Today I’m taking half a day’s vacation from work, leaving at lunchtime to go to the DMV. It’s sad when you have to take time out of office to go get this done. I’m orginally from Tennessee where a trip to the DMV is pretty much hassle free. Hell, this past year I updated my driver’s license on line and they mailed it to me. But since I just bought a new car and am insured here in Misery (oops, I mean Missouri), I have to go on a field trip. Here’s how this goes…
In Missouri, you pay personal property taxes on boats, cars, houses, etc. This wonderful state taxes you every year on those purchases. They say the money is used on road improvements, but have you driven on Missouri roads? Geez… So, I have to go into the DMV and pay a bunch of sales tax up front on the car and get my Missouri driver’s license. More about that in a sec…
Well, since this is my first time, I have to go get proof that I didn’t owe personal property taxes last year. So, before going to the DMV, I have to go to some county tax office and pay for a tax waiver, a tiny piece of paper saying I didn’t owe anything last year. Hello? If I’m not in the computer, I probably didn’t owe. Okay, now I get to go to the DMV. At the DMV, I have to show the tax waiver and pay about 1,000 dollars in taxes to get tags and plates for the new car.
Now, here’s the fun part…to get a Missouri driver’s license, I have to surrender my TN license, take an eye exam, take a test on road signs, provide the tax waiver, proof of insurance, proof of residency, my social security card, my original birth certificate, a blood and urine sample, and my first unborn child. Okay, maybe not those last two, but you get the point. Missouri is tough!
Tennessee has higher sales tax on things you buy, but you don’t get taxed every year on major purchases. I think that’s crazy. And like I said, I renewed my TN license on line. My TN plates and tags only costs like 75 dollars. I didn’t have to take time off from work and drive all over town collecting bits of information to get them either.
What a fun Friday this will be! I’ve got all my papers, receipts, documents, certificates, and check book ready to go, but I just know when I get there I’ll be missing something….
