Maryland = $

I've decided Maryland is the biggest nickel and diming state I've ever known. I have been back and forth since I got here about getting Maryland license plates. I was going to do it, but then I found out they have this rule about getting a Maryland State Safety Inspection before they'll give you plates. This just seemed like a big annoyance to me (not to mention an expense I didn't really want to get into.) Plus, I'm just against this. When I went in to a place to see what the cost was of one of these "inspections", they informed me that it's an $80 charge pass/fail and if there's anything wrong with it, it has to be fixed and then re-inspected (for another charge.) When I argued the price, he states, "Well, it's a one time fee - you never have to have it done again." This I had to just laugh at. "So, you're telling me that in Maryland, they do a safety check on your car once and then your car continues to deteriorate, but they never check it again?" He just gave me a look.

Anyway, I decided to press my luck and not go through with the inspection. Then recently I got a notice in the mail saying that I need to register my car. So, I decided to be a good, law-abiding citizen and get my plates changed.

So, Friday I made an appointment and went in to get my safety inspection. The car was fine except my serpentine belt needed to be replaced. I'm actually glad they found that and fixed it before it caused any real problems. At any rate, I walked out of that place paying about $130.

Then I went to the Motor Vehicle Administration and sat there for 2 hours waiting for someone to help me. I finally got up to a person, she did her fancy computer work and announces to me, "OK, that will be $569."

What??? Why???

Well, come to find out, Maryland charges you a 6% tax on the value of your vehicle to bring it into the state. This is just about the craziest thing I have ever heard. I ask the clerk to explain, but she can't. Her only comment is, "Well, at least your car is a 2002 - just think if you had a new car!" Yeah, just imagine. But this is my point precisely. My car is a 2002 - and you're going to charge me $500 to register it here? That's nuts.

I argued and argued and finally to some avail. I just can't see paying that much to register my car here, when I'm not planning on staying longer than 6-9 months. After explaining this several times, the clerk finally dropped her voice and offered me a potential way out. We'll have to see if it works.