setup again...
I think the policies you are seeing are designed to prevent people from trying to not pay for insurance but then get tempted to drive on a nice day (early spring or moving the car from one storage place to another). Uninsured motorists suck.

The phone company has nothing to do with it.
1. The state demands that the plate be purchased for a full year and penalizes late renewal.
2. A collectable car may have only fire and theft coverage for winter months or more depending on the owners free time
3. The state can cancel the plate they forced the collector to buy if they learn that That collector has no liability coverage. No mechanism in the law for the collector?
What's fair about that? Can they force me to have full coverage? Of corse not, no more than they can force me to drive the car.
Of course the law is an attempt to catch uninsured "drivers." (But wouldn't that be discriminatory?)
Why penalize the collector?
Government overreach with little regard for individual rights.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by 540964

The phone company has nothing to do with it.
1. The state demands that the plate be purchased for a full year and penalizes late renewal.
2. A collectable car may have only fire and theft coverage for winter months or more depending on the owners free time
3. The state can cancel the plate they forced the collector to buy if they learn that That collector has no liability coverage. No mechanism in the law for the collector?
What's fair about that? Can they force me to have full coverage? Of corse not, no more than they can force me to drive the car.
Of course the law is an attempt to catch uninsured "drivers." (But wouldn't that be discriminatory?)
Why penalize the collector?
Government overreach with little regard for individual rights.

The collector car owner is a minority compared to the majority of drivers. Making laws applicable to every minority owner group is cost prohibitive from a management perspective. Managing month to month registrations would be a huge fail for the state I'm sure. Managing collector plates might not - I think some states have those but any car registered to drive on the road being required to have liability insurance doesn't seem like an over-reach to me. In CA you can switch the registration to 'Planned non-operational' (PNO) which is a low fee to do. Once you're ready to have it back on the road you can switch it back via the registration process. When it is PNO it can't be on the road and doesn't require insurance. Suggest the process to your legislature like the woman said - it isn't an unreasonable thing to do. Write a letter.

You're already spent more time here complaining about it and we can't even do anything about it.

[john70t]

Michigan used to have Planned Non Op, but doesn't anymore.
I can see where the OP has a valid point.

1). Let's say you've been storing a rusty 1971 Hemi Cuda in the garage, planning to fix it up one day for your kid.
It needs a lot of work.
You don't have the money right now. Times are tough.
The car is not going anywhere.
The state requires collision insurance just to store it.
Huh? Forcing collision insurance on a non-moving vehicle?

2). Same with any garage or private collection of auto investments.

The policy basically destroys the affordable vintage car market because it nullifies the chassis for future use.
(Big bucks have to be paid to either insurance companies or the state.)

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by 540964

The phone company has nothing to do with it.

a·nal·o·gy
əˈnaləjē/Submit
noun
a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Originally Posted by 540964

1. The state demands that the plate be purchased for a full year and penalizes late renewal.
2. A collectable car may have only fire and theft coverage for winter months or more depending on the owners free time
3. The state can cancel the plate they forced the collector to buy if they learn that That collector has no liability coverage. No mechanism in the law for the collector?
What's fair about that? Can they force me to have full coverage? Of corse not, no more than they can force me to drive the car.
Of course the law is an attempt to catch uninsured "drivers." (But wouldn't that be discriminatory?)
Why penalize the collector?
Government overreach with little regard for individual rights.

You are asking the state to create a costly system to help save a few bucks to accommodate a small number of people who own collectible automobiles.
Everyone buys a tag for one year even though not everyone uses the car year round. You can afford the collectible car. Put your big boy pants on, quit whining over having to pay a few extra bucks.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Government doesn't want people owning older cars. They (and the interests they represent - automakers, insurance companies, oil / energy companies and of course themselves) make a lot more when people are forced to buy newer vehicles. They also milk it for political mileage with "green" interests since newer cars are touted as being more eco-friendly.

Most states seem to be adopting similar "disincentives" to people owning older vehicles in order to force them into newer ones.

[540964]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

a·nal·o·gy
əˈnaləjē/Submit
noun
a comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

You are asking the state to create a costly system to help save a few bucks to accommodate a small number of people who own collectible automobiles.
Everyone buys a tag for one year even though not everyone uses the car year round. You can afford the collectible car. Put your big boy pants on, quit whining over having to pay a few extra bucks.

Again you miss the point entirely. The cost has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[GH85Carrera]

I would think the insurance for a non moving, non drivable car would be very minimal.

I see you point that forcing you to insure and tag a lump of steel is expensive but the crooks and no-insurance bums are your real enemy.

[540964]

My point was that the 'State' requires plate renewal within a certain time period but then threatens to cancel the renewed plate that they forced on the citizen if they learn the car has no liability coverage. Why does a parked car require liability? Seems draconian to me.
Too much government

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by 540964

I don't get it.

You want special consideration for special conditions, in affect you think you are entitled to some sort of equality which only you can define.

The State of Michigan does not see you as special, only your mother does.

Life is unfair, get over it with a beer.

[ILXLR8]

Why does Michigan demand liability insurance for every car? Actually pretty tricky! Every liability insurance policy has a $200 per year tax buried into the price. Just found this out last year when I went to get insurance on a used motorcycle purchase. I have a home in Illinois and also Michigan so I got a quote from my State Farm Agents from each state. $130 for Illinois and $330 for Michigan. The Michigan agent told me that the $200's extra is a tax that is collected to assist people that are injured by people that do not have liability insurance. Very, very profitable for Michigan!

[romad]

The state only knows what you tell them....Michigan is no fault thats why. Also, Michigan use to pro-rate plates.....I even played the game. roll the dice many times when I didn't have the money..... Drive a couple months on a expired plate and then get a discount......state just recently got wise to this. Also collector plates are red flags, just get a regular plate. Update your insurance just before spring and carry on.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by 540964

Again you miss the point entirely. The cost has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Sorry but I ain't buying that. Your quotes:
"Watch out for Michigan Secretary of State BIG MONEY GRAB"
"Michigan requires renewal of expired plate every year and you must pay the full year fee...you cannot pay a prorated fee if the car was stored like you once could."
"or risk a penalty"
"Talk about a money grab."
"The state demands that the plate be purchased for a full year and penalizes late renewal."
"Why penalize the collector?"

There is no complaint or penalty other than money. Were you sent to bed without supper? Don't whine about your first world problem. Suck it up an pay the few bucks.