Modern Vespa

Hi all,

I may have the opportunity to relocate to the LA area in the next couple of months. As part of the decision making process, I am evaluating the costs associated with the move.

I realize that registration fees vary from location to location in the state. It is likely that I will be working in the Long Beach Area. I am not a big fan of long commutes so lets assume my living arrangements will permit me to live a reasonable distance from where I work.

Can anyone give me an idea of what it costs to register an MP3 400 in that area? I realize the first year will be higher because of the fact the vehicle is currently tagged for Florida. So I am really just interested in the cost after that one time affair.

Thanks

They just stabbed me for $163.-- for my 2008 Mp3 400ie. Goes to a good cause though, this state chews threw money like it....grows on trees!

Y, I think they charge per day... when you factor in the number of days that you can actually ride it out here it's a bargain.

I SURE hope you have more criteria for determining a move like that than licensing your scoot...

Like state income tax.

It is a cool state but it has seen better days.
Good luck with your decision.

I don't know what Florida tags cost, but CA tags are around $150-$250 depending on year. I hear in some states they charge a percentage of value, like property tax. That would suck.
( I would also say that vehicle registration fees would be pretty low on my list of pros/cons of moving to a new town. And we have 10 vehicles. )

Its just one of many factors guys and gals.

The reality is I am very skilled in a career field that pays very well in California compared to Florida. SO a lot of the decision making process involves how the expenses compare both side by side from a hard numbers standpoint and from a more subjective standpoint.

For instance, an Apartment near Marina Del Rey that I might have an interest in if I decide to make the move would run me about 1600 per month. Its about 700 sq ft and a short walk to the beach. I Orlando which is another option in this decision making process, 1600 would get me 1100 sq ft but I would be about an hour from the beach. So either Salary would cover the rent money easily.

So those types of things couple with what may seem minutia to some will determine what tips the decision one way or the other assuming I get the anticipated choice and offer.

Wish me luck because where I am at right now is dying. Its like we are getting a second wave of recession here.

Make sure you factor in that Fl has no income tax and Ca has one of the highest income taxes in the country and just said they are going to raise it again. I would stay as far away from Ca. as possible.

Wayne B

Hey come on people... CA is billions of dollars in debt. Arnold needs all the taxpayers he can get.

One thing I will say about CA (after living here for 12 yrs) is that yes we all have smaller houses out here (because they're so darn expensive), but we also spend a lot more time outside enjoying this great state.

You can always come to Pennsylvania! It's bitter cold in the winter, and dripping with humidity in the summer. It's the best state ever. And yearly registration costs are only $36. That's something, anyway.

Welcome to North Carolina. A diverse state, and more so each day.

Registration - $28/year; $58/yr vanity plate

Insurance - $109/yr for <500 cc

Property Tax - in my county, <.90 per $100

Beaches, Piedmont and Mountains all in one.

Each year, less tobacco and more technology.

Less furniture, more pharma.

Good wine, good beer.

Four season riding.

And, let us not forget - HOME OF THE DRAGON!

Check down here in Sarasota or Charlotte county. Lots of real estate you could buy for 1600 per month. Property tax rates should be lower than Orlando and you don't have to reregister anything. And some of the best beaches are here.

"Home of the Dragon" says it all! That's it. So long coal country, hello beautiful beaches!

Here are some of the items that I noticed when moving out of California to Austin.

1. Groceries - Much more expensive in California (At least 50% more than Texas)
2. Vehicle registration is much more expensive in California (~50 dollars here)
3. State income tax (I actually took a 10% pay cut when moving here but my take home pay was actually the same.)
4. Car insurance (Actually is higher in Austin but not much perhaps 10%)
5. Rent (About the same as northern California a bit cheaper than southern California.)
6. Sales Tax (About the same)
7. House prices (Much cheaper at the time but the gap is closing. My house is probably 50% cheaper in Texas than California)
8. Gas prices (About $.60 cents a gallon cheaper than so cal.)
9. Home owners insurance (More expensive in Texas by about 20%)
10. Property Taxes (California is probably the best state to live in for property taxes because of prop 13. They are very expensive here and are a pain to deal with because of the constant value hikes. Of course this doesn't offset the income tax and other cost of living differences.)

Now I can't compare to Florida but it was a huge cost of living difference leaving the state. I would have to say you would need about a 25% increase in pay to move to California versus Austin and you wouldn't have as large of a house.

[Can anyone give me an idea of what it costs to register an MP3 400 in that area?]
I live in San Jose, CA which is located in the northern region of CA and my registration is $162/yr. I imagine the fee would be around the same ballpark down in Los Angeles, CA. Although I would not be surprised to see this fee increases over $300 in the near future cause the total DEBT that CA incurred between January - July 31, 2009 was $44,776,500,338.00. OUCH!! I am sure our Governor will find a way to reduce that debt somehow.

wow everyone so far pays more than us folk here in TN. $17 yr tags and no yearly property taxes in fact no state income tax.

[wow everyone so far pays more than us folk here in TN. $17 yr tags and no yearly property taxes in fact no state income tax.]
Either you folks in TN are really faithful CHRISTIAN folks [who do not charge people an arm and leg for everything] or I am living in the wrong state.

Wow where does the state get its money?

And Tennessee has one of the best school systems. California schools suck!!!! Pay my taxes and don't get much of quality in return. But I would rather pay my property taxes than what they pay in parts of Penn. and other east coast states.

Wow,

I didnt mean to create a whole discussion about places to live and the financial benefits or burdens there of but it sure is interesting.

A couple of things I should mention. I live in about 1000 sq feet now and find it to be too much so in that respect smaller is definitely better. IN fact, when I go to the Ikea store and see the layouts they have for places at 600 or so square feet, I think they are awesome. I will likely not own a home again for some time, if ever for many reasons.

Taxes are relevant but not. Here in Florida we have what I would consider high property taxes which is being followed upon by fees for everything imaginable. Not unlike California, I am sure. That being said, If I am going to be fee'ed to death, I may as well be where the weather is more to my liking.

I love to be outside and we are finally entering the season where that is possible again in Florida but I sure wish that were a little more year round.

Assuming you already own the MP3 you might not have to pay the "use tax" since you are bringing the vehicle in from out of state and have already paid whatever fees you had to in FL. You will have to pay the other fees though and it will like be about $140. Maybe a little less in the LBC than N.Cal...

for what?
gas taxes go to roads, which we have some nice roads, today regular is 2.29 a gal it just went up from 2.20 3 days ago.
property taxes in my county run about 1000 for 100,000 value thats city and county combined.
sales taxes are 9.25% which are a little higher than other states but not noticable, sure is better than state income taxes though.

A property tax at that rate would eat my whole income! Yuk. Not moving there then...

Oh okay I thought there weren't any property taxes. How often are they paid when you buy? That is not what I am getting.

My house in the Austin area is one of the cheaper subdivisions for property tax rates and it runs about 2.2% after the discounts a owner/occupier would get.

Property tax is charged every year. So you pay $1000 every year for every $100,000 or value. So if you have a $250,000 house you would pay $2,500 a year in property tax.

Wayne B

Wow, taxes for this place are $1326 dollars on $78620.

I'm a transplanted Hoosier with nearly 30 years in CA, saw an MP3 on a trip in Paris, fell in love with it, came back and bought one and 17 months later, have racked up 21,000 miles commuting in LA from the Universal Studios area to the City of Commerce, where my business is located. Since it is almost true that it "doesn't rain in Southern California", alas, you can just about ride the full 24/7/365, as I do, hurrah! A maxi-scoot is a near-perfect answer to the commuting hell that LA can, at times, be. There are a lot of days that I wish my 20 mile commute home might be 25 instead. What a way to unwind the day. Of course, I can optimize my route by including 6 miles of twisties thru LA's Griffith Park and then let 'er rip for a couple of miles on Forest Lawn Drive.

Would like to live in Europe (The Real Scooterland) sometime, for a while, but, failing that, CA is the greatest next-best.

Give it a shot.