Fees, Fees, and More Fees

To the Editor:

Just renewed the registration for my vehicle and noticed that the bill is starting to resemble a phone or cable bill with all the line items. We have the registration fee, the local fee, the inspection fee and the processing and handling fee.

Did I not pay a local inspector to have the vehicle inspected? Is TXDOT intending to re-inspect it, and thus the second inspection fee? And the “Processing and Handling Fee” is described on the back of the bill as “covers the cost of processing and handling vehicle registration. These costs include state and county services; printing of annual renewal notices,....................”. So what is the local fee of $10 for?

Wonder why we don’t have a sales tax on this registration. Probably soon.

Six years ago, the registration cost was $62.75, today $74, an 18% increase over these several years.

With the virus, we all are driving less and many insurance providers have noted this and provided a rebate on our auto premium.

Perhaps TXDOT should consider this. Fat chance.

H Mercer

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