Time Is Running Out To Save Before Driver’s License, Tag Fees Double

August 30, 2009

Time is running out to renew your tag or driver’s license before the fees more than double next week.. The fees for vehicle registrations, renewals, titles and driver licenses are all going up, some more than double, on Tuesday.

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So many people tried to avoid the fee increase on Friday that Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles computer systems crashed. Tax Collector Janet Holley’s office issued rain checks to those unable to renew due to the computer problems, and they will do the same on Monday. The rain checks are good for the current lower fees until September 10.

The initial registration fee – the fee paid for a vehicle registration on an additional vehicle not replacing a current vehicle — will jump from $100 to $225.

Tag and registration fees will go up as much as 66 percent; the exact amount depends on the weight of the vehicle. Transfer fees for titles will more than double from $29.75 to $75.75. Motorcycle registrations will also increase, from $24.60 to $41.65.

Reinstating a suspended driver license will increase, late payment fees on driver license renewals go up 15-fold, from $1 to $15, and the cost of the original driver license will go from $32.25 to $54.25. Renewing a driver license goes from $25.25 to $54.25.

But there’s a chance to avoid some of the fee increases for some Florida residents.

If a registrant’s birthday falls between August through November, they can renew by Monday at the current rates. Persons with December birthdays will not have the opportunity to renew early and save.

“There’s that chance for some people to renew now and save,” Escambia County Tax Collector Janet Holley said. “It is like a two-for-one deal if you can renew now and you do.”

Holley stressed that the increases were mandated by the state legislature for all Florida residents; the increases are not specific to Escambia County.

There is also a chance to save on the driver license renewal fees. A valid Florida driver license can be renewed up to 18 months in advance.

For more information, contact Holley’s office at (850) 438-6500 ext. 252.

Comments

20 Responses to “Time Is Running Out To Save Before Driver’s License, Tag Fees Double”

  1. Joe Fisher on December 8th, 2009 11:27 pm

    How do i find out who voted for these ludicrus DMV fee increases in this economy? I for one will work against anyone that voted for the increase.

  2. willard purdue on August 31st, 2009 4:30 pm

    Can anyone tell me what can be purchased over at Century in the sub./court house. Exp.. tags…? liscenses?

  3. Anna Tritschler on August 31st, 2009 3:12 pm

    This is yet another reason why I support Marco Rubio instead of Crist in the upcoming election for U.S. Senate. Crist could have vetoed this, but chose not to. Just as he eagerly supported and scrambled to snatch up stimulus dollars.

    Instead of OUR government becoming more streamlined and efficient, or offering fewer services, we will now pay to continue the growth and gluttony. The choice is ours. Remember that come election time.

  4. Nokaoi on August 31st, 2009 9:55 am

    well I renewed in March and didn’t know I could do it for 2 yrs….or needed to for that matter so it should be extended to all in the state….geez I hate the government always trying to screw you

  5. C on August 31st, 2009 8:34 am

    Why would you want to live in AL? They don’t even have enough money to pay the people that they owe in overpaid taxes!

  6. Total Injustice on August 31st, 2009 8:11 am

    Why on earth would they exclude persons with December birthdays?

    Why not extend the offer to renew early through the end of 2009 and make it fair for all?

    Complete load of horse-puckey but this tax payer will not forget or forgive come election time.

  7. NF on August 31st, 2009 7:53 am

    I agree that it is absurd to increase the rates, but like “dnutjob” the “save our homes” vote that everybody approved, this is what happens instead. Also, the court case for the re-trial is in Alabama, not Florida.

    If you really want to get agrivated, go on-line to renew your drivers license, which they recommend doing. THE SITE IS DOWN FOR AN UPGRADE!!!! How convient.

  8. Tina on August 31st, 2009 7:40 am

    Why the price increase you say? So that we can pay the stupid Judges to sit on a bench like in the case of the other story about the Child Molester getting out way too early after raping and sodomizing a 7 year old girl.

    also so that we can keep up with the raises for the no good for nothing deputies we have here, so they can beat, harrass, and disrespect.

    got to provide raises for the pol-y-ticks………. you know we have to keep the court system paid because all the crooked polytickens deserve fair trials when they get brought to justice.
    and lets not forget the 2 teachers in Jay, wonder what they cost us?
    Should I continue.

  9. Bama CHick... on August 30th, 2009 9:23 pm

    Thank God I live in Alabama and have no intentions of ever living in Florida..This is absurd..Where exactly does the money go? WHy are they raising the prices?

  10. W.R. on August 30th, 2009 9:10 pm

    I wish I could get a 100% plus increase in pay across the board and no questions asked. We folk on fixed incomes are not going to get an increase for two years they (the government) tell us. Look out folks I’m thinking it not over yet. State mandate my … All governments – Federal, State, County or City, they are all out to get us………………..

  11. This is all Crap! on August 30th, 2009 5:05 pm

    Last January when my registration expired, and then in February my Husbands expired, we had the option of paying for two years, I did. That there, was a clue to me that something was on the horizon.
    I do not think its a Republic or Democrat thing anymore like I use to. I honestly believe its all PRESIDENT making moves without congress. You all need to start watching Fox news and Glenn Beck, and you really need to listen. I think Glenn Beck has been blessed with a huge bundle of knowledge and smarts. Now, this is only my opinion, but we all need to PAY ATTENTION. Even with the President, compare what he said campaining, and how he words his speeches now. He blows my mind.
    Just please Pay Close Attention to what is really going on and how, “we ain’t see nothin yet”.
    Hang in there and we Americans need to stick together and make sure WE ARE HEARD!!!

  12. Bill on August 30th, 2009 3:50 pm

    No T we don’t like California and don’t want Fl like Cal.
    But thanks anyway.

  13. T on August 30th, 2009 3:23 pm

    If you don’t like it move to California and pay registerations fees in the $400s.

  14. fox on August 30th, 2009 1:25 pm

    tags, money, gas, politicians, it is all too much for me to handle. I can only deal with one problem or one criminal at a time. We really do need to remember this the next time we go to the polls to vote. I sure do not remember voting to increase these costs? It seems like those elected to represent me and look out for “my best interest” have done it to me again! Bend over Buckwheat, this one’s gonna hurt!!

  15. dnutjob on August 30th, 2009 1:21 pm

    Does everyone remember the save our homes vote? When the majority voted on this tax cut the state and counties lost revenues, whom ever voted no did you not think that they would have to come up with the money from somewhere else? They are going to get thier tax money one way or another . If you want services you have to pay for it.

  16. Ken Nielsen on August 30th, 2009 12:45 pm

    I thought the Drivers License Department said you could not smile on your drivers license photo,… and yet your sample photo is smiling,… which is it ???

  17. Cynical on August 30th, 2009 9:18 am

    Politician = license to steal.

    They must need this extra money to build airplane hangers for their pals.

    Why would anyone be surprised that by the time we find out about this it is already too late.

    Gypsies, tramps, thieves and elected officials – all for one and one for all.

  18. Carl on August 30th, 2009 9:04 am

    “Holley stressed that the increases were mandated by the state legislature for all Florida residents”

    Lets remember this when election time comes around for these people in the legislature and VOTE everyone of them out. It is time for the government to work for the people, not the people working for the government.

  19. Concerned Citizen on August 30th, 2009 7:55 am

    Did the people (residents) of Florida get the opportunity to vote on the increases????

    OR

    Is the County, State and National government DICTATING to the citizens (residents) how to live and how much it will cost to live in FLORIDA and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA????????

  20. Bill on August 30th, 2009 7:18 am

    All those Democrats are really working hard. Even Charlie C. may even be a closet Dem. Good work guys, looks like tax increase on all to me.
    When gas goes to $300.00 a barrel like T. B. Pickens says, we will no longer need those tags. Think of all the new clean air we can breath, and healthy walking we can do. May we can find a foul mouth Al Franlen to elect here in FL…..What a Joke.