Senator Kemp Hannon Votes No on Motor Vehicle Fee Hikes
All New Yorkers who drive a car, a truck, a motorcycle, an ATV or a boat are now paying more as the latest round of massive tax and fee hikes approved by Democrats in Albany took effect Sept. 1.
“Every month brings a new round of tax hikes that were forced upon hard working Long Islanders,” Senator Kemp Hannon, who voted no on the proposed tax and fee increases, said. “We should aim to control spending and reduce taxes if we are going to help struggling families put dinner on the table.”
As of Sept. 1, the following motor vehicle registration fees increased: passenger vehicle registration fees increased from $44 to $55 (two-year average depending on vehicle); commercial vehicle registration fees increased from $1.21 (per 500 lbs of vehicle weight) up to $1.51 at the low end of the range and increased from $11.50 to $14.38 (per 500 lbs.) at the high end; trailer registration fees increased from an average of $34 to $42.50; taxi registration fees, on average, increased from $48 to $60; Average bus registration fees increased from $73 to $91.25; motorcycle registration increased from $14 to $17.50; All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) registration increased from $10 to $12.50; and average motorboat registrations rose from $40 to $50.
In addition, fees have been increased to re-register vehicles, register custom vehicles and make photocopies of motor vehicle documents.
Furthermore, starting April 1, 2010, New Yorkers obtaining or renewing their vehicle registration will be required to purchase brand new license plates, whether they need them or not, for $25 – a $10 increase.
“For Long Island families, the use of a car is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Senator Hannon said.
The motor vehicle fee increases were included in the more than $8.5 billion in tax and fee hikes approved by Governor Paterson and Democrats in the Senate and Assembly.
The DMV’s Annual Report for 2008, outlining DMV programs, services, transaction data tables and grant distribution charts, is available online at http://www.nysdmv.com/broch/ar2008.pdf. For more information about New York State and to sign up for email updates, go to Senator Hannon’s website at www.kemphannon.com.
