Schadenfreude

[nineveh_uk]

I'm often uneasy with the concept of name and shame, but in this particular case I really couldn't be. After all, there was technically no naming. Just an absolutely enormous car, a monstrous black and shining four-wheel drive thing with tinted windows, plastered with chrome, half motor vehicle, half whale, the sort of thing that vampire presidents would drive.

Plastered over the driver's window (kerbside) was a big yellow notice: UNTAXED VEHICLE. Affixed to the windscreen, a second, smaller yellow notice: notice of refuse removal.

My heart bled. I then made a note that my car tax is due at the end of this month.

Comments

[sammee42.livejournal.com]

In the States, we have to renew our car registration every year, but I'm not even sure if there is a fee involved (it is probably a small-ish fee; my partner takes care of that). We also have to do a yearly inspection, which costs around $40, and we are required to pay for car insurance (this is quite expensive, usually, unless you have the fortune to be living or were born in one of the relatively cheap States; some pay $500/mo, but since I'm from PA, I pay $1700 for the year).

It's funny; I lived in the UK for nearly two years, but I was a student and I didn't drive, so I never picked up on this phenomenon...

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

We only have to register cars when they change owner. It does sound like your car insurance can be rather expensive - yours is over twice mine, and mine is high because it is my first car and I have no no-claims bonus.

I know the "I never realised that" thing well. I find a lot simply being an adult "What? You mean that I have to do X?"

[disassembly_rsn]

In Florida, you have to renew your car registration once a year, due on the birthday of the car's principal owner, and there's a fee, although it's pretty reasonable (less than $75, if I recall). The sticker that you get back when you pay the fee goes on the license plate rather than the windshield / windscreen, though.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

We also have an inspection of the car each year, starting three years from new - the "MOT", or "Ministry of Transport test". It costs about £25.