A bunch of used r1 in Montana?

[JM.]

So yeah, taxes. There are companies just doing this for you, for a few hundred dollars. On a loaded up Rivian, you can save over $8k the first year and $1k for years doing this. A friend with a work fleet has his company "based" there so he is saving five figures per year.

Anarchy is good.

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[RivRyan]

I didn't know until I talked to my friend in Montana a couple of years ago. The state does not require an annual inspection like CA or a bi-annual inspection like AZ; therefore many people registered in Montana especially those cars with check-engine light on. Still... that doesn't explain why there are many R1s there.

I'd make the ticket about $5,000 if they were pulled over for a traffic violation and showed a license that had a CA address to go with their MT registration. I live in a 2-plate state, and I'd also pull every a-hole Tesla driver who skipped the front plate because he didn't want the bulge in his pristine figure. I hate people who don't follow the rules the rest of us have to.

 

[JM.]

people who don't follow the rules the rest of us have to.

You don't have to either.

Also, the Montana registration is fully legal. It's a loophole, or abuse, or whatever you want to call it, but you can't ticket people for it. Personally when I do the MT registration thing, I'm probably also going to get a license there, and really confound the entire stupid system.

When I lived in a front plate state I ignored that also, but it wasn't a Tesla. This is one of the stupidest rules ever, and should be ignored.

 

[Dlcromwell]

That's a super early VIN, I think that came from a guy in Kalispell who works at Rivian.

I think that I know who owned this vehicle and he was part of a Rivian “test” program. Had several suspension problems and Rivian finally bought it back. See Car Fax total back to Rivian. Now sure about its history after the buy back. Hope that this helps.

 

[EdwardM2005]

Rules are Rules and following a Montana rule for LLC's is legit from my reading.
Has anyone created the Montana based LLC? Would like to hear about your experience or recommendations.

 

[VandalSibs]

Rules are Rules and following a Montana rule for LLC's is legit from my reading.
Has anyone created the Montana based LLC? Would like to hear about your experience or recommendations.

It may be "legal" and allowed to "the letter of the law", but if you are never going to live or work in Montana, then you don't get to complain about Colorado's road maintenance and other things that your registration fees there would most likely have contributed to.

 

[EdwardM2005]

Thank you.
The only things I complain about on the road are the Drivers with their head in the phone. Or, the plus 5 windshields receiving rocks. In 18 month, the R1S had 4 windshield replacements.

 

[jrmbadger]

Rules are Rules and following a Montana rule for LLC's is legit from my reading.
Has anyone created the Montana based LLC? Would like to hear about your experience or recommendations.

In many states, registering a vehicle using a Montana LLC that is not stored or kept in Montana is considered tax evasion and can land you in trouble. For example Georgia enforces this: WSB-TV atlanta I also talked to a guy in MN from the department of revenue whose whole job was going after people that do this.

See e.g., Jalopinik

Still don't believe me?: Bloomberg "Got Montana Plates? States Ramp Up the Scrutiny on Tax Dodgers"

 

[EdwardM2005]

Hence the reason I asked.
Thank you for the article - Good Read!
I still more questions but it may be just more research on my part.

Thank you for the eye opener.

 

[VandalSibs]

It's potential insurance fraud as well.

 

[SwampNut]

Definitely not legal in AZ or CA. However, on a practical matter, it's about impossible to get caught unless you're stupid.

It's potential insurance fraud as well.

Not if you are straight with the insurance. My brother has a bunch of vehicles registered here in AZ, because they had CA titling problems. He tells the insurance exactly what he's doing and where the cars really are. They don't care.

His room mate has a fleet of trucks in a Montana corp.

 

[EdwardM2005]

I must ask - how or why?
One of my American Family Agent friends even pointed me to a Montan Registration.

 

[BigSkies]

In many states, registering a vehicle using a Montana LLC that is not stored or kept in Montana is considered tax evasion and can land you in trouble. For example Georgia enforces this: WSB-TV atlanta I also talked to a guy in MN from the department of revenue whose whole job was going after people that do this.

See e.g., Jalopinik

Still don't believe me?: Bloomberg "Got Montana Plates? States Ramp Up the Scrutiny on Tax Dodgers"

This is absolutely tax evasion that many people believe is legal because Montana says it's legal. It doesn't make it legal in your home state.

Enforcement has been lax because it isn't a law enforcement priority and it's relatively high effort to prosecute. So people view it as legal because there's been no consequences.

I won't be surprised if lax enforcement changes. State budgets are getting very tight, and they're looking for revenue. I've been hearing some rumblings in the startup world about states getting a lot more aggressive on sales tax enforcement recently.

I know Colorado is looking at billion-dollar state deficits for the foreseeable future after many years of budget surplus. This will be low-hanging fruit in the search for money.

 

[ksumnole]

You don't have to either.

Also, the Montana registration is fully legal. It's a loophole, or abuse, or whatever you want to call it, but you can't ticket people for it. Personally when I do the MT registration thing, I'm probably also going to get a license there, and really confound the entire stupid system.

When I lived in a front plate state I ignored that also, but it wasn't a Tesla. This is one of the stupidest rules ever, and should be ignored.

Personally. I report anyone in my neighborhood/city area to local and state authorities if I see them with Montana plates parking their vehicle locally. You don’t get to drive on our roads and not pay your fair share.

This is tax evasion. Enforcement is ramping up if only for the tight budget reasons.
BTW, just because you have a drivers license in MT it’s not difficult to determine if you live/work in other state.

 

[EdwardM2005]

thank you

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