The California Department of Motor Vehicles field role in Bakersfield in 1966. (Courtesy of DMV)

Q: It wasn't enough raising vehicle license fees, but now the DMV charges us to utilise a credit card to pay registrations. There are over 35 one thousand thousand vehicles registered in California, with an boilerplate cost of about $300 per vehicle. Where does all this money go?

Rick Spohn, San Martin

A: A lot of places. There volition be an estimated $ten.viii billion in DMV fees collected this year, with the biggest clamper, 59 per centum, coming from registration and licensing fees. Since the enactment of higher gas taxes and fees, revenue has doubled, growing from $6.four billion in 2016-17 to $12.vii billion in 2020-21.

Here is more on who gets what:

  • Local governments $iv billion.
  • Caltrans: $2.seven billion.
  • CHP: $2.four billion.
  • DMV: $1.9 billion.
  • The Full general Fund: $148 million.
  • Air Resources Board: $148 1000000.

And for each transaction:

  • $25 to $175 for the repair of infrastructure and route maintenance.
  • Vehicle weight fees: $8 to $360 for commercial vehicles with no more than ii axles.
  • Vehicle registration fees: $58 including $3 for alternative fuel technology.
  • Vehicle emission fees: $twenty for smog abatement, plus $eight.25 for a state certificate.

Q: With iv cars in my household, the 2.i percent surcharge to employ a credit card to pay for registrations really adds up. It even covers the price of two movie tickets. So I just walk 5 minutes to my nearest AAA office where at that place are no lines, or they are a lot shorter than at the DMV, and I pay by debit card. No surcharge, no fees and I am out in 10 minutes.

Ramanamurthy Nemali, San Jose

A: The 10-infinitesimal wait is what many like best.

Q: The AAA is open on Saturdays, too. No surcharge, no stamps, no waiting for the postal service. Instant gratification.

Vish Iyer, San Jose

A: And…

Q: I went to AAA with a bank check, only to learn that AAA would not accept a check but only a credit bill of fare, without a surcharge.

Prakash Tendulkar, San Jose

A: Got it.

Q: Anybody who complains about the DMV credit bill of fare fee missed the echeck payment option. I just did it and it's as fast to get your tags as paying by credit card. Of grade, y'all do accept to have a checking account with the money in information technology. The DMV is unforgiving about bounced checks.

James Murashige, Cupertino

A: So true. Ordinarily, stickers paid for by echeck arrive inside a week, compared to four weeks when paid for by a regular cheque through the mail.

Q: Credit carte companies accuse all merchants a fee to use your credit card to make a purchase. This includes the state. Then if you don't pay the fee, then everyone else must share the cost for you paying by credit card. This is truthful of any business organization. So pony up and cease your whining.

Dennis Cole, Gilroy

A: No one ever whines in Roadshow.

Look for Gary Richards at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at mrroadshow@bayareanewsgroup.com.