Renewing tags

[RacerE7773]

Here in OH they gave us the choice (surprisingly enough) to renew our plates for either the normal one year or now two years. I am due up this summer, and would like to not have to worry about coming up with $100 plus for both cars next year. Thus when I get the $ I want to renew for the 2 years, and be done with it. A naysayer said to me "That will cost you a bunch of money all at once; why give them more of your money if you don't have to?" I replied "So I don't have to worry about not having the money next year and can then pay on a couple more important things on time, like property taxes." The naysayer is the sort whom lets their tags go until the very last moment, and a couple times has gone past the date.

What do you think?

 

[The_Jeff]

This is pretty cool. Do you need to go in for mechanical or smog inspection as a prerequisite? Do they promise to freeze fees?

Am pretty sure NJ does something like this as I see cars with stickers way far away in the future.

MA renews (or at least used to) you for free provided you keep your insurance intact.

Maine and Arizona have non-expiring plates on heavy trailers and fleet equipment. My U-haul box truck had an Arizona plate on it.

 

[RacerE7773]

Some counties have what bureaucrats call E-Check (smog testing) have to be done before their tags get renewed. Safety isn't mandatory, as 98% of Ohio cars are shot underneath somehow due to the salt the crews LOVE to put on the roads.

You should see my '00 cavalier, hardly anything left of it, and I've repainted rusty sections. True they weren't prepped perfectly, but I'm hoping to order some rust treatment asap.

Our plates are steel as well, so in winter I put clear covers over them along with stainless screws. Besides painting the backs with Rust Oleum or similar paint.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Va. is pretty intrusive (or diligent, if you will). No. Va. residents (perhaps Tidewater residents, too) have a smog inspection requirement tied to DMV, plus yearly safety inspection, plus annual personal property requirements with the local government. Lots of details. With all this, I've often mused that they allow a simple check in a box declaring the car is insured. But then, we ALL know why that is.

They allow a two year registration (assuming you've done the emissions requirement) that's a couple of bucks cheaper over the single-year rate. If they boost it in the middle of your two year term, they don't come back for more. Overall, though, Va. is pretty strict and a lot of hassle to keep a car in.

 

[RacerE7773]

Personally, I hate front plates. I know cops prefer them, but in my opinion a white cavalier with a "43 Bobby Labonte" or Superman's S vanity plate would stick out more than just another Ohio tag despite the numbers. Same with our impala; there are about 4 silver ones here in our small town alone, let alone the rest of the county.