The cost to register a vehicle in Tennessee will increase beginning July 1, 2017.
The registration fee for passenger motor vehicles (standard, disabled, military, motorcycle, specialty) will be increased by $5. The registration fee for commercial motor vehicles for transporting passengers for hire (buses, taxis) will be increased by $10. The registration fee for commercial and freight motor vehicles (semis, tractor trailers) will be increased by $20.
There will be a new fee for electric vehicles beginning July 1, 2017. The registration fee for electric vehicles will be $100. The electric vehicle registration fee is in addition to the standard registration fee.
These fee increases are part of the 2017 IMPROVE ACT which has been signed into law by the Governor to help shore up funding for roads and bridges across the state. 100% of these fee increases go to the highway fund.
DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss advises individuals with upcoming renewals to take advantage of the current fees by renewing eligible vehicles prior to July 1, 2017. Previously, the county clerk’s office has been able to complete renewal transactions within a period of 60 days or less prior to the expiration date.
Meanwhile, County Clerk Poss has announced other changes that either have taken effect or are soon to take effect.
“After attending a three-day training last week our office has several updates to share with our citizens in the county,” said Poss.
These updates include the following:
•Fines from the law requiring insurance will now generate new fees in the county clerk’s office. Each fine of $25 will generate $5 to local clerks and the remainder to the state. The $100 fine will contribute $10 to local clerks with the remainder going to the state.
•To qualify for an antique plate, the vehicle must be over 25 years old and have a non-modified engine and body. It can be used for participation in or transportation to and from club exhibits, activities, tours, parades and general transportation on Saturday and Sunday. Also, it can be used on any day for the purpose of selling, testing or obtaining repairs to maintain the vehicle (Recently Federal Holidays were added to days of operation).
•Effective, April 4, 2017 ALL constables are eligible for Emergency tags.
•You may now go online to pay your state fee for reinstatement of a driver license. Also, an unrestricted intermediate driver may go online to upgrade that license.
•Hand Gun Permit Holders are not eligible to complete transactions on the Kiosk; However, you can now go online to renew or replace lost or stolen. In addition to this new feature, as before you may mail in your renewal or visit a full-service DVM to renew a hand gun carry permit.
•Until now the county clerk office has been in full compliance transferring all documents and certain payments electronically to the state. Recently, the state made a new request for Sales & Use Tax along with taxes collected from boat purchases to be transferred electronically. The county clerk office will be entering this ACH payment request to be completed and submitted electronically in the near future. Currently as few as 4 counties have complied and this request has no deadline as of yet.
•Effective July 1, 2017 the state will be offering a choice of two state plates. The current plate in use and a second very similar plate adding “In God We Trust” printed above and below the current state emblem.
•Heavy Vehicle Use Tax exemption: Reminder, if a registrant declared the vehicle is driven less than 5,000 miles (or less than 7,500 miles for agricultural vehicles), they do not have to pay HVUT (Heavy Vehicle Use Taxes); however, they must still have form 2290 stamped and dated by the IRS showing they are listed as “tax suspended”.
•The state attorney reminded all county clerks who have any type of “motor vehicle races” to ensure that any person, firm, or corporation operating or conducting any such event possess $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance. Accordingly, these statues apply to “any contest of speed among self-propelled wheeled conveyances not running on rails. This encompasses “all races of all vehicles that depend on a moor of propulsion, other than railroads. Such violation is a class A misdemeanor. A copy of this policy should be maintained in the county clerk’s office.
•Insurance Automobiles: Insurance requirements applicable to off-highway vehicles. Summary: Clarifies that off-highway vehicles operated on public roads are covered under the definition of “uninsured motor vehicle” for purposes of being covered under an uninsured motorist policy effective July 1, 2017.
•Also, a feasibility study is underway to determine if the state will start requiring titling of boats.
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