Method of auctioning license plates to generate tax revenue

• US 8,001,009 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles G. Tate
• Original Assignee: Charles G. Tate
• Inventors: Tate, Charles G.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZURITA, JAMES H
• Application Number:
  US12/659,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/27.1, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/26.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

The method of auctioning license plates provides for the public auctioning of state-issued, motor vehicle license plates. The method includes the step of first establishing a market value data set for a plurality of license plates. Next, the market value data set is stored in a market value database, which is recorded in computer readable memory associated with an auction server. An online auction is then established for at least one license plate to be sold. Once up for auction, bidders bid on the at least one license plate. Once bidding has closed, the at least one license plate is sold to the highest bidder, and funds are transferred from buyer to seller. Following the sale, transfer of ownership of the at least one license plate is recorded in a motor vehicle administration database, and both sales and property taxes associated with the sale of the license plate are assessed.

Claims

1. A computerized method of auctioning registered license plates to generate annual tax revenue under the auspices of a governmental entity, comprising the steps of:

establishing a market value data set for a plurality of license plates, wherein the market value is created by the governmental entity initially and re-assessed periodically upon predetermined events, wherein the market value is based at least on the alphanumeric frequency and sequence of the license plate;

storing the market value data set in a market value database recorded in computer readable memory of an auction server;

establishing an online auction for at least one license plate to be sold or traded;

establishing an initial price for the at least one license plate to be sold or traded based upon at least one respective market value of the market value data set;

selling or trading the at least one license plate in the online auction and calculating at least one annual sales tax value associated with the sale or trade of the at least one license plate, wherein the sale or trade constitutes a predetermined event;

establishing an annual property tax value associated with the at least one license plate, wherein the annual property tax value is set by the governmental entity initially and re-assessed periodically upon predetermined events; and

recording transfer of ownership of the at least one license plate in a motor vehicle administration database.

2. The method of auctioning license plates as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of contacting a winner of the online auction to initiate a payment process for the license plate.

3. The method of auctioning license plates as recited in claim 1, wherein, following the step of payment of the sales tax, the market value associated with the license plate is re-assessed by the governmental entity and stored in the motor vehicle administration database.