It's a done deal - I'm moving south! Need car info on TN vs AL

[RarlyL8]

Hey all!

As the title reads, it is a done deal. Offer was very good so we're moving south. The company is in Huntsville, AL so I can live in TN easy.

My question:

Which state is more car friendly?
- NO SMOG LAWS
- Cost of plates/registration
- Cost of personalized plates
- Any thing else you can think of

Dixie pelicanheads get ready for another PCA member!

[paulhagedorn]

Not sure about how the rest of the state is, but I assume it is very similar....

In Memphis, TN the smog laws are:
if you are in the city limits, you have to get smogged, but if you are outside the city limits but in the county, no smog. For example, I lived outside of memphis, but in Shelby county. I have never had to smog a car.

It is $85-88 per year for renewing the car tag where I am from.

I would guess that personalized plates are reasonable because my father has always had a personalized plate, and he wouldn't if it were ridiculous.

TN has no income tax, but the taxes on food and the like can get pretty bad. In Memphis, the current sales tax is 9.25% or something along those lines.

[WOODPIE]

RarlyL8

Hello! If the number of Alabama cars I've seen doubling as mosquito foggers is any indication, I'd say that state is more lax with regards to smog laws, but that's just a guess.

In the "anything else you can think of" department, on a Xmas shopping trip to Chattanooga last year, I was shocked to pay 9% sales tax! That might vary a little from area to area, but it tells me the base is probably 7% at the least. On the other hand, I'm told Alabama has no state income tax, but their sales tax is 8%.

Welcome to Dixie!

Ed

[RarlyL8]

Thanks guys!

How about property tax? Any different in AL vs TN?

[jabb]

This might be a good place you can do some research.
Has housing data and Economic information

http://www.census.gov/

[5axis]

Congratulations on getting things back on track so quickly. I am also very jealous since you will now enjoy a much extended P car season.. It's nice for February here, but it's still a long time before the car makes it back onto the Illinois roads. Have a great time rippling that southern pavement.
David 89 turbo cab
chillin in the far west Chicago burbs

[RarlyL8]

I regret not making it to any Chicago area events. We had a local PCA meeting a couple of weeks ago and agreed to do a few events with the Chicago PCA this summer. I obviously won't be able to attend.

The weather in AL is really nice right now. When I returned to IL friday it was ~40F in Huntsville AL at 10am. By the time I got to Indy IN at 4pm it was 28F and snowing hard. It took me an hour and a half to get through Indy and another two hours to drive the 75 miles from Brownsburg IN to home in IL. I thought I was going to die many times. Can't say I'll miss that.

[dgcate]

RarelyL8,

In a recent study (some of which is quoted at Ecomony.com):

1) Tennessee ranked the "South's most tax-friendly state".

2) Tennessee ranks 3rd nationally, only falling to Wyoming and Alaska.

3) Average state and local taxes here are less than 1/2 of the U.S. Median for all states

4) Without a tax on wages, the average working Tennessean pays $3,205 in state and local taxes per year. By comparison: Georgians pay $$6,321. The national median is $6,491.

5) Nationally, Alabama ranks 17th in state and local taxes.
Georgia ranks 23rd.

6) Property taxes: In TN, the only personal property tax I have to pay is on real estate, I pay $1300/year on my home accessed at $215K.
No tax on cars. I pay $24 dollars a year for my licsence plate.
In the 44 years I've lived here, I've never even heard any talk of any kind of smog law enactment.

7) If you want cheap gas, go to GA, they have some of the lowest tax on gas in the Nation. If you want low-overall taxes, come here. No study I'm aware of has ever placed TN lower than 3rd in the nation for low taxes. In N. Carolina, where I work, I have a friend who pays state tax on her pug! They even tax her pet!

[s2per]

Good to hear you're coming south--you're going to enjoy your car so much more of the year! Don't forget to look us up again when you visit with little brudder!

[dgcate]

Also, our Moonshine's worldclass. Stuff will turns ordinary cousins into beauy queens.

[RarlyL8]

Ha! That's a good one.
Glad to hear about the taxes - it looks like I could get the best of both worlds. Huntsville is ~20 miles from the TN border. I'll give jabbs web site a whirl and see what else turns up.

Tim - good to hear from you! I'll definitely give you a buzz when we visit Tampa. It would be great to attend a winter P-event at Sebring.

For all who have e-mailed me about the garage sale - it is up in the air. The company I'm going to agreed to move it for me. Don't know if I want to re-store it all but I doubt if I'll have time to sell it off in bits, we'll see.

[tryan]

east tn..mountains and fun roads...relativly cheap property taxes, no income tax (yet), high sales tax. no vehicle inspection( we need one, alot of unsafe/smokin cars on the road).


dgcate......you must soak cherries in your moonshine. two cherries and your gone.

[Joeaksa]

Rarely,

Good to hear that you bounced back so fast. Just think, now the jerk who was playing games with you at work is freezing, you will be in the nice warm weather down South...

Used to make 'shine when I was in Saudi. Was taught by a Southern boy... 186 proof was the best I was able to squeeze out and it sure did the job. Bet you can find some good stuff where you are going!

Joe

[beamonk]

Either place is cheap tp live, but the Tn. border is pretty sparce until you get to Nashville. If you feel a little more metropolitan, live around Huntsville. My property Tax in Tuscaloosa was $450. Although, the countryside in that area is quite pretty. See ya soon!
John

[dean]

We came through TN on our way back from Ashville NC. There were some nice P-car roads in TN

[beamonk]

Rarely, I have a car guy friend in Huntsville who works for NASA and another who owns the Harley dealership there. They are great guys and will be glad to show you the ropes.
John

[DonDavis]

I grew up in the Tri City area of East TN. I had motorcycles back then and we would "run the mountain" at South Holston Lake on 421 over into Shady Valley.

Rarly, I do miss living in TN.

Are there any Pelicanites on the board from that area or is Knox-vegas the closest? We are going to be there in late March for a week and would like to see some TN Porsches if possible.

[BlkBird]

RarlyL8,

Congrats on getting back into the workforce so quickly!

Two good reasons for moving to the South (I know, I moved from Toronto Canada).

1) Drove around yesterday with the cab roof down, soaking in those rays. Blasting past the other cars, listening to the whine of a Turbo stretching out its legs.

2) Road Atlanta.

Congrats again,

[APKhaos]

Ahhh yes, Road Atlanta!!

Congrats on the new start, Rarely - good men rise to the top of the pile.

[RarlyL8]

Thanks for the good word. Hard to believe I was off work for 4 months.
It was a very welcome long overdue vacation. The opportunity is way too good to pass up. The area I live in now is and will always be home. That's a little tough.

But - I really am looking forward to those curvy southern roads, no snow, and meeting new Porsche folks!