Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite - View Single Post

M35A2 · 03-28-2006, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmgill

Things in the US are less cut and dried. As a rule we're less taxed than you chaps are. For example, vehicle tax is based on ad valorem, which is some fraction of the vehicles value reduced for it's age. I have one vehicle that costs more than $4 for Ad Valorem and it's a 2001 honda. Every thing else even from the '80s and '70s is a few dollars. The Tag fee costs more than the tax ($20 per year for tag renewal plus ad valorem).

Road tests vary state to state, some states really only have an emissions tests, Georgia has it around the metro Atlanta area counties where I live. Tests for equipment, brakes, etc are nonexistent. If you get in an accident and you have failed brakes, expect some fines. Same thing for failed lamps and such. OTher states are more or less strict.

Licenses are another matter. Federally, the Commercial Motor Vehicles (HGVs to you chaps) are regulated by the states to a minimum standard specified by the Federal Government. States can be more strict, but must license vehicles per the Federal Government. My state is currently confused on how non-commercial trucks should be licensed so I'm going at them through my legislative body to get the laws cleared up. I did just get one law passed to allow us to drive with out a license plate displayed. I'll have to go around the legislative process again for the license issue.

Tracks are generally frowned upon as most folks don't realize that they don't actually damage the road if setup a certain way. Georgia doens't allow tracked vehicles even with rubber pads. Other states do. Perhaps I can get some half track owners together to get them to help me demonstrate to our State legislators.

Thanks for your answer Ryan.

I can tell you one thing that you know about, and that's the tax issue. We are taxed to death in the UK. It's a disgrace. Most of us over here would give our right arms to be able to move over to the US.

I can't believe that you don't have vehicle safety checks every year. The reason why everyone buys pre 1960 trucks here is because they are MOT exempt. The trouble with this test is that if your vehicle fails, then you are not allowed to drive it again until the defects that were found are rectified.

Here is a run down of the cost to run my 3 vehicles.

Toyota Hilux Surf SSRG

Insurance £333 per year
Road Tax £175 per year
MOT test £45 per year

Total cost to keep on the road each year (without repairs, fuel, etc,etc) is:£553 or $967.48

Defender TUM

Insurance £195 per year
Road Tax £175 per year
MOT test £45 per year

Total cost to keep on the road is £415 or $726.30

Series 3

Off the road, so I don't have to pay for tax or insurance. MOT only required if I put it back on the road. A MOT has to be carried out before I can do this.

Total cost = £968 or $1,694.61

Fuel cost's 0.95 pence per liter for Diesel and 0.91 pence per litre for petrol. (I hate using metric, I work in imperial, but everything is being changed so we are the same as Europe. Most people can't stand the Europeans here)

So a 50 litre fill of Diesel once a week costs me (13.21 US Gallons) £47.50 or $83.11. So my fuel bill to get me to work and back in a month is roughly $335

As you can see, we are taxed to death.

PS. You have a fantastic collection of British Army vehicles. They must have cost you some cash!!