Just pulled the trigger on my 1st bus! registration question

[Jimot]

Just bought my first bus! '06 Setra S417. Had it inspected prior and went to personally inspect and take a test ride and laid hands on it!
1. have insurance on it through Allstate
2.about to resister in VT. wan
Went to Website to check VIN verification since my bus is exactly 15 years old. It says VIN verification is on hold. Which means I need VD119 and check for 6% tax. Does this sound right?
Bought from small tour company they will deliver when weather clears.
Does that sound right regarding registering as MH in VT?

Plan to be bothering you folks a lot in the future if that's OK?

[Tedsoldbus]

You should just have to pay the ransom once. My state and many others charge an ad valorum tax for your first plate. I expected a 3% tax as well when we went to DMV. Got away with NO tax! They said my bus is old enough that "no tax". They do hit me for $100 per year renewal because of weight (16 tons). So if you bought an older bus you'd save money on plates. Good news is you will find parts and service much easier to find with your newer, new toy.
Welcome to the madness. Have fun with it.

[richard5933]

The tax bit sounds pretty normal - depending on how your state does things. In Wisconsin we pay a one-time sales tax on the purchase price of a used vehicle which I believe is around 5%. After that just the annual plate fee. From the VT website it looks like your plates will be $76/year after that.

The form you mentioned looks like a pretty standard form for registration. I'd guess that you need to do it via mail either due to the age or due to the title from the seller not being from a state with a compatible software system for automatic VIN verification.

To register as a motor home though, you'll have to do some investigation. If it's currently registered as a bus you may have some steps required before you can switch to registering as a motor home. Some states require verification that the conversion has met certain prerequisites, usually things like a water supply/sink, refrigerator, cook top, etc.

In states like Wisconsin they'll register it as a motor home on your word alone, but it's up to you to have everything in compliance with the requirements. Get caught driving a vehicle still set up as a bus which is registered as a motor home and there's a hefty fine.

[luvrbus]

All states are different here in AZ only time you pay taxes on a used  vehicle is when it purchased from a dealer,here if used a RV it would cost you $55.00 for 3 years ,it is different song on a factory conversion though.Nice bus I like the 417 tough to convert one though 

[Lin]

Speak to someone at your DMV about the requirements for registering a converted bus as an RV or house car, as some states call it.  Even though they may want to see cooking and sleeping facilities etc, sometimes that can mean as little as a camp stove and a cot.

[Sebulba]

He is registering it in VT.  Vermont is a very unique state for registering a vehicle.  Most of the comments about other states don't apply in VT. 

I am following this thread because I will probably use VT as well when I get a bus, so am interested in observing your experience,  Jimot.

You are probably aware of this article:

https://thewanderlustbus.com/2018/04/22/register-your-bus-without-conversion-in-any-state/

and this forum thread:

https://www.skoolie.net/forums/f18/how-to-immediately-register-your-bus-as-an-rv-without-conversion-15292.html

Please keep us updated on the process.

Seb