Money Saving DMV Tips

[Rocksurfer]

Since the DMV puts the hurt on in trying to register just about any vehicle I thought I'd share on a money saving tip that I used to save on my weight fees for the Roll-Along. If you register a commercial vehicle such as a truck or van that is required to report the GVWR you are going to be hit hard in the hip pocket depending on your rating. Well the Roll-Along comes in with a 14,995 rating so we are talking some major cash at the DMV, if I hadn't done this one little thing it would have been almost $400.00 in fees and this is on an older truck so I could imagine what a new truck would cost. In the end I pay only $90.00 in fees now, which is a big savings. Sadly for most you can't get this fee waiver unless you have disabled plates but those that do should put them on your tow rigs, all of the weight fees are waved, I know there are those here that have permanent disabilities and can benefit from this little unknown rule.

So who else knows of how you can save a couple bucks at the DMV? Post them here so that we all can benefit from your experiences at the DMV.

[emsvitil]

Does it need the disabled plates or is a placard good enough?


Share the registration with a parent (OR clause on registration) that has a placard............

[brainlessfool]

you can permanetly (sp?) mont a shell. drops wight fees too.

[yoshaleng]

you can permanetly (sp?) mont a shell. drops wight fees too.

X2 for some reason the dmv doesn't classify it as a truck with a camper on so you're no longer paying that extra commercial fee.

[82rustbeast]

But it is a pretty hefty fine if they catch you with it off, especially having the bed loaded

[Rocksurfer]

Does it need the disabled plates or is a placard good enough?


Share the registration with a parent (OR clause on registration) that has a placard............

You must have the disabled plates not the placard, since you could just take the placard with you to another vehicle. Oh and just for your info you can have both a vehicle with a plate and a placard to take with you anyways.

[Rocksurfer]

I'm sure each state has their rules but this is for CA, others may have similar rules.

[82rustbeast]

I will not say who (and Im pretty sure it's common), someone I know    will put it down on the title that they buy vehicles for a lot cheaper than actually paid.
When they buy it, they will say maybe $500 on the title for a truck that cost maybe $3000. It saves on the reg, because they take the state tax percentage out of the price paid and that will be your registration. So 7.25% (California Tax) into $500, makes around maybe a $70 registration throwing in included county fees and such.

Just be careful of the price the vehicle was sold for previously, because it could come back and bite you if you buy a vehicle for "$500", and it previously sold for say $8000

[Tofudude]

I will not say who (and Im pretty sure it's common), someone I know    will put it down on the title that they buy vehicles for a lot cheaper than actually paid.
When they buy it, they will say maybe $500 on the title for a truck that cost maybe $3000. It saves on the reg, because they take the state tax percentage out of the price paid and that will be your registration. So 7.25% (California Tax) into $500, makes around maybe a $70 registration throwing in included county fees and such.

Just be careful of the price the vehicle was sold for previously, because it could come back and bite you if you buy a vehicle for "$500", and it previously sold for say $8000

If you can talk it out with the owner, you can just put down zero and just say it was a gift or your just passing it over to a friend

[Stocker]

I will not say who (and Im pretty sure it's common), someone I know    will put it down on the title that they buy vehicles for a lot cheaper than actually paid.
When they buy it, they will say maybe $500 on the title for a truck that cost maybe $3000. It saves on the reg, because they take the state tax percentage out of the price paid and that will be your registration. So 7.25% (California Tax) into $500, makes around maybe a $70 registration throwing in included county fees and such.

I have heard of that being done.... but I have also heard that DMV will no longer just take your word for it. They use KBB prices -- and for vehicles without a reliable KBB figure, they will make their own estimate. 

If you can talk it out with the owner, you can just put down zero and just say it was a gift or your just passing it over to a friend

I believe DMV allows free "gifting" but only to immediate family members... there's something on their website about that but I haven't looked at it in awhile.

[locked 4x4]

I have heard of just putting down that you paid $1 for a vehicle and you get taxed for that dollar.  If you gift a vehicle I believe there is still a flat tax rate that kicks in.

[fordh8r]

I have heard of that being done.... but I have also heard that DMV will no longer just take your word for it. They use KBB prices -- and for vehicles without a reliable KBB figure, they will make their own estimate. 

I haven't had them check ever...but the claimed price paid for the vehicle should also seem at least somewhat realistic. Because they can't prove that a seller only asked what is stated on the paperwork. 

I believe DMV allows free "gifting" but only to immediate family members... there's something on their website about that but I haven't looked at it in awhile.

This is correct! Gifting is only allowed between siblings, child to parent and parent to child relations including step children/parents and step siblings and this is also the only smog loophole for transfer of title as they do not require a smog inspection for such title tranfers as well!  but this is easy to use even if the last name is different because they will not and cannot prove your relationship nor do they have the time and resources to do so!  (catch my drift) 

[fordh8r]

 I've actually had people who say they had it smogged but "somehow" they can't seem to find the paper work...OH! But they know it passed! YEAH RIGHT!  Lotsa good stuff on the CA DMV website, you just need to poke around and see what's there! 

here's a good link to check a vehicles smog history before you buy! this is also on the DMV website!  8)
http://www.bar.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Vehicle/PubTstQry.aspx

[*** YELLER ***]

unless you have disabled plates but those that do should put them on your tow rigs, all of the weight fees are waved, I know there are those here that have permanent disabilities and can benefit from this little unknown rule.

So who else knows of how you can save a couple bucks at the DMV? Post them here so that we all can benefit from your experiences at the DMV.

I have had a temporary placard for almost a year now and just got my permanent about 5 months ago and had no idea this was available thanks buddy next year shouild be better on the ol tags.

[*** YELLER ***]

I've actually had people who say they had it smogged but "somehow" they can't seem to find the paper work...OH! But they know it passed! YEAH RIGHT!  Lotsa good stuff on the CA DMV website, you just need to poke around and see what's there! 

here's a good link to check a vehicles smog history before you buy! this is also on the DMV website!  8)
http://www.bar.ca.gov/pubwebquery/Vehicle/PubTstQry.aspx

there are ways around that too just reg. it in a non smog county, right wrong or otherwise it works .... trust me I "own 5 Toyotas and a Brat"

[fordh8r]

That's true! But don't you still have to smog it for a transfer of title? (Except for the aforementioned exceptions)

[*** YELLER ***]

[*** YELLER ***]

just got mine today and the weight fees ARE NO LONGER THERE only paid $67 this year saved like 200 bucks

[SloCrawler]

So can I put my cab over camper on my f250 and get some fees dropped, not getting  this completly

[*** YELLER ***]

So can I put my cab over camper on my f250 and get some fees dropped, not getting  this completly

only if you have disability plates

[emsvitil]

just got mine today and the weight fees ARE NO LONGER THERE only paid $67 this year saved like 200 bucks

How?

The registration fee is $69 by itself...............

[*** YELLER ***]

How?

The registration fee is $69 by itself...............

no the reg was like 140 something but the weight fees were 0

[emsvitil]

no the reg was like 140 something but the weight fees were 0

Then what was the $67?

[scoutrunner]

how do you reg in a different county without living there?? I know up in coarsegold they dont have to smog.

[*** YELLER ***]

how do you reg in a different county without living there?? I know up in coarsegold they dont have to smog.

know someone who lives there and use their address

[*** YELLER ***]

Then what was the $67?

My Reg. its usually more but since they took off the weight fee I only paid $67 to reg my Tahoe

[brainlessfool]

So can I put my cab over camper on my f250 and get some fees dropped, not getting  this completly

yes, look on your reg. paper there will be a "weight fee". if you put on your reg.paper they will not charge you that fee next time.
butt as said before DON'T get found with it off.

[junya92toy]

How does a car being driving by a disabled person cause less wear and tear on the road? You pay the fees to help pay for the roads to be maintained.

[*** YELLER ***]

but we drive less cause we cant afford to go anywhere

[junya92toy]

Says who? Compared to who?