Big Brother is watching me...and you.

TrannyMan · #1 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010, 09:25 AM

I got a letter from the State of Texas yesterday. They are concerned that I have a vehicle registered in my name that they cannot link to current registration and current insurance. Says I have ten days to take action or ??. Actually it doesn't say what the recourse is.

It seems the state of Texas has a "new" system that links the insurance information that insurance companies have to the registration information that the state has. Now before an officer ever even pulls you over he will know if you have current insurance or not. All they have to do is run your tag. Go down to renew your plates? No use bringing your insurance card, they already know.

I can't wait for the next letter that says I have insurance on cars that aren't registered in my name.

Next time (hopefully a long time from now) that I get pulled over and the officer asks for my insurance card, I am going to refuse to show it as that will be redundant information.

ARBOLA · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010, 11:45 AM

Yup,
YouTube - Police License Plate Scanner

Old Hippie · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2010, 08:14 PM

My brother got a dozen letters for cars he has insured with Hagerty and not registered. They want the sales tax -- and reminded him it is a misdemeanor to sell more than five cars a year without a dealer's license. I got one on the Daytona that I sold -- and the Marlin.

Not only that -- but the state calculates the sales tax with a Kelly's Blue Book. If you argue the car is a parts car, then you have to get it appraised. You have no argument if you have a Hagertys agreed value higher than what you say you paid for the car.

We're going to do this: Get a Car Dealer License, Auto Broker, Automobile Dealer License, Auto-Auction-Access.com although you have to go through a dealer friend ("sell to him to sell to your buyer) to sell the car retail.

We are in the days of Obama where the government will squeeze your nuts until you scream.

TrannyMan · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2010, 08:04 AM

I got a dealers license. The state has been cracking down on our ass like you wouldn't believe. We are not talking nit picking, we are talking thousands of dollars in fines for bull****.They got an auditor going through our records SEARCHING for something wrong so they can fine us. They haven't found anything yet, which is only making them look harder. MY storage lot buddy got a $4000.00 fine for having a vehicle on his storage lot that didn't have a door locked.

Parts car? It doesn't matter what you get it appraised at, they set their own value anyway. I have dealt with that mess before.
I got cars that I didn't buy, customers abandoned with me, that I filed on to register to resell and I had to pay sales tax when I filed the paperwork. I didnt buy the freakin car? But I had to pay the sales tax, and when I sold the car, the guy buying it paid the tax all over again.

I got 8 cars that aren't registered in my name that I have got insured. I just can't believe that the state has gotten so greedy with the bull**** lately.

taxidave · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2010, 06:23 PM

When I was in the Cab Leasing business, I was forced to get a Dealer's Lisc because of the five car per year BS. They screwed me on the excise tax also.

PapaG · #6 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 12:11 PM

The 5 car thing has been a law for years. The insurance thing is on it's second year. I heard HPD had only 5 cars that could run your insurance. When I bought my last licensee plates the county did not even ask for my insurance card. I still had to show them on state inspections?

Luckily most of my parts cars are not in my name. I wonder what they will do about restorations in process? What about race cars that have a title but will never see the road again?

46stude · #7 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 06:22 PM

Where do they get the #s for classic vehicles? Kelleys doesn't show anything for older cars.

46stude · #8 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010, 10:11 PM

Been surfing the TX DMV site- found this:
http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/titles...tive_value.htm

Quote:

Vehicles Not Subject to Taxation based on Standard Presumptive Value

New vehicles (not previously titled)
Vehicles purchased from licensed dealers (dealers use purchase price only)
Vehicles purchased at a governmental or foreclosure auction
Vehicles 25 years old or older
Off-road vehicles, such as dirt bikes or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
Salvage or abandoned vehicles (except rebuilt salvage vehicles)
Vehicles sold through a mechanic or storage lien
Vehicles given as gifts to eligible applicants
Even-trade vehicles, when vehicles of equal value are swapped by the owners

But I can't find what they do as far as tax value on the older vehicles. My Stude didn't come w/ a title & I've been gearing up to jump thru the hoops to get one for it. I just don't want to pay 600 bucks to get the title because they say its worth a jabillion pesos.

TrannyMan · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010, 07:41 AM

You just have to go down to the tax office with your pants down and HOPE that you draw a "nice" representative. Down where you are at shouldn't be so bad, but in Harris County dealing with Shalika can be a muther. Sometimes we have to run paperwork through the line three times before we can get someone coherent enough to get it passed.

46stude · #10 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010, 08:03 AM

Actually, our office here is a royal pain. Its such a small area that you have to make sure all your I's are dotted & T's crossed- they've got nothing better to do. But most of the ladies there are knowledgable on the rules & regs, so if i can get it done here I know it'll be fully legit.

I'm going to go by later today if I get a chance w/ my trucks #s & see if they'll tell me what the State "thinks" its worth. I'll post back when I find something out.....