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Ken-55 · 12-03-2011, 10:55 AM

First off, my apologies, this is not a RV specific question, it's just that I'm guessing there are some full-timers out there who could give me some good advice . . .

My soon to be 20 y.o. son is in the Navy and I'm helping him buy (his $$$, I just have POA while he's deployed) his first car.

I live in CT and he's always resided with me until he left for bootcamp. His ship is out of Norfolk, VA and he'll probably be living there for a few years.

The question that I have is where's the best place to register it?

I was originally planning on registering it in CT just to make it simple and easy for me to handle both now and in the future if he's deployed. What got me thinking is that to register it in his name I will have to pay 6.35% sales tax AGAIN . . . it was my daughter-in-law's (his older brother's wife) leased car which she bought when the lease ended specifically to sell to him (I'm pretty sure that they charged sales tax at that time).

It looks like it doesn't fall under the sales tax exempt status because of the "in-law" part AND she hasn't kept it registered because the son who's buying it has been deployed since May.

Anyone have specific info about pros/cons about sales tax, property tax on vehicles and ongoing registration cost in CT vs. VA?

He's coming home soon and we'll all be down there, I could probably bring the paperwork and have him register it there. He will keep the car with him in VA. When he deploys again, it will be stored either in VA or CT depending on the length an storage costs.

Thanks!

gray ghost · 12-03-2011, 12:01 PM

First off, being active military he can keep it registered in CT no matter where he is stationed. If he registers it in VA he won't get hit for CT state tax, but he will for VA. He will also be responsible for any fees there. And if he should decide to bring it back into registration in CT at some point he will more than likely have to pay extra fees to accomplish that. The answer is that you really need to find out the total costs of doing it each way in order to make a better decision.

A note for your son, VA has some quirky rules. I got tagged there with a $100 ticket because a non-resident sticker (which was free) had expired.

wa8yxm · 12-03-2011, 06:37 PM

Does he have a residence in the US or is it just the Fleet?

There will be an officer on base or ship that can answer those questions way better than I can but my thinking is where is the car going to be parked when it is not being driven and/or what state issued his civilian driver's license.

IF those are the same. then that is where he should register. at the same address as his Driver's license. Else, he should ask the expert on base/ship.

As for he cost of VA v/s CT.. You can get that info online more than likely.. Just google the state government (VA Government,, CT Government) you may find it's www state gov and from there link to the DMV and work it out.

I just (Today) renewed my vehicle registration from the Townsend, GA branch of the Michigan Secretary of State (DMV) ... Also known as this computer.

bluepill · 12-03-2011, 06:44 PM

You should also consider personal property tax. That means that you have to pay a tax every year (in addition to regisration fees). Ct. used to have it, but I don't know if they still do. Va. may also have it. It can get fairly pricey depending on the address within the state. Stamford, Ct. was very high years ago, as an example.

djpotts50 · 12-10-2011, 09:49 AM

Unless your son actually purchases a home in VA and lives in that home, I would keep his domicile state as CT for as long as he is on active duty. Even if he rents a place or buys a house as a rental property in VA, he can and should still keep CT as his domicile state and thus keep his vehicle registered there too.

Ken-55 · 12-19-2011, 11:09 PM

Thanks all, turns out VA sales tax would have been 3%, CT is 6.35% but we went with a CT registration, just simpler . . . one fortunate surprise, CT waived registration fees because he's active military AND we can also get the city to waive the property tax. ;-)

Abnmarine · 12-21-2011, 05:36 PM

gray ghost is correct. I'm a resident of Florida (for tax purposes), have a North Carolina Driver's license and our vehicles are registered here in Hawaii. Didn't really need to register them here but chose to for convienance.

This of course will have change once I retire.

ottffss · 12-21-2011, 05:54 PM

AND VA will promptly hit you with an annual personal property tax on TOP of that one time sales tax. The Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 is phasing out in many jurisdictions... I live in VA. Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

Probably more importantly, compare the cost of insurance in the two states, one might be a whole lot cheaper...

Check with the base to see if there are military exemptions he/you can take advantage of while stationed in VA.