Virginia vs. Maryland? Auto registration friendliness gauge.

I may be relocating to work in DC, so likely selling my house, renting a nice apt with parking, and driving my Benz there (1984 Benz 300D) and having my BGT shipped there later or store it with family in the midwest.

I'm curious what anyone might know about living in either state and how it is being an older car fan. My Benz can pass any inspection anywhere. My BGT can too, but does not have the original air pump equipment, and I don't like the idea of either car having emissions tested on rollers (ugh).

Anyone have any thoughts?

Before you compare the states you may want to look at where exactly you will be working. That can dictate what state you want to live in.

I am in VA so I am not as up on the MD regs but here is what I know about VA/MD.

VA - Safety Inspection every year, Emissions every 2 years, no emissions inspection for anything older than 25 years old, Property tax every year on value of cars.

MD - Safety inspection once when you buy/register the car, Can get historic (With restrictions) plates at 20 years.

I am in western maryland, so we done have emissions.

That said, if your car is over 20 years old it can get historic tags and be exempt from inspections (and I think emissions).

For instance, my 1986 BMW 325e has historic plates.

moxnix wrote: , Property tax every year on value of cars.

I've heard of states with this, and I can't fathom how people aren't up in arms about it.

I'm in MD near DC.

I've got regular tags on the M3, A4, Tacoma and 2 KTM motorbikes. I have historic tags on the Sprite, Miata and RD400.

According to my opinion, the cops don't seem to care if the historic tags are on a half-decent looking car. I used to nearly daily drive the Sprite and the cop I'd see every day would wave. Besides - the language in the MD vee-hic-ul code says historic tags are for shows, parades, events, blah-blah-blah, and ~ occasional pleasure use~ and since I derive pleasure from their use every time I should be good then.

The lack of annual inspection + taxes makes MD an easy choice. BTW, it's nearly impossible to insure a motorcycle in the District of Columbia, and the car insurance is a fortune. Plus the MVA, vehicle inspection and traffic adjudication facilities are a nightmare.

Oh, I just caught the ages of the vehicles. My bad.

You'll have the greatest MVA day of your life. Walk in w/ titles and proof of insurance (have your insurer fax "FR19" forms to the MVA the day you're going if you want to be absolutely sure) Pay your $51 per car + tax and title fees and walk out w/ 2 historic tags....

I'm in VA. Hit DMV on a day other than Monday in the middle of the month. You'll wait like five minutes and be out of there in ten. I registered my '85 Chevy truck as an antique this year. One time fee and no annual inspections.

Regarding the property tax: It used to be much higher. Some years ago, a Republican governor succeeded in "repealing" that tax, and was able to phase out about half of the amount before the Democrats put a stop to that. It doesn't hurt if you drive old junk like I do. Once the "book" value drops below $1000, the tax goes away. If you buy a new Benz every year it'll hit you hard in the wallet, though.

IIRC, in order to have a car with historic (or street rod) tags here in MD, you have to have ONE car that has normal plates to be considered your daily driver. Supposedly this is to ensure you're not using your "historic" car as the commuter. It'd be easy to get regular tags on the Benz and then use the historics for the BGT.

But, as was mentiioned, cops don't actually seem to care about daily use on historic or street rod plates. My kid's '79 Chevy stepside pickup in hot rod flat black, with loud pipes and big tires runs street rod plates and he drives it to school every day right past the county police station. In fact, a couple months after he started driving it, a taillight went out and he got pulled over for it by a county cop. Never even mentioned the tags to him (nor did they care that a 17 year old was driving on historic/street rod tags, and that's supposedly a no-no).

Oh, and if you want historic or street rod tags, you won't be able to go to a local tag and title place. They won't do it there, according to every one I contacted.

Just to add a little more VA info...its ~60 one time fee for antique plates but it is a lifetime registration. You do have to have one vehicle that is your "daily driver." I have had them on my old Plymouth and just put them on my CJ this year and haven't had any problems yet...No inspection needed...also keep mind the city or county tax. In Virginia you will have to buy yearly city or county tax stickers (except the vehicle with antique tags) The county tax varies a bit, in NOVA it will be higher than down here in the country! By the way some will tell ya that you can get by without the county stickers...but I would recommend going ahead and getting one for your daily...the ticket fines are more expensive than the decal!

Another thought...if you decide to pick VA and want to do an antique tag, there is one form that has to be notarized (something to the effect that you will maintain the car and understand its not to be used as primary transportation or something like that) I would recommend going ahead and taking care of that form and motorization before going to the DMV will save lots of headaches!

MedicineMan wrote: Another thought...if you decide to pick VA and want to do an antique tag, there is one form that has to be notarized (something to the effect that you will maintain the car and understand its not to be used as primary transportation or something like that) I would recommend going ahead and taking care of that form and motorization before going to the DMV will save lots of headaches!

I just did my truck in January in the Richmond, VA area, and yes, you do need another car to use as your daily driver, and you sign a statement indicating that the vehicle is for "limited use." But I did not need to have anything notarized. This may be different in other parts of VA.

I am corrected, the MD historic tags are for cars 20 years old or older and stock, and Street Rod tags are for 25 years old or older and modified:

Application form

No notary needed.

"I/We, certify under oath that the vehicle will only be maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, occasional transportation and similar uses. I/We further certify that this vehicle will not be used for general daily transportation or primarily for the transportation of passengers or property on highways."

Interesting wording, and looks like it could be easy to use it to your advantage...

Chris_V wrote: "I/We, certify under oath that the vehicle will only be maintained for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, occasional transportation and similar uses. I/We further certify that this vehicle will not be used for general daily transportation or primarily for the transportation of passengers or property on highways." Interesting wording, and looks like it could be easy to use it to your advantage...

As an attorney I'm somewhat alarmed at the vague statutory language and would impute the intent to make it so on behalf of the legislature that passed it. I like it.

I appreciate all these answers. The more I read and the more research I do, I think the BGT will stay in storage for a while and the benz will come with me, and I will likely be in Alexandria or Arlington, VA. I'd be working in DC, commute by train but need a car for grocery getting and getting out of town.

I lived in Chicago for 7 years, so I remember the need to have an escape hatch. having two cars in apartment living sounds like a recipe for neglect, headaches and maybe even vandalism, which would make me sick to my stomach.

besides the vehicle fees, make sure you consider income tax when looking at the overall picture.

<-not excited about that part of moving into DC from Arlington, VA next month.

I had MD "Street Rod" tags on my Rabbit, easiest MVA trip ever.

You don't need a registered 'regular' vehicle either, they don't check. I said I ride my bike to work or walk most days.

Except for WI (lifetime registration, no safety or emissions, no restrictions other than no January driving, and no requirement to run insurance excpet when actualy driving the car on the highway) MD is just about the friendliest old car state I've lived in.

I have never heard of any "enforcement" of Historic tags (in IL they would pull your collector tags if you were caught at a grocery store in some areas), there is no safety or emissions testing when you run them... and just recently they've stopped the treadmill test for emissions of newer cars.

Now it's just an idle test... and they told me they expect to have any emissions testing of all pre-OBD-II vehicles ended in a few years.

DMV is friendly and efficient (if rather rigid in some ways... like no way to handle a missing title).

Overall, I much prefer conditions here to VA.

Bill

Osterkraut wrote:

moxnix wrote: , Property tax every year on value of cars.

I've heard of states with this, and I can't fathom how people aren't up in arms about it.

That's because we don't want to incur the up-in-arms tax.

Enlightening. Since I'm about to move to VA, you guys are already making me miss MD, and I haven't even left yet.

Here's a question. In MD, my car would not pass the safety inspection with an aftermarket muffler installed. The inspector said it needed a baffle to pass. I threw a stock muffler on it, drove back, and then, one certificate later, put the fart cannon back on.

Will I have to go through this for the VA safety inspection, or will they let it slide.