Motorists would need to pay more to license their vehicles under a plan heading to Gov. Mike Kehoe.
The Missouri House, on its final day of session, sent the governor a plan on a 131-18 vote that would raise the current processing fee for licensing a car or trailer from $6 to $9.
A $3 increase would also apply to renewal and issuance of instruction permits, nondriver licenses, chauffeur’s, operator’s and driver’s licenses.
The fee for a license lasting 3 years or less would rise from $6 to $9, while the fee for a license lasting longer than three years would increase from $12 to $18.
The processing fees for license offices are on top of the fees that motorists pay to the state for their licenses and to register their vehicles.
The increase in processing fees is part of an effort to attract and retain the independent contractors who run the more than 170 offices across the state. In Texas County, the office is situated on North U.S. 63.
The House sponsor of the plan, Rep. Dave Hinman, R-O’Fallon, said expenses for the businesses continue to rise but that offices aren’t allowed to raise their own fees to cover those costs.
The increase would be the second since 1999, following an adjustment in 2019.
Some contractors have closed offices because of low profit margins, requiring people to drive longer distances to license their vehicles.
“It has to be done,” said Rep. Steve Butz, D-St. Louis.
Rep. David Dolan, R-Sikeston, noted the Missouri Department of Revenue recently announced the closure of the license office located on Main Street in Willow Springs.
“So those folks over there now have to go 18 miles to Mountain View, 25 miles to West Plains, 23 miles to Mountain Grove,” Dolan said. “The lady that operated that office says ‘I just can’t go another week. I’m losing money.’
“If we want to keep our rural license offices open, this is a necessary bill,” Dolan said.
Not everyone was on board. “I personally have issues with increasing fees on Missourians,” said Rep. Bryant Wolfin, R-Ste. Genevieve, who voted “no.”