Senator Long Offers Bill To Help Oklahomans Replace Destroyed Vehicles

Senator Lewis Long has authored a bill to help with the cost of replacing vehicles destroyed by the May 3rd tornadoes. Senate Bill 1 would give prorated credits on both the cost of tags and the excise tax for replacement vehicles. Early projections indicate 30 to 40 thousand vehicles may have been destroyed in the May 3rd tornadoes.

"As Oklahomans begin trying to get back into a normal routine, one of the most important aspects of that is transportation. Folks need to be able to replace their cars and trucks so they can start getting on with their lives. Hopefully this bill will make doing that a little bit easier," said Senator Long, D-Glenpool.

"The credits on the purchase of a tag for a replacement vehicle are prorated. Basically, if you had paid $100 for a tag six months remaining before you had to get it renewed, you would get a $50 credit on your tag for the replacement vehicle," explained Senator Long.

The credit for the excise tax applies to those who purchased vehicles on or after May 3rd, 1998.

"If you bought a car in November and paid $200 in excise tax, then you'll get that amount credited toward the excise tax on your replacement vehicle," said Senator Long.

The bill has an emergency clause, meaning it would go into effect as soon as it is passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

"Insurance will help these people replace their vehicles, but the tags and tax aren't covered. I think it's only fair to give them credit for what they already paid out on those things before their vehicles were destroyed," commented Senator Long.