According to USA Today, drivers are “paying higher fees for licenses and vehicle registrations as budget cuts force motor vehicle departments to close offices, furlough employees and scramble for revenue.”
States including California, Nevada, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Colorado have increased fees to help close budget shortfalls. In Massachusetts, driver’s license and vehicle registration renewal fees went up from $40 to $50 in August.
California is raising driver’s license renewal fees by $3 to $31 on Jan. 1, says Department of Motor Vehicles director George Valverde. Registration fees, based on the value of the vehicle, went up in May from a range of $50 to $90 to a range of $80 to $130.
Dr. Duru