Fortunately, any kind of displacement-based tax on vehicles would have to be a state-run affair (A Federal Department of Motor Vehicles would be far, far too Ka

Fortunately, any kind of displacement-based tax on vehicles would have to be a state-run affair (A Federal Department of Motor Vehicles would be far, far too Kafkaesque or perhaps even Lovecraftian). So good luck, California, you seem to like trying out this kind of stuff :-) Although excise taxes that you already pay at the DMV are probably a decent proxy for engine displacement already. 5.4L V8 pickup truck = $45k sticker price, vs $15k 1.3L shitbox subcompact.