Can the excise value be adjusted based on the condition or purchase price of a vehicle?

No. The excise is not an ad valorem or sales tax and therefore, it is not based on the current fair market value or purchase price of the particular vehicle. Instead, the values of vehicles for excise purposes are determined exclusively through the statutory formula under G.L. c. 60A, sect. 1. Under that formula, all vehicles in the same classification (make, type, model, age) are valued the same based on the manufacturer's list price, which results in all owners of the same vehicle paying the same excise each year.

A taxpayer does not have a right to an individual determination of value based on the current condition or actual purchase price of the vehicle. Lily Transportation Corporation v. Board of Assessors of Medford, 427 Mass. 228 (1998).

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1. Do owners pay a tax for their motor vehicles each year?
2. What governmental entity assesses the motor vehicle excise?
3. How is the motor vehicle excise calculated?
4. Can the excise value be adjusted based on the condition or purchase price of a vehicle?
5. Is there a minimum excise?