How hard is it to retitle a bus in Texas. I currently have my bus licensed in Washington but I am moving next week.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Kevin
It's been a long time since my bus was titled in Texas.
Here is what I recall from years back.
The coach has to be weighed at a certified weight scale also the VIN number on your out of state title must match the VIN number on the coach and the coach has to be inspected by a Texas trooper to make sure the VIN number matches the title.
Texas goes by coach weight for the cost of the Texas tag and title.
Also the coach must be safety inspected at a state inspection station don't let them do a commercial vehicle inspection do the standard vehicle inspection.
Hope this helps.
jlv
You are now required to have a out of state inspection done cost from 125 to 250 bucks then they give you a decal on the windshield stating it is ok for safety inspection take the bill of sale, title, inspection records and insurance with you and they are going to charge you 4% sales tax and depending on the county smog testing may be required
good luck
Texas seriously charges sales tax when you move a vehicle that you own and have already paid all relevant taxes on in another state to Texas? Really?
Brian
They sure do Brian and they are not the only state here that does that sucks doesn't it
When did Texas start that one? I had ours done when we moved here in 2006, just had to have the coach weighed, proper paperwork and pay the tag and sticker fee and that's it. Of course I did this in Anson TX.
One other thought. Is your coach titled as a motorhome or bus?
I just did mine last month. It came from Tennessee. there was nothing to it. I got insurance. took it to the local inspection place. I paid $14 for the inspection. they did not drive it. just looked at lights, wipers,tires and horn. No smog testing on old diesels. They have a form to fill out for out of state vehicle. Make sure they have the form before the inspection. I took that form to the tax office with insurance card. I told them it was a motorhome. I said a ridiculous low price for what I paid for it and they asked me what I thought it weighs. I told them 20,000#. Mine is an 83 so it is not in their books of value. I paid the $250 and got my tags and last week my new Texas title was in the mail.
Some one let you slide Eddie 17 counties have smog testing and you need the V1-30-A decal before you proceed. Kwood check out the Tx web site and it will answer your questions for the county you live in.
Good luck from a native Texan
Here in Brazoria county is just like Harris county. Diesel does not get tested until 07. Gas engines get it unless 25yrs or older. The sticker is just a plain inspection sticker. The same with my motorcycle. $14 is all it is. Now Gas is like $40. It is the same test everywhere. Call any jiffy lube here and ask them what all they will look for to give you your sticker. That form they fill out is to verify your Vin and gross weight. What they write must match your title when you take it to the tax office.
Well you did get lucky by telling them 20,000lbs anything over 26,000 gross is a different deal I am surprised they didn't ask for a certified weight ticket and a bill of sale.
He can check the Tx web and have all the right answers
I agree on the 20,000. That was my main worry was having to get it checked. I do not know what it would of changed but I do know the tax rate goes by weight. My old S&S cost more to register than the bus.
Thanks for the heads up, guys. I will let you know how it goes when I go through the process in a couple weeks.
Kevin
Michigan has a layered system for registering and determining the cost of the plates, if a bus is older than, I think 1984, it is based on weight, if it's newer, the cost is based on the value, because mine is an 1981 I had to pay based on weight which was proving to be costly so I went the route for historical plates, they base the plates on the age, if a bus in michigan is 26 years old or older the plates are 30 dollars and good for 10 years, they try to place restrictions on their use but the terms are so liberal that I fell within the guidelines easily. Possibly texas may have a system structured in a simular way?
You didn't answer Dreamscape's question. If it is titled as a motorhome, it shouldn't be too hard. If it is still a bus you better read this:
http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/233/6371.html (http://www.busnut.com/bbs/messages/233/6371.html)
If it is over 26k lbs you will have to get a class B license. It does not have to be commercial (if titled as a motorhome) I've been there and done all that.
David
Kwood, I checked with my granddaughter who works at DMV in Lampasas she said they have done away with the pre out of state inspection because stations were charging all different prices, but the kicker now is you pay 6.25% not 4% sales tax and a 90 dollar new resident fee.
She said if all possible bring it in titled as a motorhome will make it a lot easier it is now a 2 page form and you can be charged another 2.5% for emissions if registered as a bus, you can also buy antique tags if your bus is old enough 35 dollars for 5 years and you need insurance only when using the bus with the antique tags.
good luck
Thanks for the update. My bus is a 1979 so I don't know if it is old enough for an antique. It is licensed as a motorhome. For the 6.25%, what do they base the value on? I paid $10 for it six years ago. I now see them for sale for less.
Thanks,
Kevin
It is old enough for antique tags. I am really not sure you will have to pay a sales tax on something you already own. Mine is an 83 and to old for their book of value. If asked say $100. As far as antique tags you might want to look into them but they did not seem to be a great deal when I did. If i remember right you pay the extra for the tag but still your yearly registration.
Kevin, if I remember correctly, I paid the sales tax based on what I paid for the bus (PD4107, from 1968), based on the bill of sale. I'd purchased it in New Hampshire (no sales tax, and no title law), so I also had to have it safety inspected, weighed, and titled (as a motorhome). I did need a certified weight certificate, and I made sure to take everything out, drain water tanks, etc. to bring it in under 26000 lbs. They took the weight and added 100 pounds, to get the registered weight. I have a CDL, so that was no big deal, but eventually I want my wife to be able to drive it.
Call the county tax office of the county you're moving to, and find out just what you need. Here, the county handles all the paperwork. I tried the State, the State website, and had no luck. I walked into the county tax office and they walked me through the process, gave me everything I needed before I picked up the coach (including the form to have a police officer inspect and certify the VIN, we had a local cop in New Hampshire come over to do it, and had to explain what it was and where to find it).
I moved here in 1986, and if I recall right, they credited me for the car sales tax I'd paid out of state, and only charged me the difference (if I'd paid 5% when I bought the car, I paid the extra 1.5 to bring it to 6.5%).
I did not investigate antique tags. However, I've read that some states limit you to a certain distance, travel to/from car shows, etc. Also, I'd wonder if use as a motorhome (converted away from the original configuration) would create a problem. Even in the greater Dallas area, the only annual inspection we need is a safety (lights/brakes) inspection, costs about $18.00.
Arthur
If I have time while running errands, I may be able to stop by our county tax office and see what they say. So, questions ...
Is the bus currently registered in Washington State, (meaning you'll have 30 days to reregister here -- again, is this a permanent move?)
Is it already converted?
Is it registered and titled as a motorhome?
Year, type, approximate weight, approximate purchase price, and do you have a bill of sale?
What does your Washington registration and title say?
Arthur
Thanks for the help, Arthur!
In answer to your questions:
1. Currently licensed in Washington, and this is a permanent move.
2. Bus is already converted.
3. Bus is registered and titled as a motorhome.
4. It is a 1979 MCI MC9, approx weight empty is 16,000 lb, I paid $10,000 in 2005 and I do have the bill of sale. I believe the sales tax when I purchased it was about 9%.
Regards,
Kevin
I just transferred the title on my shortie skoolie bus (under 26K lb) from a private party in Alabama to myself in Texas last month. It went like this:
First I took it to a safety inspection at the Jiffy Lube I know. My bus is a diesel so no emissions test. He made sure I had insurance, and that my brakes, horn, and all my lights worked and other basic stuff like that. He gave me a Green Sheet (important!) and the window sticker.
Then I went to the county tax office, because thats where they do it here. The old title said RV but in Texas that means Motor Home. I had to have the Green Sheet, proof of insurance, a weight slip (I went to a CAT scale and paid $9), the title, fill out a form that says how much I paid, and a picture of the inside and outside. The second time I went back I made sure to call it a Motor Home, not a bus, and the woman didnt ask to look at the pictures she just wanted all the paper work and a dollar amount that was roughly 11% of what I paid for the bus, then handed me plates and a window sticker.
Good luck!
Lily
Great, thanks for the process. Hate that 11% fee though.
Kevin
Quote from: kwood on June 18, 2010, 09:56:38 PM
Great, thanks for the process. Hate that 11% fee though.
Kevin
I am sure it was tax value + fees, it just happened to come to that amount.
Lily
All depends on the county Kwood like they say on TV Texas is a different world but you will pay the 90 dollar new resident fee.
good luck and enjoy Texas lot's to see and do in that state best BBQ and seafood in the world
Lily's experience matches what I remember of our experience. Your weight sounds low to me, but you'll have to have it weighed - just try to do it with empty tanks, get off the bus, shave as much weight as you can. Try to bring it in under 25,800 lbs (they add 100 lbs for the registration weight). That'll keep you under the CDL 26,000 pound limit. Also, the registration fee (annual plates) is based on weight.
She mentioned one important element -- proof of insurance. Have to show it to get inspected, to get registered, etc. Having pictures is a good idea. Now that she mentioned it, I do remember bringing pictures when I registered.
With her recent knowledge, I'd go with her answer --- but still call the county tax office of the county you're going to. Kind of like changing diapers ----- nobody likes surprises. You could also ask them about antique plates, and any limitations on vehicle usage that comes along with them --- if you're so inclined.
Arthur
A guy on the board here johns4104s runs the antique plates on his MCI 9 in Texas I don't think Texas limits the mileage shoot him a pm he can answer your questions about the antique tags
good luck
New Residents
New residents are required to do the following within 30 days of moving to Texas:
* Get a vehicle inspection
* Register and title their vehicle
New residents must have their vehicles pass inspection before having it registered and titled. After having it inspected, owners should take the following to their county tax office:
* inspection certification,
* proof of liability insurance,
* the vehicle's odometer reading if it is less than 10 years old,
* an original out-of-state title, proof of registration, proof of sales tax payment or current foreign/military ownership document,
* completed Form VTR 130-U, and
* the following fees:
o registration fee,
o title application fee of $28 or $33, depending on the county, and
o new resident tax of $90.
Additional fees may also be due at the time of registration. For more information, contact your county tax office. For information about the new resident tax, contact the Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces and non-resident, full-time students attending a Texas college or university are not required title or register their vehicles in Texas.
Driver License
New residents are required to get a Texas driver license within 90 days of moving to Texas.
For more information, read our FAQs or Put Texas in your corner®.
Quote from: roadrunnertex on June 19, 2010, 11:41:53 AM
* completed Form VTR 130-U
That form is just a statement of value. In my case I put down what I paid for the bus.
Lily
I moved here in 1986, and don't remember whether there was a new resident fee then. Assuming you're registering multiple vehicles, you might make sure you only have to pay this once. Again, a call to the county tax office should clarify how to do this.
Lily's comment makes sense, what was paid for the bus. Just be sure you don't say "priceless", that'd really increase the tax burden.
Arthur
You actually have weighed your MC-9 and it weighs 16,000 lbs? That's about 5 tons lighter than my MC-5 weighs!
Brian
That's what I thougth my notes said. It could be my writing. I will be weighing it again on my way to Texas tomorrow.
Use certified (Cat-certified or equivalent) scales, when low on fuel, get off the bus, do what you need to to get it under 25,800 pounds (25,700 would be better). If I remember right, they round up to the next 100 pounds, then add 100 pounds (can't be for the driver, I've met very few bus drivers under 100 pounds). That would bring 25,700 up to a 25,900 registered weight.
If you're transporting stuff, you might want to wait until you get here and empty the bus, drain house water tank, waste tank, etc. Weighing doesn't cost much, so you could weigh it on the road, to see if you can meet the target weight.
Arthur