Photo courtesy Bring a Trailer Just Enjoying the Hobby As a longtime Sports Car Market reader and a subscriber since 2000, as well as a collector of sports cars and military vehicles, I’d like to offer a different thought regarding the issue of registering vehicles out of state (June 2026, “Legal Files,” p. 56). I will say, first of all, I am not in favor of those registering expensive exotic luxury vehicles and motorhomes out of state to avoid paying sales tax. That seems to be the main issue raised in your recent articles. What hasn’t been mentioned is that through […]
Photo courtesy Bring a Trailer
Just Enjoying the Hobby
As a longtime Sports Car Market reader and a subscriber since 2000, as well as a collector of sports cars and military vehicles, I’d like to offer a different thought regarding the issue of registering vehicles out of state (June 2026, “Legal Files,” p. 56). I will say, first of all, I am not in favor of those registering expensive exotic luxury vehicles and motorhomes out of state to avoid paying sales tax. That seems to be the main issue raised in your recent articles.
What hasn’t been mentioned is that through some draconian edicts of some state DMVs, as well as the Air Resources Board in California, some vehicles are not allowed to be registered. Many states will not allow the registering of surplus military Humvees, which are being released by the hundreds each month as our military replaces them with updated vehicles.
Additionally, as of 2017, California will not allow you to register any vehicle that does not have a 17-digit VIN. That means anyone who buys a newer surplus military vehicle at auction in California and pays the sales tax upon purchase cannot register or drive them in California because of the lack of a 17-digit VIN. There is no intent to avoid paying sales tax. It is collected by the state at the time and point of purchase.
Another scenario where someone might want to register a vehicle out of state is because of some states mandating strict smog rules. While everyone wants to have clean air, the chances of meeting the requirements of smogging a 50-year-old car that is not used for daily transportation and is only occasionally driven to club events, parades, and Cars & Coffees has become increasingly difficult.
California used to exempt cars of a certain age on a yearly sliding scale, but as of 1998, a car must be a 1975 or older to be smog-exempt. Again, someone having difficulty smogging a collector car and registering it out of state has already paid their sales tax and is not trying to evade taxes.
Lastly, if one has more than one residence or cars stored in other states, that person can only have one driver’s license and might be driving a car registered in another state. To summarize, there might be one of several reasons one might need to register a vehicle out of state without any intent to avoid paying sales tax. I found it interesting that our government seems to be all about the money and having little regard for those who enjoy the hobby of vintage vehicle ownership. Thank you for your always-thought-provoking “Legal Files!” — Paul Simon, via email
Eye of the Beholder Dept.
I read with interest the English Profile of the 2017 Lagonda Taraf (June 2026, p. 64). I’m surprised the author didn’t mention that you could save a lot of money by buying a 2006 Chrysler 300. Is it me, or just bad photography? — Dr. Mitch Josephs, Palm Beach, FL
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