Texas Registration & Insurance Prices?

[TexAirS]

Now that you have picked a state, Texas, pick a county. Most likely Livingston where Escapees is located. Now title your TV and TT and pay the vehicle tax of 6.25 percent in this county. Now worry about registration and insurance.


Texas has the two step process for subsequent annual registration. Inspection, then registration. You can register a vehicle annually without inspection online and receive the sticker. But as soon as you return to the state, the vehicle must be inspected in your county.


John

[TxDave]

We are full timing with a Texas domicile address. Using my in-laws address. Insurance on our 31' Sovereign and our Ford Expedition runs about $95 per month total. We have a mailbox service that cost $6 per month. Pretty cheap living.

[TravisH]

Originally Posted by TexAirS

Now that you have picked a state, Texas, pick a county. Most likely Livingston where Escapees is located. Now title your TV and TT and pay the vehicle tax of 6.25 percent in this county. Now worry about registration and insurance.


Texas has the two step process for subsequent annual registration. Inspection, then registration. You can register a vehicle annually without inspection online and receive the sticker. But as soon as you return to the state, the vehicle must be inspected in your county.


John

You don't have to pay vehicle tax on a vehicle already registered and tax paid in another state do you?

Trav

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by TravisH

You don't have to pay vehicle tax on a vehicle already registered and tax paid in another state do you?

Trav

If you wish to get a Texas title (and tags & registration), then you'll need to pay the 6.25% tax. If you're not registering in TX, then no problems.

On a slightly related note--looking at The Weather Channel, I'm fearful that Texas insurance rates will be headed upwards after Laura blows through....

[primepower]

Not according to their website. If you are moving to the state registering your vehicles from out of state cost $90 for the use tax, no sales tax.

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/.../sales-use.php

Originally Posted by jaybauman

If you wish to get a Texas title (and tags & registration), then you'll need to pay the 6.25% tax. If you're not registering in TX, then no problems.

On a slightly related note--looking at The Weather Channel, I'm fearful that Texas insurance rates will be headed upwards after Laura blows through....

[TexAirS]

It's the greater of $90 or the difference of other state's sale tax and TX sales tax at 6.25 percent. So, if the other state sales tax is lower, you make up the difference. And then there's the metro fee, bridge fee, etc. My out of state trailer was around $150. Still gotta pick your county. And there are 254 of them.

Trailer insurance is about $400 a year in Travis County.


John

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by primepower

Not according to their website. If you are moving to the state registering your vehicles from out of state cost $90 for the use tax, no sales tax.

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/.../sales-use.php

Originally Posted by TexAirS

It's the greater of $90 or the difference of other state's sale tax and TX sales tax at 6.25 percent. So, if the other state sales tax is lower, you make up the difference. And then there's the metro fee, bridge fee, etc. My out of state trailer was around $150. Still gotta pick your county. And there are 254 of them.

Yes, thanks for the correction. I just recall having to write a very large check to register our vehicles when I was transferred to Texas from Delaware. Delaware has very low taxes on vehicle purchases.

[Cap-N-Red]

I was going to suggest checking with Escapees in Livingston Texas. I have a couple of friends that full time they are Escapee members and it solves their problems.

[primepower]

I don't understand why Texas would charge a sales tax for a vehicle that was purchased years ago in another state. On their website it appeared to me that it is only a use tax if you are not a Texas resident and are moving to the state with a vehicle purchased out of state.

Originally Posted by jaybauman

Yes, thanks for the correction. I just recall having to write a very large check to register our vehicles when I was transferred to Texas from Delaware. Delaware has very low taxes on vehicle purchases.

[TexAirS]

If Texas doesn't get the difference of another state's lower and it's 6.25 sales/use tax, there's no reason to purchase a vehicle in Texas. I'll go to Delaware for my next TV and TT. Register them in TX for $90 and save a couple of grand.


John

[primepower]

I understand if you're a Texas resident. I am currently a Washington state resident and when I retire from the military I plan to move to Texas. I do not find it fair that I would have to pay sales tax in Texas for all the vehicles I bring with me and have purchased over the last 10 years while living in other states.

Originally Posted by TexAirS

If Texas doesn't get the difference of another state's lower and it's 6.25 sales/use tax, there's no reason to purchase a vehicle in Texas. I'll go to Delaware for my next TV and TT. Register them in TX for $90 and save a couple of grand.


John

[zapper]

Originally Posted by DCPAS

Small correction. Texas registered trailers need an annual inspection if gross weight rating exceeds 7,500 lbs.

Absolutely true. However, if the trailer is out of state, you can still get the license tags by internet. If you travel thru Texas, I believe you have 3 days after entry into the state to get the inspection. The trick is always be traveling to an inspection station while in Texas.

[TexAirS]

We'll, don't forget about the spv factor when you go to title a vehicle in TX. A 10 year old vehicle won't be worth much. My 13 yo Santa Fe has a standard presumptive value of $2500. So, is it $156 or $90 to title the vehicle?



John

[wrhnco68]

Originally Posted by primepower

I understand if you're a Texas resident. I am currently a Washington state resident and when I retire from the military I plan to move to Texas. I do not find it fair that I would have to pay sales tax in Texas for all the vehicles I bring with me and have purchased over the last 10 years while living in other states.

I don't know what the sales tax rate that you paid was when you bought the vehicle but its pretty clear that the only tax you would be liable for when you move is the DIFFERENCE between the sales tax where you purchased it and the appropriate Texas sales tax. The idea is that there should be no advantage to purchasing it in a low tax locale and then immediately taking it to Texas.

[primepower]

I understand that however shouldn't there be a time limit to that? For instance a year or two. They shouldn't be able to charge you the sales tax difference from a vehicle purchased 5 years ago while one was a resident of another state.

[Pipsqueak]

To my knowledge, Texas only charges tax on vehicles when being bought. If they are bought in a different state, then you pay the difference between that state and our 6.25%. I don't believe that ever applies to vehicles purchased years prior.

[matthewk]

See if you can insure it as personal property, like a watch, jewelry or wine collection. Liability is taken care of by the tow vehicle.

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by Pipsqueak

To my knowledge, Texas only charges tax on vehicles when being bought. If they are bought in a different state, then you pay the difference between that state and our 6.25%. I don't believe that ever applies to vehicles purchased years prior.

This is incorrect...or at least it was when I got transferred to Texas a few years ago. According to TXDOT:

As a new resident, you also will pay sales tax-related fees required by the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts. Sales tax fees on a vehicle can be $90 or the difference between your previous state's sales tax and the Texas sales tax.

Coming from a state with very low tax rates, I had quite a surprise when it came time to vehicle registration.

[primepower]

Do they charge you the difference in the sales tax percentage on the current worth of the vehicle or RV or of the purchase price?

[rsb]

Try Val Verde County... amazing insurance rates (at least compared to the rest of Texas). The RV park mine sits at is $50/mo in Del Rio TX.