Georgia: Most Expensive State in US to Own a Car (Atlanta: for sale, 2013)

[globalnomad]

Georgia: Most Expensive State in US to Own a Car

#1. Georgia

Repairs: $385

Taxes/fees $1,952

Gas: $1,129

Insurance: $767

Total: $4,233

[The national average is $3,201.]

Georgians spend a lot of time in their cars thanks in part to Atlanta’s sprawling communities and a lack of public transportation. Those long commutes lead to above-average gasoline costs and insurance rates. And Georgia has the highest state automobile taxes and fees in the nation.

Source: The 10 most expensive states to own a car - Slide Show - MarketWatch

[arjay57]

Looks like the taxes and fees are killing us.

[Mutiny77]

I swear I'd ditch my car right now if I could. I'd have SO much more disposable income without one.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I swear I'd ditch my car right now if I could. I'd have SO much more disposable income without one.

This. I lived in DC without a car and didn't feel as if I needed one either. But here? No dice.

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

This. I lived in DC without a car and didn't feel as if I needed one either. But here? No dice.

I think that if your job is MARTA-accessible and you live in the city, you could make it work. It would require more effort than if you lived in a city like DC, but I think it could be doable.

[gerrythesnake]

I dont believe this. I notice they didn't factor in tolls, they didnt factor in the cities that you have to pay to park on the street for residents, they didnt factor in the cities that you have to pay to park in the garages if you live in an apartment,they dont have anything about the states that have horrible roads which requires more car repairs, etc.There is no way that it cost more to own a car in Ga than in NJ, FL, TX, CA,NY, etc

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by gerrythesnake

I dont believe this. I notice they didn't add tolls, they didnt factor in the cities that you have to pay to park on the street for residents, they didnt factor in the cities in the states that you have to pay to park in the garages if you live in an apartment,they dont have anything about the states that have horrible roads which requires more car repairs, etc.There is no way that it cost more to own a car in Ga than in NJ, FL, TX, CA,NY, etc

I'm with you. Take any numbers, ignore others and you can spin all day long....

[gerrythesnake]

Hell they didnt factor in cities with red light/speeding cameras. I know I paid DC at least $1500 from getting speeding and red light tickets on Ny Ave and Conn Ave. If anyone is similar with DC I got at least 4 tickets at that light on Ny Ave when you turn left to get on 395

[neil0311]

Something is very wrong with this calculation. When you buy a car now, you are no longer subject to either sales tax or the annual ad valorem tax. You pay a one time 7% title tax...instead of either the sales tax or ad valorem. So now you pay no other tax on a vehicle other than what buyers pay for sales tax in other states.

As for insurance, while Georgia is more expensive than places like Alabama, it is much cheaper than states like New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, etc.

Gasoline here is on average $0.10 to $0.50 cheaper than many other states, especially high tax states like NY, CA, etc.

Not sure who did the calculations for this article but it seems way off.

[brownhornet]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

I think that if your job is MARTA-accessible and you live in the city, you could make it work. It would require more effort than if you lived in a city like DC, but I think it could be doable.

Yes, move into the city and to get into a nice area i'd basically double my expenses so not having a car wouldn't even be much of a benefit then. And I don't work anywhere near Marta so no dice there either.