Central Washington Sentinel

Supporting governemt accountability | transparency | vision

CLE ELUM COMMERCIAL LAND FOR SALE | PRIME GROWTH AREA

For Sale By Local Owner | On Major Highway | Power/Water

  • Front Page
  • Local.
    • BUSINESS
      • News
    • Economic Development
    • Forests
    • GOVERNMENT
      • Candidate Forums
      • Kittitas County
        • Kittitas County
          • Videos | Kittitas County/City Candidate Interviews | 2019
      • Federal
    • Housing
    • Land Use
    • Water
  • RECOMMENDED
  • OPINION BLOGS
    • Elections | Central Washington
    • Rant & Rave
  • About
    • CONNECT
    • Site Map
  • ADVERTISERS
    • Explore Washington’s most comprehensive recreation apps and maps.
  • Elections | Central Washington
Home » Washington state drivers will pay 400% more for license plates starting July 1 :

Washington state drivers will pay 400% more for license plates starting July 1 :

Empty wallet
Shutterstock photo

6/21/22 | The Center Square)

In the midst of increasing fuel costs and rising inflation, Washington state drivers can soon expect to pay higher fees as part of the 16-year, nearly $17 billion “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package that passed the state Legislature this year and was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Some fee increases are set to go into effect on July 1.

Get ready to fork over more money for a license plate next month. If car drivers want an original license plate, rather than paying the current $10, they will have to pay $50. A replacement license plate will go from $10 to $30.

Motorcycle owners will also have to pay more, with an original license plate increasing from $4 to $20, and a replacement license plate increasing from $4 to $12.

Also up in price: the stolen vehicle check fee. The fee new residents pay when first registering their car in Washington to make sure it isn’t stolen will increase from $15 to $50. It will further increase to $75 in 2026.

Beginning October 1, enhanced driver’s licenses and identicards will cost more, too. A six-year license or identicard will increase from $24 to $42. An eight-year license or identicard will go from $32 to $56.

During this year’s legislative session, Sen. Marko Liias, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, trumpeted the fact “Move Ahead Washington” did not contain a gas tax increase.

“We heard loud and clear that working families are still facing this brunt of an economic burden caused by the pandemic,” Liias, D-Everett, said during a Feb. 8 virtual press conference where Democratic transportation leaders unveiled the then-proposed transportation funding and projects package. “That’s why there is no gas tax in this package.”

The Center Square reached out to Liias for comment on some of the fee hikes going into effect at a time when Washingtonians are enduring high prices at the pump and record-breaking inflation, but received no response.

Mariya Frost, director of transportation at the Kemper Development Company, did respond to The Center Square’s request for comment on the fee increases.

“While the federal government is considering economic relief for drivers, here at the state level, fees passed in ‘Move Ahead’ will increase by 75% to 400%,” she said.

On Monday, President Joe Biden said he would decide on a potential gas tax holiday by the end of the week. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.

“Many of these increases – like the stolen vehicle check fee – are entirely unnecessary,” Frost said, “and are especially egregious given the very real negative impact of inflation.”

Inflation in the U.S. rose 8.6% in May from a year prior, the highest rate in four decades, according to the Labor Department.

According to AAA, as of Tuesday the average price of gas in Washington is nearly $5.54 cents per gallon, compared to the national average of almost $4.97 per gallon.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Trending Headlines & Stories

Senator-Judy-Warnick

April 20, 2023, submitted by Senator Judy Warnick~~ The 2023 session is nearly over. We are spending long hours voting on proposals that have come over from the House of Representatives or relooking at Senate bills that were amended in the House. We must complete this work and vote on final budget proposals by April […]

Central Washington Headelines & Stories

Big victory:: Wyoming Library Board cuts ties with American Library Association over graphic children’s books.

Washington State Headelines & Stories

Washington revenue up $126M since September forecast as recession fears loom

NATIONAL Headelines & Stories

Aggragated Content from Daybreak Insider: Kevin McCarthy Addresses Congress for First Time as Speaker

Recent Posts

  • Greetings From Olympia
  • 2023 Washington Legislature Now in Session
  • Kevin McCarthy Addresses Congress for First Time as Speaker
  • McCarthy fails to win House Speaker spot in fourth and fifth attempts
  • McCarthy fails to win House Speaker spot in fourth and fifth attempts

Resources

Government Offices

  • Kittitas County Auditors Office | Services in Elections, Finance, Recording, Vehicle Licensing, and Voter Registration
  • Kittitas County Business Offices | General County Business & Court House

Political Offices & Organizations

  • Kittitas County Democratic Party
  • Kittitas County Republican Party
  • Washington State Democratic Party
  • Washington State Republican Party
  • National Democratic Party
  • National Republican Party
  • Public Disclosure Commission

Candidates

Candidates

Click For Official County List

Copyright © 2023 · Published by i-20/20 Media Group · Cle Elum, WA · Log in