Owning a car in California is pretty much a necessity, as the state lacks reliable mass transit in most metro and suburban areas. So in addition to paying quite a bit for gasoline, we also spend quite a bit each year to pay our vehicle registration fees. Here is a breakdown of where all the money goes once you send in your yearly vehicle registration payment.
Part of your registration tax is called the Vehicle License Fee, and this fee first was levied in 1935 and is considered a property tax on motor vehicles. Different cars are charged different amounts for the VLF, depending on the age of a vehicle and the purchase price of the vehicle. Your VLF will drop every year for 11 years of vehicle ownership then stay at the same level.
The VLF is spread among many governmental entities, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, which takes about 15% of this tax. The California Highway Patrol gets a portion and so does the county in which the vehicle is registered. In addition, some of the money is used to fund state highway projects and other state government programs.
There is more to your bill than just the VLF. Your general registration fee of $69 also is included in your bill, and this is broken down into a registration tax that goes directly to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as a chunk which is sent to the California Highway Patrol. Failure to pay any portion of your vehicle taxes results in very stringent fines, and if you are caught driving in an unregistered vehicle, the fines are even higher.
There are other fees that are part of your total cost, and some are only charged to certain types of motorists. For example, if you are registering a commercial vehicle, you will often be charged a weight fee. If you have a special license plate, such as one that has been personalized, you must pay extra for that every year. In addition, your bill includes various county and district taxes. If you have outstanding parking tickets, you often are charged an Owner Responsibility Fee, as well.
In addition to paying for your registration tax, in Berkeley and many other areas, smog certification is required every other year. While smog checks are not needed for late model vehicles or hybrid vehicles, most other vehicles will need to have a smog test. This is an added cost, but the money for the smog check goes directly to the smog test station to cover labor and equipment costs.
Part of your registration tax is called the Vehicle License Fee, and this fee first was levied in 1935 and is considered a property tax on motor vehicles. Different cars are charged different amounts for the VLF, depending on the age of a vehicle and the purchase price of the vehicle. Your VLF will drop every year for 11 years of vehicle ownership then stay at the same level.
The VLF is spread among many governmental entities, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, which takes about 15% of this tax. The California Highway Patrol gets a portion and so does the county in which the vehicle is registered. In addition, some of the money is used to fund state highway projects and other state government programs.
There is more to your bill than just the VLF. Your general registration fee of $69 also is included in your bill, and this is broken down into a registration tax that goes directly to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as a chunk which is sent to the California Highway Patrol. Failure to pay any portion of your vehicle taxes results in very stringent fines, and if you are caught driving in an unregistered vehicle, the fines are even higher.
There are other fees that are part of your total cost, and some are only charged to certain types of motorists. For example, if you are registering a commercial vehicle, you will often be charged a weight fee. If you have a special license plate, such as one that has been personalized, you must pay extra for that every year. In addition, your bill includes various county and district taxes. If you have outstanding parking tickets, you often are charged an Owner Responsibility Fee, as well.
In addition to paying for your registration tax, in Berkeley and many other areas, smog certification is required every other year. While smog checks are not needed for late model vehicles or hybrid vehicles, most other vehicles will need to have a smog test. This is an added cost, but the money for the smog check goes directly to the smog test station to cover labor and equipment costs.
About the Author:
Nolan Tornes likes blogging and sharing tips on auto maintenance. For additional details about DMV smog Berkeley centers or to find out more about car smog Berkeley centers, please go to the Berkeley-Smog.com website today.
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