DMV issue concerning registration and tag

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
E-mails run from the bottom to the top with the top being the most recent.





Additionally, I'm not sure I understand why I would be responsible for any fees and/or interest other than the actual ad-valorem due for this time period. The car was out of the country for a significant period of time, so what else could have been done? The registration and tag was allowed to elapse purposely, because a return date for the car was unknown. How can the state or county tax a vehicle that was out of jurisdiction for a long period of time? I have no problem signing an affidavit of non-use, but it doesn't make logical sense to me that I can be taxed for having a car leave the state. Do you have any specific statute I can read to understand this?


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Good Morning,

I apologize for the lateness of the answer to your question. I have had email complications. We will not require any paper work from an attorney. If the vehicle is still in the system, we can simply pull up the record and renew it, you will have the option to sign a non-use affidavit for the time that the vehicle has not been operated on the Alabama roads. The affidavit will possibly remove the late fees and registration fees, but you will be responsible for all interest that has accumulated on the late fees and you will be responsible for all Ad-Valorem fees due. Just a note of interest, non-use affidavits will no longer be in existence after December 2004. We would need the tag number and Vehicle Identification Number to verify that the vehicle is currently still in our system. Please give this information to me and I will be more than happy to verify that the vehicle is still in the system.



Corinda Harris

Homewood Revenue

Administrative Asst. III


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hi, I wanted to ask a question about renewing/amending my car's registration and title. I had a car shipped out of the country to be worked on by a Canadian Company. The work took almost two years to complete, and I have just received the car back recently. Because I was not using the vehicle and it was out of country I allowed the tag to lapse, and I do believe the registration lapsed as well. I did keep insurance to protect myself against any damage to the car while out of my hands. I have not been driving the car, but I do want to get it re-registered and tagged as soon as I can. Will I be allowed to re-register and tag the car without any type of late fee or interest? I'd be more than happy to provide at affidavit from myself or my attorney concerning this matter
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,441
752
126
the title is still in your name, therefore you're responsible for all licensing fees. I doubt it makes a difference to the DMV where the car was for the last 2 years.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Youy have fees and interest if you don't register your car???!?! WTF is that about? In NH, if you let your registration lapse, wait a few years, and register it again, you just pay the current registration fee for that year. There are no late fees or interest....

Jesus that's messed up...:|
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,441
752
126
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Youy have fees and interest if you don't register your car???!?! WTF is that about? In NH, if you let your registration lapse, wait a few years, and register it again, you just pay the current registration fee for that year. There are no late fees or interest....

Jesus that's messed up...:|

It's the same way in California. They'll charge you late fees, and also interest on those late fees until you register your car. They really want that registration money.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Youy have fees and interest if you don't register your car???!?! WTF is that about? In NH, if you let your registration lapse, wait a few years, and register it again, you just pay the current registration fee for that year. There are no late fees or interest....

Jesus that's messed up...:|

It's the same way in California. They'll charge you late fees, and also interest on those late fees until you register your car. They really want that registration money.

Wow...that is so lame. I guess I'm never moving...
 

azazyel

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2000
5,872
1
81
So just because you own a car that means you have to keep registering it even if you don't plan on using it? That's pretty dumb.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: Spencer278
You should have return the plates. Just pay the fees.

In this state that's not an option to just return the plates and avoid fees.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: azazyel
So just because you own a car that means you have to keep registering it even if you don't plan on using it? That's pretty dumb.

That's pretty much my argument, as well as how can they tax a car when it is in Canadian Jurisdiction?
 

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,441
752
126
Originally posted by: azazyel
So just because you own a car that means you have to keep registering it even if you don't plan on using it? That's pretty dumb.

yup, in California it's called PNO (Planned Non-Operation), yet you still have to register every year.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: azazyel
So just because you own a car that means you have to keep registering it even if you don't plan on using it? That's pretty dumb.

yup, in California it's called PNO (Planned Non-Operation), yet you still have to register every year.

I've been on the phone now since I started this thread. They are sure that I have to pay penalties and interest, but they've been trying to find the statute/law applicable for about 30 minutes now.
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
They probably are just hoping you just give in and accept them. I bet they can't produce anything...
 

azazyel

Diamond Member
Oct 6, 2000
5,872
1
81
Originally posted by: Mill
Originally posted by: KLin
Originally posted by: azazyel
So just because you own a car that means you have to keep registering it even if you don't plan on using it? That's pretty dumb.

yup, in California it's called PNO (Planned Non-Operation), yet you still have to register every year.

I've been on the phone now since I started this thread. They are sure that I have to pay penalties and interest, but they've been trying to find the statute/law applicable for about 30 minutes now.

Good. It's like if you had left the country for a few years and came back and they charged you interest on getting your drivers license renewed.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
What I was told by the county: "We can tax the car as property in the State of Canada." State? lol.

I was told repeatedly by the county(the state is researching it supposedly and calling me back) that they can assess fees unless it was registered in Canada. Their reasoning? If it wasn't registered in Canada then that means someone was driving it in Alabama. :roll: Gee, I could get affidavits from about 50 people proving that to be wrong.
 

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
7,955
0
0
they want that money and im sure they will make it impossible for you to sell the car unless you pay up what they say...
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
I have no idea what the law in your state is, but if they can't produce a statute yet still insist you owe the money, contact your state representative's office. They have clout.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: kranky
I have no idea what the law in your state is, but if they can't produce a statute yet still insist you owe the money, contact your state representative's office. They have clout.

So far I haven't gotten a call back. I've researched all the statutes and I cannot find anything to address this issue specifically. Perhaps they have an interpretation of a general statute, but even then I cannot find anything to say that. If a car is not in the physical jurisdiction of the state then I cannot see how they can tax it. I'm hoping I can get this resovled with just the DMV, but it is looking like that might not happen.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: Insane3D
How do taxes/laws like this get passed? Does no one pay attention?

It is because the government knows best!

/me watches as they take Pete away for questioning
 

Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Originally posted by: Mill
Originally posted by: Insane3D
How do taxes/laws like this get passed? Does no one pay attention?

It is because the government knows best!

/me watches as they take Pete away for questioning

*black helicopters*

:shocked: :shocked:

Wait...I live in NH...

LIVE FREE OR DIEEEEEE!!!

:D
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
15
81
fobot.com
i noticed this type of thing here in Missouri

i didn't want to get the safey inspection on one of my cars, so i waited a few months after the tag expired. when i finally got around to doing it and went to pay for the tag, they didn't give me a full year from the time i paid, they gave me the original month tag as if i had renewed on time. essentially making be pay for the time i didn't use the car. i just thought it was screwy , but didn't ask them
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
Originally posted by: notfred
I'd just pay it, it can't be more than $50. It's not worth the hassle.

I can't find anyone to tell me how much it is either. I've been told the ad-valorem with fees and interest could top 500 dollars... I hope not.
 

KenSr

Golden Member
Sep 21, 2003
1,441
0
0
Did you drive the car while it was in Canada?
How did you get the car back to Alabama?