Fees for driver’s licenses, motor vehicle and boat registrations are doubling beginning September 1, but there is still time to save money.
If your birthday is three months out, you can renew your car and/or your boat registrations in advance. You can also renew for up to two years at the current fee rate, as long as the registration comes before Sept. 1. For example, if your birthday falls between August to November, you can renew through August 31.
With state and local governments strapped financially by the recession, lawmakers established the new fee structure this year as a way to avoid raising other taxes. Officials say the changes make Florida’s fee structure more comparable to that of other states.
Some of the services that will cost more are driver’s license renewals, address changes on licenses, title transfers, duplicate titles, or car, boat and mobile home renewals
Fees will go up approximately 55 to 65 percent for registrations, 150 percent for titles and 70 to 110 percent for driver’s licenses.
Most registrations haven’t been raised in 26 years and it has been 20 years since the last driver’s license increase. In addition, title fees have for the most part been stable for 25 years.
If your renewals are due in the months of September through November and you renew now, you will be able to renew at the current rate. If you wait until after Sept. 1, you will be pay the higher fees.
Driver’s licenses can be renewed up to 18 months in advance. Changes of address can be updated at the lower rate before Sept. 1.
For a list of the vehicle fee increase please contact the Division of Motor Vehicle at http://www.flhsmv.gov/DHSMVFees.htm