if people wernt putting down they paid 500 for 5000 plus veh\icles we wouldnt be here
Well, if we're going to go down that path, if the greedy government workers and politicians weren't fleecing the citizens every time they buy and sell a vehicle, people wouldn't be understating the value.
I don't know where Ted got that. Zippy explained the situation in his OP just fine. He didn't undervalue his car, he got taxed on the improvements he made to the car. Maybe if the government didn't think it was entitled to vigorish every time money changed hands?