When your temporary registration is about to expire, or it’s time to go pay sales tax and get plates/tags, you’ll be heading to your local county clerks office,
If you’ve recently purchased a vehicle and walk into the county clerks office to get plates, you may be thinking of a modified Teddy Bear Picnic song, “If you go down to the county clerks today, you’re sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the county clerks today, the fees will water your eyes”. Fret not, this article will help you calculate the fees before you go to the office so there’s no surprise.
Sales tax
The sales tax will be collected at the county clerks office when you go to get plates. The amount of sales tax you’ll pay will be determined by 3 factors; Factory cost (not blue book) of the vehicle purchased (MSRP), whether you traded a vehicle and the county tax rate of where you live. So for example, if you live in Natrona County, this would be 5%. If you live in Carbon county it would be 6%. County tax rates can be found here.
The factory cost is the amount determined by the vehicle manufacturer, it’s not the amount you paid the dealership or financed. This figure can be found on the vehicle title or a previous years registration.
If you trade a vehicle, your sales tax amount is the difference between the factory cost of the new vehicle and the trade allowance offered by the dealer.
Example:
With No Trade
Vehicle factory cost is $30,000,
You live in Natrona County (5% sales tax),
Sales tax for vehicle is = $1,500.00.
With Trade
Vehicle Factory cost is $30,000
You live in Natrona County (5% sales tax),
Trade allowance is $10,000,
$30,000- $10,000 = $20,000,
Sales tax for vehicle is 5% of $20,000 which = $1,000.
Registration Fees
County Fee
This figure is a little more complex. It is determined by vehicle FACTORY COST (found on title), and vehicle years of service (ie. how many years the vehicle has been registered for use), then multiplied by 0.03.
The year of service rate is calculated like the following;
Factory cost X years of service rate X 0.03 = county fee
Therefore, if a vehicle with a factory cost of $30,000 registered in it’s 2nd year, the calculation would be;
$30,000 X 50% X 0.03 = $450
State Fee
The State fee is $30 for cars (went up from $15.00 on July 1st, 2017). For trucks, it’s based on gross vehicle weight up to a maximum of $90 for over 6,001lbs. Commercial vehicle state fees are also calculated based on weight.
Sponsored the Banff Mountain Film Festival this year in Sheridan, Wyoming. Sheridan Wyoming is just one of many stops in the Banff Mountain Festival World Tour. Banff is a mountain town in the beautiful Rockies of Alberta, Canada where the film festival originated. It seems a fitting partnership given the rugged, adventurous free spirt natures of vehicles such as the RAV4, Tacoma and 4Runner. Fremont Toyota in Sheridan have sponsored the event for a number of years. Staff from the store were also present at the event with giveaways (Clif Bars) and had drawings to win North Face outer gear and Petzl headlamps.
Automotive Performance Research (APR) is a highly regarded tuning and performance company. They are specialists in German marques such as Volkswagen, Auto, Porsche and even the Italian Lamborghini’s. Founded in 1997, their mission is to provide the highest quality and most highly engineered aftermarket performance products
Performance tuning now available in Casper, WY
The only APR performance shop in Wyoming, Fremont Motors in Casper can now tune Volkswagen vehicles (Audi, Porsche or Lambo!) Not just limited to Golf GTI’s or Golf R’s though, Passat’s, Jetta’s and more can also be tuned. Increasing horsepower can be done by adding performance parts and software mapping.
Check out this video of the carbon fiber air intake getting fitted. Parts manager Jeff Bugher also tells us a little about APR and Colbey Day shows us his Stage 2 Golf R.
Various packages (stages of tuning) are available, from a basic stage 1 tune to a full race ready stage 3 tune. A stage 1 tune with an APR plus package will also include a warranty. Finding a warranty for performance tuned cars is not something that should be taken lightly. Typically adding aftermarket parts or reprogramming the computer in your vehicle would normally void any warranty.
Colbey Day’s Golf R
Colbey Day’s Golf R
Fremont Volkswagen salesman, Colbey Day recently had stage 2 work done on his Golf R. Parts included an air intake, downpipe, exhaust and software remap. This took his car from 292 hp to around 360 hp. He says the car is transformed and now much faster and better. Although it doesn’t stop at that, as anyone with the ‘tuning bug’ will know, there’s always more to do. The exhaust ‘cackle’ is enough to make any enthusiast grin like a kid in a candy store.
Calculating gas mileage is important. Not only so you can get an accurate picture of fuel economy, but also spot potential problems with your car/truck. If fuel economy is a lot less than it’s supposed to be- contact your preferred service department.
Photo by Tim Mossholder
The mpg display in your vehicle might be wrong
To make your gas mileage better, you need to know what you are getting in the first place. Most modern vehicles nowadays will have a digital readout. Probably a display on your dash of the mpg (miles per gallon) you are getting. Ie. How many miles you can drive using one gallon of fuel.
This number will vary from about 6mpg to 60mpg depending on the vehicle you drive.
The number that is displayed on your dash may not be exactly correct.
Just like a trip computer, these can also be reset. This results in false numbers or erratic driving may also skew the results. Some vehicles may also have an instantaneous mpg readout, which is helpful in bettering driving habits to increase mpg. It’ll tell you’re getting about 70 mpg when you coast. So how do you know what you are really getting?
Gather the data to calculate mpg
Do it the old school mathematical way. Calculators are allowed this time and the only person marking your answer will be you!
Fill your fuel tank (to the pump cutoff level)
Reset the trip computer
Drive until fuel is required
Fill the tank again (to the pump cutoff level)
Make a note of the number of gallons used to re-fill and the miles on the trip counter
Reset trip
Use the formula below to calculate mpg using your numbers
Repeat this four or five times to give you a good average
How to calculate gas mileage – formula
The formula to calculate gas mileage: Miles driven ÷ gallons used to refill the tank.
Take the miles traveled (from the trip computer), divide that by the number of gallons used to refill the tank.
For example, the trip shows 200 miles since you last filled up, and it took 15 gallons to refill the tank.
There are definitely some pros and some cons to putting larger wheels on your vehicle. On a car, for instance, base models will likely come standard with a smaller wheel size such as 16″ rims. When ordering the car from new, the manufacturer will have options to upgrade the rims. Most manufacturers don’t recommend going over 1-2 ” more than the original wheel size (for cars). Check your owners manual for your specific vehicle to be sure. This is due to the space available under the arches. Whilst the bigger rims will look much nicer filling the arches, there still has to be room for the suspension to work. Going over bumps, a ‘washboardy’ dirt road or potholes causes your suspension to move up and down, absorbing the impact. If your wheels are way too big they might hit the inside of your wheel arch.
Weight
This is also true for turning, there is only so much space in that wheel arch, and when you turn on full lock with rims that are too big, they’ll rub. Another factor to consider when larger rims, is that they will be heavier, therefore putting more strain on other components. This is assuming you go from an alloy wheel to bigger alloy wheel. Going from a steel wheel to an alloy wheel will reduce the weight. There are ways around this though. like fitting lightweight (forged or magnesium) rims and adding stiffer suspension, however, this may affect your warranty so check with your dealer first.
Changing wheel size means changing tire size
No they don’t really glow blue, but this highlights what a low profile tire looks like.
When you add larger rims, you will need different sized tires. The tire will need to be shorter in height (aspect ratio) to compensate for space, and to keep the overall diameter the same. To figure out which tire size you’d need for 1″ bigger rims, check out this tire size calculator. Your local dealership parts dept will also be able to tell you. Not having the correct diameter (overall rolling radius) will cause the speedometer to show incorrect readings. Something to also consider is that bigger tires are usually more expensive.
Handling
Challenger Hellcat Widebody comes with bigger lightweight wheels (20×11) vs the standard 18’s that come on a Challenger SXT. Photo: FCA
Assuming you’ve gone 1 or 2″ bigger than the original size, you’re tires are now going to be lower profile tires. This will increase handling performance for spirited driving and cornering. This means that you will most likely experience a bumpier ride. It also means that there is less ‘give’ in the tire. For sportier driving, you won’t get much play in the tire after max grip before it begins to lose complete traction (and you’ll be on a snappy merry go round ride). If your wheel and tire package ends up being heavier, this will affect acceleration and fuel economy. Acceleration will be less and so will fuel economy. Steering may also become heavier.
What about wider wheels?
Again, you’ll have to check your owners manual for your specific vehicle or your contact your dealership to find out if you can add wider wheels. Wider wheels mean wider tires which mean extra grip. However, again this could be a case of extra weight (unless you get lightweight rims) and extra strain on your vehicle. Go too wide and wheel bearings will not be happy!
Summary checklist if you’re upsizing rims
Stay within the manufacturer recommended size increase (1-2″) so if you have 16″ rims, don’t go bigger than 18″.
Make sure there’s enough clearance in the wheel arches to turn full lock (both ways) and go over bumps.
If you go wider and they are protruding out the side of the arches, they are probably too big.
Check tire prices on your new tire size.
Go lightweight (if you can).
What about pickup trucks and Jeeps?
It’s a little different for pickup trucks and Jeep Wrangler’s because typically you’re not trying to fill the arches for looks (although I’m sure people do it). Generally these types of vehicles want to improve ground clearance for off-roading and extra grip in the mud/snow. Maybe even extra super-duper grip for rock crawling. This is usually achieved by bigger chunkier tires and maybe a lift kit, not necessarily just the rim size. For more information on outfitting a Jeep with bigger rims and tires, check here or contact Justin Sandback at Fremont Motors Jeep in Casper, Wyoming. Just specializing in building custom Jeeps.
Wyoming, the Cowboy State, is a western rocky mountain state made up mostly of Pronghorn, Prairie’s and Peaks. The state has a high mean elevation with around 14 mountain peaks reaching over 12,000 ft. Popular activities in include; Hiking, hunting, fishing, floating, ranches, rodeo, skiing, sledding, camping, and canyons are just a few. Get a glimpse of some Wyoming lifestyle by searching for #thatsWY.
It can snow from Oct to April but get over 100°F in the summer.
Given that ranching, agriculture, and mineral extraction are big parts of the economy in WY, along with steep mountain passes, extreme weather fluctuations, and dirt roads, this is a lot to ask from a vehicle. What are the top 10 most popular vehicles in Wyoming?
Top 10 most popular vehicles in WY
10th place: Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee is a compact crossover SUV that has over 8″ of ground clearance and is 4WD. The Trailhawk (off-road edition) has, even more, ground clearance paired with ‘Active Drive II‘. The 2019 Trailhawk models have a 29.9° approach angle, 22.9° breakover angle and a 32.2° departure angle. These attributes make this Jeep a capable off-road vehicle, with the comfort of an everyday driver. The 3.2L V-6 is EPA rated at 27 mpg on the highway. The 2.4L gets an estimated 25 mpg on the highway. 2019 Jeep Cherokee’s are on dealer lot’s and start at $26,190 MSRP for the 4×4 models.
Features now available on the Cherokee include Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go. Parallel and perpendicular park assist, lane assist and multitude of other safety features. Rain-sensing wipers, LED Lights, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa compatibility pack this car with technology.
10th most popular is the Jeep Cherokee. Photo: FCA
9th place: Jeep Renegade
Another vehicle from Jeep coming as the 9th most popular vehicle in Wyoming. The Renegade is a subcompact crossover SUV available with 4WD. It also has drive modes such as, ‘Sand, ‘Snow’, and ‘Rock’. Equipped with the 2.4L engine, the 4×4 Renegade is EPA rated at 29 mpg on the highway, 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg combined. The Renegade starts at $19,995 MSRP for the 4×4 Sport model.
No. 9 in the Jeep Renegade. Photo: FCA
8th place: Subaru Outback
Originally the Outback was a station wagon that came from the “Legacy’ model. It has been around since 1989 and features symmetrical AWD. In the U.S. the gas version has either a 2.5L 4 cylinder engine or a 3.6L 6 cylinder engine. It seats 5 people and the 2.5L fuel economy is estimated at 32 mpg on the highway, 25 mpg in the city and 28 mpg combined. The Outback has 8.7″ of ground clearance.
No. 8 is Subaru Outback. Photo: Subaru
7th place: RAM 3500
The economy in Wyoming is mainly built around coal, oil, natural gas, tourism, and agriculture. Most of these trades require the ability to move heavy equipment, and possibly over rough terrain. This requires a big pickup. Coming in 7th place it’s the RAM 3500 pickup truck. For example, the 2017 RAM 3500 SRW Crew Cab Tradesman with the 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel engine, 4×4, 4.10 rear axle with an 8′ bed can tow up to 30,320 lbs. Payload is 5,690 lbs. RAM Trucks recently added insanely luxurious trim levels to the heavy-duty trucks, including the Tungsten edition.
No. 7 is the RAM 3500. Photo: FCA
6th place: Ford F-350
Another heavy-duty truck makes the top 10 list of most popular vehicles in Wyoming. in 2017, Ford announced that some heavy-duty trucks could now reach around $100,000 in cost. Ford pickup trucks feature aluminum bodies. The Ford Superduty is also 2017 Motor Trend truck of the year. The F-350 comes with the option of a 6.7L V8 Powerstroke diesel, or 6.2L V8 gas. The Powerstroke diesel puts out an impressive 925 lb-ft of torque.
No. 6 is the Ford F-350. Photo: Ford
5th place: Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
If you’re starting to wonder if Wyoming might be truck country, you’d be right. Next on the list of most popular vehicles in Wyoming is the Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Around 2014, Chevy trucks saw a radical body change going back to the boxy shape. In 2017, an aggressive powerful looking hood scoop was added to the diesel models. Engine choices on the Silverado 250 include the well renowned Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel and the Vortec 6.0L gas engine.
No. 5 is the Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Photo: Chevrolet
4th place: RAM 2500
Surprise! It’s another truck.This time it’s the three-quarter ton RAM. Aside from the regular truck, the RAM 2500 has a couple of unique models including the Power Wagon off-road truck that has the 6.4L Hemi gas engine, factory lift, disconnecting sway bars, and front and rear lockers. Another unique 2500 in the RAM line up is the MegaCab, offering tons of extra room in the cab.
No. 4 is the RAM 2500. Photo: FCA
3rd place: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Coming in the 3rd popular vehicle in Wyoming, the Chevy Silverado 1500. Paired with the 5.3L gas engine and 4WD, fuel economy is around 22 mpg on the highway. The 6.2L offered by Chevrolet is one of the most powerful engines available on a light-duty pickup putting out 420hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. An all-new Silverado 1500 will be debuting showrooms late 2018. It’ll be wider and longer giving it, ‘best in class cargo box volume‘.
No. 3 is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Photo: Chevrolet
2nd place: RAM 1500
You guessed it. It’s a pickup truck. Coming in as the 2nd most popular vehicle in Wyoming, the RAM 1500. The lineup of 1500’s from RAM has 9 different trim levels offering something for everyone. From the Tradesman work truck to the Sport, the off-road Rebel or the super luxurious Limited. The Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association named the RAM 1500, ‘Family Truck of The Year’ for 2017. Class-exclusive RAM Boxes and 4 corner air suspension are options on some of the RAM 1500’s. The 3.0L EcoDiesel gets an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 27 mpg on the highway. The RAM 1500 has been long overdue a redesign, but the all-new 2019’s are arriving in showrooms as we speak.
No. 2 is the RAM 1500 Photo: FCA
1st place: Ford F-150
If you’ve read thus far, you’ve probably noticed pickup trucks are a wee bit popular in Wyoming. Most Wyomingites could have guessed this or the 2nd place RAM 1500 are in fact the most popular vehicles in the state. It is the Ford F-150 that takes the win on this one though. In 2015, Ford introduced the aluminum body, to aid in weight reduction. It’s the MotorTrend ‘Truck of the Year’ for 2018, and ‘Most Innovative Truck of the Year for 2018’ award from Edmunds. The F-150’s latest redesign is the 2018 model year with a diesel engine option coming spring 2018.
The Ford F-150 is the most popular vehicle in Wyoming Photo: Ford
What do all these vehicles have in common?
Aside from the fact most of them are pickup trucks, every single vehicle has a 4×4, 4WD function or is AWD. It’s clear that,
Wyomingites demand not only a four-wheel drive/ all wheel drive product, they want vehicles that are capable of much more and can get the job done.
Whilst the Ford F-150 came out number one, RAM Trucks is the only manufacturer to have three (1500/2500/3500) trucks in the top 10. Surprisingly, the Ford F-250 did not make it on the list, but it’s a very close no.11, followed by the Jeep Grand Cherokee and then GMC heavy-duty pickup trucks.
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