DMV fees to be reduced

Published 6:24 am Thursday, June 25, 2020

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Charlotte County citizens, along with other Virginia residents will see a reduction in vehicle registration fees by $10 beginning July 1 thanks to new transportation legislation signed into effect by Gov. Ralph Northam this month.

Any citizen with a vehicle registration expiring in July or later will see the fee reduction reflected in the renewal notices.

This reduction in fees comes out to a 25% savings for most citizens but will cost the county in funds it receives.

“The loss of funds will affect the county since the county receives compensation based upon the amount collected,” Charlotte County Commissioner of the Revenue Naisha Carter said.

According to County Treasurer Patricia Berkeley, the county took in $41,869.76 in vehicle fees since January 2019.

The new transportation package also includes increasing the statewide gas tax by five cents this year and next and implementing a highway use fee.

The new highway use fee is expected to be $19 in year one for most vehicles on the roads.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the highway use fee stems from a study about the sustainability of transportation revenues in Virginia.

Since vehicles today have better fuel efficiency, people are using less gas. Therefore, the commonwealth is receiving less revenue from gas taxes than in the past.

The following the new registration fees will go into effect on July 1:

• Passenger Vehicles 4,000 lbs. or less go from $40.75 to $30.75

• Passenger vehicles 4,001 lbs. or greater go from $45.75 to $35.75

• Motorcycles go from $28.75 to $24.75

• Mopeds go from $20.25 to $18.25

• Autocycles go from $25.75 to $21.75

• Pickup and panel trucks 4,000 lbs. or less go from $40.75 to $30.75

• Pickup and panel trucks 4,001 to 6,500 lbs. go from $45.75 to $35.75

• Pickup and panel trucks 6,501 to 10,000 lbs. go from $51.75 to $44.75