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Highlands Today

Vehicle fees to more than double

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By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: June 25, 2009

SEBRING - Going to renew your driver's license, or tag your vehicle? Do it now, the tax collector is advising citizens, because costs are speeding up dramatically.

With Senate Bill 1778, the 2009 Florida Legislature increased 106 DMV fees for all Florida motor vehicle owners and drivers.

However, car and truck owners with registrations that expire before Nov. 30 can save money by renewing registrations before Aug. 31, said Highlands County Tax Collector Charles Bryan.

Registrations can be renewed 90 days prior to the owner's birth month.

"Ask for a two-year renewal to save even more," Bryan said. More than 2,000 taxpayers have already done that.

"The cost of transferring a title will more than double, from approximately $30 to nearly $75," Bryan said. "Currently, if you purchase a mid-size car, the cost to title and register the vehicle for the first time would be approximately $180 plus state sales tax. Beginning Sept. 1, this same transaction will cost an estimated $390 plus sales tax."

State legislators were faced with a $6 billion deficit this year, and needed to raise revenues. Bryan estimated the state will collect an additional $5.5 million in taxes from Highlands County alone.

"For years, state lawmakers have been finding clever ways to shift the costs of state services to local governments, then boasting about how they have kept state taxes low," Bryan said. Tax collectors have not received an increase to pay for state vehicle registration service since the 1980s, he said.

Sensing that angry motorists will blame his workers, Bryan said these increased fees are sent directly to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and do not provide revenues to the tax collector's office.

"Complaints or concerns (should) be directed to your state representative or state senator," Bryan said.

For a comparison between previous fees and new fees, go to www.flhsmv.gov/NewFeesFullSchedule.pdf

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

Vehicle registration and renewal fees are going up Sept. 1, some by hundreds of dollars. Avoid higher fees by paying by Aug. 31.

FEENOWNEW

Class E Drivers License$27$48

Original/Renewal CDL$67$75

ID card$10$25

Original or duplicate title$24$70

Heaviest truck title$979$1,322

Crash report$2$10

Driver history record$2.10$10

Delinquent fee$1$15

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at 863-386-5828 or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com.

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