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California registration cost question

ElCaminoManT
Explorer
Explorer
Anyone know how California figures out registration fees for RVs? Specifically differences between a motorhome and a trailer (5er). Is it based on age? Value (new or current)? Motorized or trailer? Looking at either a new 5th wheel or a used (02-06) diesel pusher and trying to understand what I’m in for with either of the options we’re looking at.

Thanks!
John

2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT2 CC LB 4x4 DMAX/ALLISON
2005 Winnebago Vectra 40AD Cummins ISL 400hp
2017 Mirage UCH16 car hauler trailer
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 4x4 "ol flakey"
2013 VW CC Sport (hers)
2012 VW CC R-Line (mine)
27 REPLIES 27

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
Little Kopit wrote:
Well now, when I first the title read it seemed wrong. I still think that.

CANADA is a country. California is a state. If Nebraska could change it's abbreviation as a courtesy to our province of New Brunswick, why can't California be equally mannerly and considerate.

After all online for Canadian sites is ".ca"

"Calif." registration would be more clear and more considerate.

Please consider.

😛


Perhaps it should be the other way around ... California sites to be the ones to use ".ca" ... for more clarity and consideration.

After all, isn't California's economy about the 5th largest in the world? Hmmmm .... I wonder how Canada's economy ranks in the world? :B and 😉
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

Little_Kopit
Explorer
Explorer
minnow wrote:
Little Kopit wrote:
Well now, when I first the title read it seemed wrong. I still think that.

CANADA is a country. California is a state. If Nebraska could change it's abbreviation as a courtesy to our province of New Brunswick, why can't California be equally mannerly and considerate.

After all online for Canadian sites is ".ca"

"Calif." registration would be more clear and more considerate.

Please consider.

😛


Some of us wish CA was a separate country....



My brother lives in San Jose. I know that. & such thoughts don't just happen in Quebec, Ca, but Alberta and......
& I, I took the road less travelled by.

My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006

pnichols
Explorer II
Explorer II
minnow wrote:
Using the calculator referenced above, I put in our vehicle and entered it as a 2016 Diesel, paid $45,000 to an out of state private sale. Paid $500 sales tax out of state. This is what CA says I owe if I were to register it in CA. Holy S... !



Current Registration: 55.00
Current California Highway Patrol: 25.00
Current Vehicle License Fee: 293.00
Current County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies Fee: 1.00
Current Fingerprint ID Fee: 1.00
Current Air Quality Management District: 6.00
Current South Coast Air Basin: 1.00
Alt Fuel/Tech Reg Fee: 3.00
Current Vehicle Theft/DUI 2: 2.00
Current Transportation Improvement Fee: 150.00
Use/Sales Tax: 4,275.00
Non-Resident Original Service Fee: 21.00
Reflectorized License Plate Fee: 1.00

Total Registration Fees: $559.00

Total Use/Sales Tax (includes credit paid to another state): $3,775.00

Grand Total Registration Fees: $4,334.00


Now ... let's get real: Divide that $559.00 by the number of hours per year that you can locally RV travel and camp in CA. You'll wind up with an absurdly low Per-Usage-Hour registration fee for your RV. 😉
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C

bpounds
Nomad
Nomad
minnow wrote:
Using the calculator referenced above, I put in our vehicle...
Grand Total Registration Fees: $4,334.00


LOL, ain't it great?

To be fair though, if you bought it here you would have to pay the sales tax too, and our rates are pretty close to 10% everywhere, plus or minus depending on your county. Has nothing to do with registration, other than a means of collecting it. It hurts more when the selling dealer doesn't roll it into the sales contract. I'm actually surprised that they credit you for the other states sales tax.

So you would have paid around $550 for a renewal. Still too damned high!!!
2006 F250 Diesel
2011 Keystone Cougar 278RKSWE Fiver

minnow
Explorer
Explorer
Little Kopit wrote:
Well now, when I first the title read it seemed wrong. I still think that.

CANADA is a country. California is a state. If Nebraska could change it's abbreviation as a courtesy to our province of New Brunswick, why can't California be equally mannerly and considerate.

After all online for Canadian sites is ".ca"

"Calif." registration would be more clear and more considerate.

Please consider.

😛


Some of us wish CA was a separate country....

minnow
Explorer
Explorer
Using the calculator referenced above, I put in our vehicle and entered it as a 2016 Diesel, paid $45,000 to an out of state private sale. Paid $500 sales tax out of state. This is what CA says I owe if I were to register it in CA. Holy S... !



Current Registration: 55.00
Current California Highway Patrol: 25.00
Current Vehicle License Fee: 293.00
Current County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies Fee: 1.00
Current Fingerprint ID Fee: 1.00
Current Air Quality Management District: 6.00
Current South Coast Air Basin: 1.00
Alt Fuel/Tech Reg Fee: 3.00
Current Vehicle Theft/DUI 2: 2.00
Current Transportation Improvement Fee: 150.00
Use/Sales Tax: 4,275.00
Non-Resident Original Service Fee: 21.00
Reflectorized License Plate Fee: 1.00

Total Registration Fees: $559.00

Total Use/Sales Tax (includes credit paid to another state): $3,775.00

Grand Total Registration Fees: $4,334.00

ElCaminoManT
Explorer
Explorer
Little Kopit; sorry about that, didn’t even cross my mind.

Jplante4; thanks!
John

2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT2 CC LB 4x4 DMAX/ALLISON
2005 Winnebago Vectra 40AD Cummins ISL 400hp
2017 Mirage UCH16 car hauler trailer
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 4x4 "ol flakey"
2013 VW CC Sport (hers)
2012 VW CC R-Line (mine)

Little_Kopit
Explorer
Explorer
Muchos grasias.

:B
& I, I took the road less travelled by.

My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
Little Kopit wrote:
Well now, when I first the title read it seemed wrong. I still think that.

CANADA is a country. California is a state. If Nebraska could change it's abbreviation as a courtesy to our province of New Brunswick, why can't California be equally mannerly and considerate.

After all online for Canadian sites is ".ca"

"Calif." registration would be more clear and more considerate.

Please consider.

😛


I fixed this, but the OP is from San Diego which I believe also resolves the conflict.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

Little_Kopit
Explorer
Explorer
Well now, when I first the title read it seemed wrong. I still think that.

CANADA is a country. California is a state. If Nebraska could change it's abbreviation as a courtesy to our province of New Brunswick, why can't California be equally mannerly and considerate.

After all online for Canadian sites is ".ca"

"Calif." registration would be more clear and more considerate.

Please consider.

😛
& I, I took the road less travelled by.

My Photo Album, featuring Labrador 2006

Range_Maggot_Bo
Explorer
Explorer
ldonabed wrote:
We have a 2003 5th wheel. I was paying $124/yr for it's registration...& I just got my renewal notice. It's gone up to $145 for the year.


Just did a permanent registration on my 5th wheeler- $56.00.

wanderingaimles
Explorer
Explorer
bpounds wrote:
pnichols wrote:
But .... maybe CA registration fees are "higher" because you can use your RV all year?

This means that your registration fees per camping hour are way down as compared to many, many other states. It's all relative. 🙂 and :B


They are already figuring out how to tax the weather. Once they figure out how to take from those who have, and give to those who don't have, climate tax will start.


It's already there in Maryland.
The rain tax.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbrown/2014/01/03/when-it-rains-it-pours-tax-dollars-in-maryland/#410069f67c69

It's only imposed on property owners.

ElCaminoManT
Explorer
Explorer
bpounds wrote:
pnichols wrote:
But .... maybe CA registration fees are "higher" because you can use your RV all year?

This means that your registration fees per camping hour are way down as compared to many, many other states. It's all relative. 🙂 and :B


They are already figuring out how to tax the weather. Once they figure out how to take from those who have, and give to those who don't have, climate tax will start.

BTW, we let anyone come here to camp, and we have more RV camping alternatives than any other state.


This
John

2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT2 CC LB 4x4 DMAX/ALLISON
2005 Winnebago Vectra 40AD Cummins ISL 400hp
2017 Mirage UCH16 car hauler trailer
1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 4x4 "ol flakey"
2013 VW CC Sport (hers)
2012 VW CC R-Line (mine)

bpounds
Nomad
Nomad
pnichols wrote:
But .... maybe CA registration fees are "higher" because you can use your RV all year?

This means that your registration fees per camping hour are way down as compared to many, many other states. It's all relative. 🙂 and :B


They are already figuring out how to tax the weather. Once they figure out how to take from those who have, and give to those who don't have, climate tax will start.

BTW, we let anyone come here to camp, and we have more RV camping alternatives than any other state.
2006 F250 Diesel
2011 Keystone Cougar 278RKSWE Fiver