Seeing a Supercar in Person: Uncovering the Truth Behind Montana and Vermont Plates
Have you ever noticed that when you see a supercar in person, it always has either a Montana or Vermont plate? But why are these cars registered in these states? Are they tax havens? Are they good driving states? Join us as we figure out the reason behind supercars being registered in states the owner probably doesn't live in and how that benefits them in the first place.
I love license plates. In the U.S., every state has its own, making it super easy to spot out-of-state cars. But what you might not have been aware of is that some of these license plates are not on the up and up. Most of the time when you see a supercar or an RV with Montana plates, it's actually a rich person from a different state.
Who does think they're better than you? See, when you're making a major purchase like a $3.3 million Bugatti Chiron Sport, the sales tax can be quite a doozy. For example, if you lived in L.A., you would have to pay about $315,000 in taxes and fees. Now what if I told you that you could buy the same $3.3 million Bugatti and only pay a few thousand bucks in fees as long as you bought it in Montana? Is that something you'd be interested in?
Of course it is. You could use that leftover $314,000 to buy more silk toilet paper or whatever rich people spend money on. If I was rich, I'd buy flannel sheets. The reason for this is because Montana has no sales tax. Oregon, Alaska, Delaware, and New Hampshire are also tax-free but Montana is the best because they are the only state that doesn't require a physical inspection of the car.
Montana also doesn't require emissions testing, so you can roll coal without fear of government retribution. And all this means you can literally buy a car in Beverly Hills and tag it 1,274 miles away in Billings without the car setting tire outside of the 90210. This doesn't sound very legal, does it? But you'd be surprised while it is illegal to falsify the owner's address, there is nothing illegal about opening a shell company in Montana, purchasing a car or RV through that shell company, and operating it in another state.
In fact, there are a bunch of companies in Montana that will help you do just that. Simply create an awesome fake name like Nolan Syke's Cyclery and come up with a kick ass slogan like "We'll take your money and run."
WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Seeing a Supercar in person is rarebut have you ever noticedwhen you see one in the wild,it always has either aMontana or Vermont plate?Why are these carsregistered in these states?Are they tax havens?Are they good driving states?Are Vermont and Montanathe only states like this?Well join us as we figure out the reasonSupercars are registeredin states the ownerprobably doesn't live inand how that benefitsthem in the first place.I love license plates.Here in the U.S.,every state has their ownso it makes it super easyto spot out of state cars.But what you might not have been aware ofis that some of these licenseplates you were spotting,were not on the up and up.In fact, most of the timewhen you see a Supercaror RV with Montana plates,it's actually a rich personfrom a different state.Who does think they're better than you.You see, when you'remaking a major purchase,like a $3.3 million Bugatti Chiron Sport,the sales tax can be quite a doozy.For example, if you lived in L.A.,you would have to pay about$315,000 in taxes and fees.Now what if I told youthat you could buy the same$3.3 million Bugattiand only pay a few thousand bucks in feesas long as you bought it in Montana.Is that something you'd be interested in?Of course it is.You could use that leftover $314,000to buy more silk toilet paperor whatever rich people spend money on.If I was rich,I'd buy flannel sheets.The reason for this is becauseMontana has no sales tax.Oregon, Alaska, Delaware,and New Hampshireare also tax-freebut Montana is the bestbecause they are the onlystate that doesn't requirea physical inspection of the car.Montana also doesn'trequire emissions testingso you can roll coal withoutfear of government retribution.And all this means you can literallybuy a car in Beverly Hillsand tag it 1,274 miles away billingswithout the car settingtire outside of the 90210.This doesn't sound very legal,does it?But you'd be surprised.While it is illegal tofalsify the owner's address,there is nothing illegal aboutopening a shell company in Montana,purchasing a car or RVthrough that shell company,and operating it in another state.In fact, there are a bunchof companies in Montanathat will help you do just that.Simply create an awesome fakename like Nolan Syke's Cycleryand come up with a kick ass slogan like"we're psyched for syke's cikes"and the service will takecare of the rest of the stufflike mailing address and what have you.But just a word of warning,while this is technically legal,insurance companies arenot fans of this method.A traditional auto insurermay refuse to pay claimif they can prove that a carresides in a different areathan that is listed on the auto policy.Speaking of insurance,sometimes people like to tagtheir cars in different statesto save on premium.For example, if you live in New York,you'll be paying and average of $1789but if you tag your car inVermont or New Hampshire,you'll only be payingabout $1100 for insurance.Smart.Another reason some peopleplate their cars in other stateshas to with emission standards.Say you want to buy yourUncle Ronnie's used C7ZR1.Now, Uncle Ronnie is the typeof man who likes restaurantsthat allow peanut shells on the floorand the exhaust systemsthat sound kick-ass.That's led him to delete a few thingsfrom his exhaust systemwhich may cause the car to faila California Emissions Testso what do you do?Simple.Tag that biscuit in Vegas,where the emissions standards are lowerand then drive it to California.Disclaimer, I'm not a lawyerso maybe don't do that.I don't know.And just so you know,this isn't some California thing.Someone in Pennsylvania can save moneyand drive a less polar bear friendly carif they tag it in Ohio.Or if you live in New Mexico,you can go to Texas.Or if you live in Hawaii,you actually, you're kind ofscrewed if you live in Hawaiibut at least the scenery is nice.So far we've been focusingon out of state plates,but what about out ofterritory plates, hmm?While it's definitely notas common to see platesfrom U.S. territories likethe U.S. Virgin Islands,some of the coolest carscome from U.S. territories.That's because you canimport cars into territoriesthat you can't import into the U.S.and here's the kicker,it's omega easier to import a vehiclefrom a U.S. territorythan another country.Mind blowing, right?Right now the most commonway to get a great market carthat doesn't meet U.S. standardsfrom crash tests, sidemarker lights, headlights,safety chimes blah, blah, blahis to wait 25 years.We've done, I feel like10 videos on that subject.You could also modify thatcar to have all those things,argue that it is similar toan existing car in the U.S. market,or apply for a "Showand Display" Exemption,but all those options can be surprisinglymore difficult than they sound.So what if you want to own an illegal carlike a, I don't know,Land Rover Defender 110 in Oklahoma?You can either buy onethat is over 25 years oldand costs about 125 grandor you can buy a relatively new onefor 60 grand in the UKthen spend another 15 grand in shippingand importing feesto get that biscuit unicorn taggedin the U.S. Virgin Islands.Not only do you save 50K,you also get an upgraded vehicle.Sounds like very specific example,I'm not pointing fingers at anybody.That's just an example.No one has done this.At this juncture,I just want to remindeveryone that we here at Donutdo not condone any illegal registeringor insuring of vehicles.As a matter of fact,it should be pointed outthat an attempt to skirttaxes, insurance premiumsand emission tests,can really come back to haunt you.Imagine going through all the troubleof buying that Defender 110and getting caught.Not only would you befacing some legal troubles,there's also a good chance that Johnny Lawis going to crush that Land Roverlike it's a 94 Sunfire with terminal rust.And that would be heartbreaking.At the end of the day,plating a car with out of state platesor in extreme cases,out of territory platesmay not be worth the risk or headachebut depending on the owner, the car,and the state of residencysome delicious juices justmight be worth the squeeze.- Oh, did you miss theholiday shipping deadline?Ugh, no problem.Introducing Donut digital gift cards,with numbers in the 'puter,give it your lovey-doveand hope you rock your donut by January.I'm going to say it right now,if people paid their sales taxon that $3.3 million Bugatti,maybe our roads in L.A.wouldn't be so (beep).How about that?The one car that I would dothat territory plate thingis the Alpine 110,the new one.It's like a rear-engine French car.Super sick.Might have to do that actually.Be nice, see you next time.
