I am writing this in abject disgust and resentment that governments (Quebec and Ontario) have a system in place that unfairly charges tax on vehicular sales pertaining to those over 25 years of age. I have just sold my 86 Vette, and the purchaser was obliged to have the car evaluated before getting it plated. The reason...so the government could collect more tax dollars(9.975%) on the sale of the car. This car was sold probably 4 times since it was new, and each time the government collected on it. As these vehicles over 25 years are no longer "on-the-books", one was able to pay far less, as both parties would set an agreed price before going to the DMV. Although not "ethical" at least the government would collect something. Now they collect far more than what the car was purchased for new! For example, a 1963 Corvette, around $6000 new, now sells for $60000. Well, they now collect provincially and federally in spades, for no other reason than a money grab.
Now comes the next best part. A vehicle inspection in Ontario, even though it was done recently, is not valid or recognized in Quebec, and vise versa. So now another money grab ($85.00 approx) takes place. So, here I am, a guy in Montreal, who locates a nice Vette in the Ottawa area, decides to go check it out with a good chance of purchasing it. I checked with Service Ontario as to how to get this car back to Quebec. He "thinks" I need a Quebec temporary permit to be able to bring it home. Well, the Quebec (SAAQ) counterpart says no. I will need to have a transit permit issued by Ontario, pay all taxes pertaining to an Ontario automobile purchase, based on an evaluation. Then, I have to arrange for a Quebec Motor Vehicle Inspection, then go purchase my license plate, whereby I must pay (again)the taxes based on the evaluation. No one said if I can apply for a refund of the Ontario taxes, as I am not a resident of Ontario. At the same time...all this must be done by appointment only, as we are obviously in the middle of Covid19. So I probably would be able to finally drive this car somewhere before the end of October, just in time to put it away for the winter. Needless to say, I had to beg off this purchase.
This crap has been quietly slipped past us as a means of extra taxation. Anyone who dabbles in collectable, vintage, special interest cars will be unfairly bilked by this regulation. Any company that specializes in vintage replacement parts, performance parts, specialty restoration shops, manufacturing unique auto parts, all will be affected by this, as many people in the old car hobby will be afraid to get involved, as it will be harder to obtain or sell a vintage or collector vehicle. Revenues in the aftermarket auto industry will fall if people will be "nickled and dimed" out of the market by the very same governments that glean millions of dollars of income out of this sector of the auto industry annually.
So in closing, I ask all of you fellow car buffs (and nuts) to figure out as to how to create some sort of a protest, a petition of sorts, that we can all sign and embarrass these governments into reversing this nonsense. Perhaps a sliding scale of taxation that reduces based on the year of the vehicle and it's general condition. I'm not opposed to some form of tax, nor to a vehicle inspection, but when you look around, there are some serious rotboxes out there endangering the population, whereas most collector car enthusiasts generally maintain their vehicles far better than the average person. Don't penalize those who enjoy the collector car hobby.
www.canadadrives.ca
