Community Forums

Magumba · 06-13-2010, 09:35 AM

Hi,
My dad lives in Arizona and we've been thinking of moving closer to him. I'd be working a full time job in Arizona.

I've looked at the DMV site and see that the cost is $2.89 per $100 of accessed value reduced by 60%. Pretty expensive if that is charged every year ($1880 at $65000 wow).

Is there an exception to the vehicle registration cost for an RV? Our Cherokee will not be very expensive as it's 12 years old.

We've thought about registration in South Dakota since we hope to retire in the next year or two and that may be the option we take but I'm concerned if we're working/camping full time in Arizona that could catch up with us.

Can I hear from an Arizona resident? Thanks.

Glenn and Kathy · 06-13-2010, 04:31 PM

Without knowing more about what you will be registering it would be hard to say what it would cost. Our 06 Sea Breeze was $1200 to register last year.

Glenn

Magumba · 06-13-2010, 05:15 PM

Thanks for your reply,
Is that $1200 per year, every year? Wow! We have a 2003 Itasca Suncuriser worth between $60000 and $65000. According to azdot.gov the registration is based on 60% or the value times $2.89 which comes to $1130. I made a mistake when figuring the cost in my first post. The amount is reduced each year we reside in Arizona.
Still that's a lot of money.

JohnInAz · 06-13-2010, 09:52 PM

The info you need to compute your plate fees is on the azdot web page. The basis the plate fees are computed against is reduced each year. You need to know the msrp of your vehicle to do the calc. The calculation is the same for cars and RVs. Trailers are different (I believe you can get a permanent plate). Arizona plates aren't cheap!

Magumba · 06-14-2010, 07:18 AM

John,
We would be bringing a used motorhome into the state, we bought it used. Is the plate cost still based on MSRP even though the vehicle is 7 years old? I'd feel that current Blue Book value is fair basis for the fee.
Thanks for your help.

JohnInAz · 06-14-2010, 12:31 PM

Yes, it is based on the MSRP. Current market value, or what you paid for the coach do not come into play. In my case, my coach was worth around 195k MSRP when it was new in 2004. My 2010 plate fee was around $1100. Next year it will be under $1k.

JohnInAz · 06-16-2010, 09:35 PM

Just for grins, I looked up the MSRP of your coach when new. By my calculations your 2010 plate fee would be around $630

Dutch Star David · 06-16-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magumba

Hi,
My dad lives in Arizona and we've been thinking of moving closer to him. I'd be working a full time job in Arizona.

I've looked at the DMV site and see that the cost is $2.89 per $100 of accessed value reduced by 60%. Pretty expensive if that is charged every year ($1880 at $65000 wow).

Is there an exception to the vehicle registration cost for an RV? Our Cherokee will not be very expensive as it's 12 years old.

We've thought about registration in South Dakota since we hope to retire in the next year or two and that may be the option we take but I'm concerned if we're working/camping full time in Arizona that could catch up with us.

Can I hear from an Arizona resident? Thanks.

If I were you, I'd try to talk my dad into moving to Texas. Cost to license my 2009 Monaco Executive is $287.60 for this year.

Magumba · 06-21-2010, 10:16 AM

Thanks for your posts.
Dad will not leave Arizona, we thought for a while he might move back to Pennsylvania where my sister and I live but that's not in the cards. I've considered South Dakota as a home state but feel if we're working and based full time in Arizona we should bite the bullet and register there. Arizona law says if you are in the state for more then 7 months out of the year you have to register there, since we live in the camper we won't have a 'home' some place else.
Drive safely.

LindaH · 06-21-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magumba

Hi,
We've thought about registration in South Dakota since we hope to retire in the next year or two and that may be the option we take but I'm concerned if we're working/camping full time in Arizona that could catch up with us.

As long as you are living and working in Arizona, you need to register your vehicles there. Period.

Once you retire, IF you leave Arizona and become fulltime RVers, *then* you can register your vehicle in South Dakota or any other state you wish. Until then, you'll just have to bite the bullet and pay Arizona's extraordinarily high vehicle registration fees.

cannon man · 06-21-2010, 01:31 PM

they also have state income tax. high sales tax and high property taxes. your paying for all the free stuff fer the illeglas. texas is way mo better.

Magumba · 06-25-2010, 11:43 AM

Thanks for your help with this question. Looks like we're not moving to Arizona at this time.
Drive safely.

bistchr · 06-25-2010, 12:21 PM

Is Nevada or Oregon any better for the retirement and taxes? If you aren't full time RV and have a home in Arizona can you still egister in South Dakota?. I planned Ariz as a home base and be on the road 3-4 months a year but not by these blogs from the looks of it.

Ed

LindaH · 06-25-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bistchr

Is Nevada or Oregon any better for the retirement and taxes?

Nevada does not have an income tax; Oregon has among the highest income taxes of the 50 states, although they don't tax Social Security. Nevada has relatively high vehicle registration rates (I'm not sure how they compare to Arizona's); Oregon's aren't too bad. Oregon's property tax is fairly high; I don't know about Nevada's property tax.

Quote:

If you aren't full time RV and have a home in Arizona can you still egister in South Dakota?. I planned Ariz as a home base and be on the road 3-4 months a year but not by these blogs from the looks of it.

Owning a home in a particular state does not, all by itself, make that state your domicile state.

However, by your own admission, you live in Arizona more than 180 days each year, which means you need to have your driver's license and vehicle registration in Arizona.