MH Licensing costs in NV, AZ and Utah?

[Campnfuls]

I am seriously considering leaving California for either NV, AZ or Utah. I am trying to factor in all tax and licensing related differences in each of these states to help me choose the best location for my situation. Can those of you with class A MHs and living in any of those states give me some idea in what you are paying in MH licening and registration costs each year? Please provide the year and length of MH. and indicate whether it is diesel or not. Thanks.

[Campnfuls]

I called the Arizona motor vehicle department this morning and they quoted a registration fee for my 37 foot 2007 TropiCal d.p. at $481.00. Which didn't make sense based on the figures presented by others but I will go with their call. I think this type of confusion (i.e. potential discrepancy between what Arizona DMV folks have told me and what I will be charged when I go to register next week) is just why I asked fellow RVers for what their actual real life registration fees were instead of calling DMV in the first place. I am expecting it to be much closer and slightly higher than the approx. $620 FIRE UP paid to register his rig.

[CA_Traveler]

FIRE UP wrote:
Well Gang,

...2004 Itasca Horizon...
The coaches registration, based on the original MSRP of what they claimed as, $206,000 (we have a build sheet that states more than what they claim), the mileage of 50K, and the engine, came in at $620.00 and some change. The lady at the counter said it's a straight 16% drop each year. Well, to say the least, we weren't happy, especially because if we kept the CA registration, it would have been $355.00

Using $206,000 I get the following.

2004 $3,572.04
2005 $2,991.58
2006 $2,505.45
2007 $1,757.34
2009 $1,471.77
2010 $1,232.61
2011 $1,032.31
2012 $864.56
2013 $724.07
2014 $606.41
2015 $507.87
2016 $425.34

So assuming the formula still applies then the mfg value used by the DVM is apparently slightly more.

The mfg value that the DMV uses is supplied by the mfg. They enter your VIN and the tax is computed. This may be close to the MSRP that the dealer displays. My understanding is that a mfg supplies this number for every vehicle and I suspect is available to any state. Maybe someone knows the details.

[CA_Traveler]

LongWeekends wrote:


Not sure what formulas they provided but I can tell you that it is not a straight-line drop like that. Instead of guessing I went and looked at our registration. There is a drop from year to year of course but nowhere near what is shown here. Per the DMV our MSRP was $162,665. Last years registration was $515. This year it is $478.

I used the formulas the DVM provided. Plugging in your mfg value I get the same numbers as you paid. After the first year value the tax base is reduced 16.25% per year.

It's been a few years since I got their formula so it may have changed. But I'll bet a donut that it hasn't changed.


2004 $2,812.98
2005 $2,355.87
2006 $1,973.04
2007 $1,652.42
2008 $1,383.90
2009 $1,159.02
2010 $970.68
2011 $812.94
2012 $680.84
2013 $570.20
2014 $477.55
2015 $399.94

[FIRE_UP]

Well Gang,
Here's what the deal was with us. We just moved to Lake Havasu City AZ and, just registered our coach, a 2004 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the 330 CAT, a 2001 GMC Sierra 4x4 truck and, a 2008 Honda Goldwing.

The coaches registration, based on the original MSRP of what they claimed as, $206,000 (we have a build sheet that states more than what they claim), the mileage of 50K, and the engine, came in at $620.00 and some change. The lady at the counter said it's a straight 16% drop each year. Well, to say the least, we weren't happy, especially because if we kept the CA registration, it would have been $355.00

But, based on a multitude of other benefits of the move to AZ, we bit the bullet and paid it. Hope this info helps some.
Scott

[LongWeekends]

CA Traveler wrote:

LongWeekends wrote:
We have a 2004 ... the MSRP was somewhere in the $140k range. Our registration is about $425 give/take a few right now...goes down a little bit each year.

Arizona registration is very expensive but does drop 16.25%/year. Using the formulas I received from the DVM and based on the manufactures price of $140,000 the Arizon registration would be:

2004 $2,427.60
2005 $2,033.12
2006 $1,702.73
2007 $1,426.04
2008 $1,194.31
2009 $1,000.23
2010 $837.70
2011 $701.57
2012 $587.56
2013 $492.09
2014 $412.12
2015 $345.15

Or if you bought a $140,000 rig today the registration would be $2,427.60 for the first year.

Not sure what formulas they provided but I can tell you that it is not a straight-line drop like that. Instead of guessing I went and looked at our registration. There is a drop from year to year of course but nowhere near what is shown here. Per the DMV our MSRP was $162,665. Last years registration was $515. This year it is $478.

[hipower]

CA Traveler wrote:

LongWeekends wrote:
We have a 2004 ... the MSRP was somewhere in the $140k range. Our registration is about $425 give/take a few right now...goes down a little bit each year.

Arizona registration is very expensive but does drop 16.25%/year. Using the formulas I received from the DVM and based on the manufactures price of $140,000 the Arizon registration would be:

2004 $2,427.60
2005 $2,033.12
2006 $1,702.73
2007 $1,426.04
2008 $1,194.31
2009 $1,000.23
2010 $837.70
2011 $701.57
2012 $587.56
2013 $492.09
2014 $412.12
2015 $345.15

Or if you bought a $140,000 rig today the registration would be $2,427.60 for the first year.

Wow. Even with the recent increases in registration in PA we don't get close to those numbers. Our 2003 Dutch Star has been and will be until 6/30/14 $81 per year. Since we have just seen a pretty significant increase passed by the legislature it will go to $116 after 7/1/14.

We do have a state income tax (not on retirement income) but no personal property taxes like some other areas. Insurance rates are also very reasonable when your residence of record is outside of the major metropolitan areas.

[azpete]

2005 36 ft itasca meridian $654 per year for 2015
not cheap, but not outrageous either considering
other advantages to living in arizona.

[CA_Traveler]

LongWeekends wrote:
We have a 2004 ... the MSRP was somewhere in the $140k range. Our registration is about $425 give/take a few right now...goes down a little bit each year.

Arizona registration is very expensive but does drop 16.25%/year. Using the formulas I received from the DVM and based on the manufactures price of $140,000 the Arizon registration would be:

2004 $2,427.60
2005 $2,033.12
2006 $1,702.73
2007 $1,426.04
2008 $1,194.31
2009 $1,000.23
2010 $837.70
2011 $701.57
2012 $587.56
2013 $492.09
2014 $412.12
2015 $345.15

Or if you bought a $140,000 rig today the registration would be $2,427.60 for the first year.

[LongWeekends]

We have a 2004 Coachman Cross Country 370DS. I think the MSRP was somewhere in the $140k range. Our registration is about $425 give/take a few right now...goes down a little bit each year. We have to run it through emissions every year for about $30 bucks. We have ours registered in the same way as all of our other vehicles....we don't claim it as a residence or anything special(I don't even know if you can here in AZ).

Which reminds me....I need to go to emissions tomorrow. I assume it will be empty as everyone will be out of tow for the long weekend!

[mowermech]

I know the question wasn't asked, but here in Montana my registration cost for my motorhome this year will be:



NOTHING!

that's right, NOTHING! The last time I registered my coach, it cost about $250 to get PERMANENT registration on the license plates. I will NEVER have to renew the registration! The same applies to my truck, and in three years I can do the same for the PT Cruiser! ANY vehicle 11 years old or older can get PERMANENT registration!
PERMANENT registration also applies to:
ANY trailer,
ANY motorcycle (including street-legal ATVs),
and
ANY boat,
Regardless of age.
Other than local option taxes in some touristy areas, there is NO sales tax.
There IS, however, an income tax.
NO vehicle inspection of any kind is required, other than a possible VIN verification when bringing in an out-of-state titled vehicle.

[Campnfuls]

J-Rooster wrote:

Executive wrote:

Campnfuls wrote:
No, actually it would be much easier for me and perhaps useful to other forum readers if you called them for me. Then post what they tell you so more RV.com readers can be informed. I tried calling DMV in California and it was such a nightmare just trying to get through that it has made me a bit gun-shy.

:S:S

X-2, Why research when you can have someone do it for you!

That'a right J-Rooster, my mama didn't raise no fool. 🙂

[J-Rooster]

Executive wrote:

Campnfuls wrote:
No, actually it would be much easier for me and perhaps useful to other forum readers if you called them for me. Then post what they tell you so more RV.com readers can be informed. I tried calling DMV in California and it was such a nightmare just trying to get through that it has made me a bit gun-shy.

:S:S

X-2, Why research when you can have someone do it for you!

[Campnfuls]

FIRE UP wrote:
Campnfuls,
You're certainly welcome. Now, we've got an offer on a place in Havasu (see my thread/post on: A new home for the big beast (and us))

We've checked on a few costs over there in Havasu. One, home owners insurance. Ours is presently $1,100.00 for our home etc. in CA. For the brand new home in Havasu, with the RV garage and actually more square footage, is going to be $371.00 for the same, word for word, coverage for coverage, policy. Our present property taxes are $3300 per year for our 25 year old home. Our brand new home over there, an estimated---$1400.00
I'm going to get an actual raise in my retirement pay by about $1,100.00 dollars a year due to a lower state income tax rate. In Havasu, there's NO ANNUAL OR BI-ANNUAL SMOG CHECKS! We'll see, once we're over there and settle in, what, if any, other financial benefits we may or may not encounter.

As far as anything related to the DMV over there, the only thing I've found out so far is, we don't have to have to take any drivers license tests. All we have to do is, pay $10 for my regular class C transfer, $10.00 for the wifes regular Class C transfer and, my motorcycle license transfer is $7.00.

So, it's whopping $27.00 for three new drivers licenses. Yahoooo.
As for vehicles, including the motor home, well, I've heard some conflicting stories so, it will be what it's going to be. If I were you, I'd look into Lake Havasu City for your next home. There's much more to do than Laughlin or, Bullhead City. Lake Havasu city's always got some sort of activity planned. But, not so much that it's a pain to live there.

Just for grins, take a cruise on realtor.com or, azmoves.com and look up: 3672 Outpost Dr, Lake Havasu City AZ or, 2951 Tonto Dr. Lake Havasu City AZ. Both are brand new with RV garages attached. I like the Outpost unit better because it's got auxiliary RV or boat parking alongside the RV garage. Just some info here. Take care.
Scott

Hey FIRE UP "Howdy neighbor!!

Well DW and I finally made our decision and pulled the trigger to relocate to AZ. We purchased a very nice 2,200 sq. ft. custom build house on a half acre in Fort Mohave, AZ. It came with an attached RV garage and attached double boat-deep garage for all the toys (Just over 1500 sq. feet of garage space alone). The cost was $288,000 and the property tax is about the same as our much smaller California house we just left. Cheaper sales tax, cheaper property tax, much cheaper fuel costs, less crowded and much less polluted. What's not to love about all that. And when it gets too hot (and it will), we head for the cooler climes until relatively much cooler temperatures return. The move was really a no brainer.

[ncrowley]

I agree that the fees for the RV are high in Utah, but you need to look at the overall costs. The inspection fee was $15. I paid $750 to register. A lot of folks here get a Montana LLC and register the coach there. Property taxes in Hurricane (where we live) are relatively low and utility rates are one of the lowest in the nation.

We spent three years looking for a place to live and the overall taxes for Arizona, Utah and New Mexico were about a wash. Nevada was cheaper but we could not find a place we wanted to live. Wyoming is the cheapest but we do not like the weather. This is the most amazingly beautiful place I have ever lived and the quality of life here is great. I have lived in many places in my military career and we have chosen well FOR US.

I am not saying that Utah is for everyone. I am just saying that you need to look at the whole picture of the specific area to determine if it will work for you.