The taxes are ridiculous. But you can't fight taxes.
In Quebec:
I recently bought a 1995 Oldsmobile LSS. I paid $3000. When I went to register the car, they used a "Red Book" to assess a value. They assessed the car at $7000. So, they made me pay tax on $7000.
About 3 months later, I sold the car for around what I paid for it ($3000). The person I sold it to then had to pay tax on $7000 when they registered it.
So, the Quebec governement collected tax back in 1995 when the car was originally sold (for approx $25000). Then collected it at least 2 more times (maybe more, if there were other owners in between).
So to my knowledge, the government made at least $2925 on this car. That's probably more than the dealer made. That's not right.
That Red Book value really screws the buying public.
If an item has been taxed, it shouldn't be taxed again. Plain and simple.