[encore]

So I just paid $963.08 to register my 2017 Volt in Colorado. I'm still in shock!

Plus I had to pay $50 for a "Plug In Electric Vehicle" fee! WTF!

Under the "Specific Own Tax" list of fees, there is a "Prior Own Tax" of $121.74 and "Specific Own Tax" of $713.03. Anyone know the difference?

 

[milehighvoltman]

I live in Colorado too. I have a new VOLT and have not got plates yet for it. Now I am pissed hearing this from you.

I'm wondering if this is a scam as the Government knows we are getting the tax refund for purchasing and they are stealing it back from us.

I had to register a new 2016 RAV4 early last year and it was a total of $525.

Why is the VOLT so much more.

 

[encore]

Yeah, I don't get it. I'm trying to find out why the ownership taxes are so high. I registered in Denver, but I found this from Jefferson County: http://jeffco.us/motor-vehicle/fees/ It's saying that ownership fees are based on age and taxable value of the vehicle.

So, at least per the Jefferson County example, my estimated ownership tax would be $34,782 x 0.85 = $29,564.70. $29,564.70 x .021 = $620.86. Why was mine so much more at $823.77 ($121.74 + $713.03), I have no idea! Maybe because I live in Denver?

Also, I just realized that "Prior Own Tax" likely means the ownership tax that I had to pay for November 18, 2016 to January 18, 2017. So the ownership tax includes ownership taxes for three months I had the temp tags PLUS the rest of 2017. Maybe that's why the ownership tax is so high.

Although, the $128.31 for the registration and license plates fees is ridiculous! Without the $50 Plug-In Electric Vehicle Fee, it only would have been $78.31.

 

[encore]

This is the Colorado Bill that requires the $50 "Plug In Electric Vehicle" Fee: http://tornado.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/olls/sl2013a/sl_225.pdf

This is where the money is going (Page 2): https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/SpecialtyPlates_Rpt1_March15.pdf

 

[Gary Norton]

There is nothing mysterious about this and no, there is no penalty for Volt owners. The ownership tax is initially computed by taking 85% of the MSRP and multiplying it by 2.1%. See the attached link.The tax rate goes down periodically until it finally reaches .45%. I too was charged the "prior owner tax" which in my case I think represented the fact that I traded a car that I had just recently registered. They canceled the the old registration and rolled in the pro rata portion of what would've been due until the date of the new registration into the registration cost of my new car. While I cannot be 100% certain I do believe that is what the "prior ownership tax" is all about.

Frankly I think anyone in Colorado who complains about the ownership tax or the $50 electric car fee, which is paid In lieu of of paying taxes on gasoline, in a state that is providing you a $4500 tax credit, which will become a $5000 tax credit for tax year 2017 is being silly. Thttps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Specific%20Ownership%20Tax%20Class%20Tables-%20Tax%20Class%20B%2C%20Tax%20Class%20C%2C%20Tax%20Class%20D%20and%20Tax%20Class%20F.pdf

 

[ghostgs1]

The $50 is also for public evse deployment, which I think is a good thing. Somehow we have to fund road building and maintenance. Gasoline tax revenue continues to go down with every improvement brought by each new model year. The high costs for a Volt look pretty reasonable if you think about the cost for a Corvette or Tesla.

 

[encore]

There is nothing mysterious about this and no, there is no penalty for Volt owners. The ownership tax is initially computed by taking 85% of the MSRP and multiplying it by 2.1%. See the attached link.

OK, I kind of get it now. The MSRP (with the options) of my 2017 Chevy Volt Premier was $40,920, according to the "State of Colorado Dealer's Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle." So, $40,920 x 0.85 = $34,782 which is the taxable value shown on my registration card. So $34,782 x .021 = $730.42 which is pretty close to the $713.03 stated on the back of my registration card.

Although, I didn't trade in a car to buy the Volt, so I don't completely get the "Prior Own Tax" of $121.74.

 

[STiG]

It is also my understanding that electric vehicles are getting additional tax, since they aren't buying gas (and paying the taxes on the gas which goes to the road funds etc). I am not sure if plug-in hybrids have the same fate...

 

[AZ EV Driver]

OK, I kind of get it now. The MSRP (with the options) of my 2017 Chevy Volt Premier was $40,920, according to the "State of Colorado Dealer's Bill of Sale of a Motor Vehicle." So, $40,920 x 0.85 = $34,782 which is the taxable value shown on my registration card. So $34,782 x .021 = $730.42 which is pretty close to the $713.03 stated on the back of my registration card.

This sounds similar to the Arizona system and is considered a "property tax" just like your house property taxes, because it is based on the value of the "property" (vehicle). Which makes it deductible on your federal income tax. So the final hit is reduced by your federal income tax rate.

VIN # B0985

 

[juh328dfj]

That's not too bad. In Virginia, it's around 4.2% tax to get any vehicle registered. We paid around 1200 for our 30k volt LT.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

The Colorado State Grant program funded by the $50 electric vehicle tax helps me. A free electric charging station is about a half-mile from my home due to the grant fund. The real losers are the owners of gas-guzzling pick-up trucks and SUV monsters.

 

[ClarksonCote]

That's not too bad. In Virginia, it's around 4.2% tax to get any vehicle registered. We paid around 1200 for our 30k volt LT.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

In NY, we get hit with an 8% sales tax on all vehicles. Registration is otherwise cheap though. I miss tax-free NH.

 

[hellsop]

In NY, we get hit with an 8% sales tax on all vehicles. Registration is otherwise cheap though. I miss tax-free NH.

States don't get revenue from leprechauns and Rumplestiltskin. They're getting you somehow. You just get to pick the method by moving.

 

[Qinsp]

Some of the Colorado fees are earmarked for animal control and breast cancer.

While I can see cars being a way to control animal populations, do airbags really cause breast cancer?

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Some of the Colorado fees are earmarked for animal control and breast cancer.

While I can see cars being a way to control animal populations, do airbags really cause breast cancer?

I was struck by that, too. The concept of taxation to raise monies for various government and civic functions is an old one. So, I guess taxing vehicle ownership and then applying those monies toward animal control and breast cancer studies could be considered as being a civic function. It's just that I have the thought that those functions would be funded through the general fund, not through vehicle registration fees. So, it comes out of the right pocket and not the left. In the end, both pockets are picked for taxes.

 

[aspomwell]

Just for comparison purposes, we bought our second Volt on 1/1/2017 in California. Total fees were $319 ($211 Vehicle License Fee, $101 titling fee, $7 California Tire fee). We only get $1500 state rebate though (although I'm in the queue for the $500 PGE rebate too).

 

[2VoltFamily]

In MO it will cost you 3 times what the OP in Colorado paid. What's he complaining about?

 

[rand49er]

I thought that your weed tax revenues were going to take care of everything in Colorado.

 

[Pat-Ww]

Prior Own Tax = Tax from the "purchase date" to the registration date (well not exactly).
Own Tax = Full 12 months of tax, starting on the registration date.

So for the first registration after buying a car you will pay for MORE than a year of ownership tax (in most cases). The longer you wait, the more you pay for that first registration.

Future registrations won't have the prior own and the full year will also be less.



Prior Ownership Tax: Ownership Tax is equivalent to personal property tax. Prior ownership taxes are calculated from the month following the month of purchase through the month of the application for registration.

Example: Month following the month of purchase is February. Month of application for registration is March. Prior ownership taxes will be assessed for two months of prior ownership taxes.

Ownership Tax: Ownership tax is based on the vehicle year of manufacture and the taxable value of the vehicle. The taxable value will not change during the life of the vehicle. The calculation used to determine ownership taxes due will change as the vehicle ages until it reaches the minimum fees due at 10 years old.

Ownership tax is always calculated for 12 months based on the month following the month of application for registration through the determined expire month next year.

 

[SEAPEA]

So did you get your CO rebate instantly, or do you have to wait till you file taxes next year? We're trying to get a Volt and the dealership is giving us the runaround on the new instant rebate.