Anybody know any "state certified auto appraisers"

[AI#97]

My dad just bought a 97 Cobra convertible with a blown motor for a song. car has 135k miles on it but is in overall OK shape. We are going to work on it over the winter so they have a 3rd car for the weekends.

Well, we bought the car for $2500 and have a bill of sale from the previous owner for that amount. He goes to register it today and the fucking state says the car is worth $9400 and wants sales tax on 80% of that value. We have the option of getting it appraised by a "certified appraiser" but typically you have to take the car to those guys and they don't make house calls...would have to pull a Fred Flintstone to get it there with no motor in it! :lol:

Anyone had any experience with something like this and have an appraiser hookup? I was considering going to carmax but they would probably laugh and ask me to leave.

Thanks!

[donovan]

Since its not a classic car, and realisticly the value of the car with a repaired engine is $9400... I would say your screwed... they are looking at it as your working the system.

I bought a Tub of a 93 coupe last year, it was a Factory Five stripped car for a build up... a Tub is all that was left... not engine, not tranny, no wiring, and they even sold off all the interior... heck it was not even a roller, no suspension at all...

I picked it up for $250... I had to pay taxes on $1400 becuase of the 80% think you are talking about... Heck I just wanted the title in my name, the car will never be back on the street and never registered again... mine was only about $80... paying taxes on $9400... you might want to look into it a little further... but the 10 minute I spend on it I found nothing and decided to just pay the money... your looking at closer to $500-$600 I think... OUCH!

DD

[jeffburch]

Would decraring it a gift be any better.
I dunno.
jb

[jeffburch]

I didn't reg my cmc car.
It's still in the orig owners name (B. Simpson)
jb

[GlennCMC70]

w/ the new laws, a gift would still have the same issue - tax based on $9400. does the $9400 value had any vehicle condition status's attached to it? sort of like Kelly Blue Book condition ratings?

[GlennCMC70]

it also a little F'ed that the State ditermins the value of some thing you pay them tax on. i think the market should determin value and the state should be happy they got paid.
if they are unhappy w/ the "i'll sell it to you for a dollar, wink, wink" crap, then fix that system.

[Rob Liebbe]

The state recently changed the law to tax on "book value" instead of "sale price". Really puts a bind on buying junkers to fix up. I know that with boats and trailers there is a gift exculsion and you pay $10. Worth checking into for cars. the previous owner may have to fill out the tranfer form that's available on the Texas dot website.

[AI#97]

The state recently changed the law to tax on "book value" instead of "sale price". Really puts a bind on buying junkers to fix up. I know that with boats and trailers there is a gift exculsion and you pay $10. Worth checking into for cars. the previous owner may have to fill out the tranfer form that's available on the Texas dot website.

Well, there is a form that you can have the appraiser fill out for a fee and his determination of "market value" of the vehicle is what they would go on. I am thinking of going to one of these shady car lots and offer him $50 to sign the form and put a $2500 value on it given it's current condition because that is what you would pay at a dealer.

And yes...the new state law suxx arse! I just can't believe used car prices in general anyway. There is no way a 10 year old car with 135k miles on it is worth $9400. A lambo or ferrari maybe, but a Rustang?? Sheesh! You would think this was barrett jackson or something?!!! :lol:

If this requires more than a couple more hours of work, I think he is just going to pay the fee and be done with it but the principal of the thing just bites....

[GlennCMC70]

find similar cars in an auto trader and use as a comparison to what you've been told was the value of your car.

[y5e06]

ah, that sucks. However when I was in last time transfering a title I talked to the clerk about transfering titles when the car is not to be used on the road, its a different title catagory. What they said was if you transfer the title but don't register it for road use you don't have to pay the SPVx80% amount, which would work for your tub. But if you wanted to later register the car then you'd have to pay the fee to transfer to a different type of title.
that said, this info is not described on the SPV description
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinf.../tx96_1219.pdf

When I bough the 'bird I transfered the title as non road use, so I got out of paying some of the fees and also didnt' have to provide proof of insurance. Of course this was well before the law change. The total fees were something like $50.

Since its not a classic car, and realisticly the value of the car with a repaired engine is $9400... I would say your screwed... they are looking at it as your working the system.

I bought a Tub of a 93 coupe last year, it was a Factory Five stripped car for a build up... a Tub is all that was left... not engine, not tranny, no wiring, and they even sold off all the interior... heck it was not even a roller, no suspension at all...

I picked it up for $250... I had to pay taxes on $1400 becuase of the 80% think you are talking about... Heck I just wanted the title in my name, the car will never be back on the street and never registered again... mine was only about $80... paying taxes on $9400... you might want to look into it a little further... but the 10 minute I spend on it I found nothing and decided to just pay the money... your looking at closer to $500-$600 I think... OUCH!

DD