New Fees to Take Effect September 1st, 2009
During the 2009 legislative session, the legislature approved an increase in the cost of renewing vehicle registrations and driver licenses, despite my votes and those of my colleagues in the Minority against the increases.
There is a long list of fee increases that are schedule to take effect September 1, 2009. For example, the cost of renewing a driver license is currently $27 but will increase to $48 after the 1st as will the tax collector’s service fee for processing driver’s license transactions increase to $6.25.
I encourage citizens to take advantage of a provision of state law that allows vehicle owners to renew their tags up to three months before the tags expire. Residents can save a little by renewing their tags before September 1st by paying the current fee. Waiting until after August means drivers will pay a higher rate. To really make that dollar stretch, renew for a two-year period and pay the current fee rate for both years, which double your savings.
The benefit of early-renewal is similar for driver's license renewals. I urge motorists whose driver licenses expire 2009 or 2010 to renew before September 1st. The renewal will extend licenses by eight years.
For more information please visit the link below to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle website http://www.flhsmv.gov/DHSMVFees.htm.