1     
VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE REVISIONS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Kay J. Christofferson

5     
Senate Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill increases vehicle registration fees on electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and other
10     vehicles.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     increases annual and six-month vehicle registration fees on electric, hybrid, plug-in
14     hybrid, and other alternative fuel vehicles; and
15          ▸     makes technical changes.
16     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17          None
18     Other Special Clauses:
19          None
20     Utah Code Sections Affected:
21     AMENDS:
22          41-1a-1206, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 377
23     

24     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25          Section 1. Section 41-1a-1206 is amended to read:
26          41-1a-1206. Registration fees -- Fees by gross laden weight.
27          (1) Except as provided in Subsections (2) and (3), at the time application is made for

28     registration or renewal of registration of a vehicle or combination of vehicles under this
29     chapter, a registration fee shall be paid to the division as follows:
30          (a) $46.00 for each motorcycle;
31          (b) $44 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less gross laden weight, excluding
32     motorcycles;
33          (c) unless the semitrailer or trailer is exempt from registration under Section 41-1a-202
34     or is registered under Section 41-1a-301:
35          (i) $31 for each trailer or semitrailer over 750 pounds gross unladen weight; or
36          (ii) $28.50 for each commercial trailer or commercial semitrailer of 750 pounds or less
37     gross unladen weight;
38          (d) (i) $53 for each farm truck over 12,000 pounds, but not exceeding 14,000 pounds
39     gross laden weight; plus
40          (ii) $9 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight;
41          (e) (i) $69.50 for each motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles, excluding farm
42     trucks, over 12,000 pounds, but not exceeding 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; plus
43          (ii) $19 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight;
44          (f) (i) $69.50 for each park model recreational vehicle over 12,000 pounds, but not
45     exceeding 14,000 pounds gross laden weight; plus
46          (ii) $19 for each 2,000 pounds over 14,000 pounds gross laden weight;
47          (g) $45 for each vintage vehicle that is less than 40 years old; and
48          (h) in addition to the fee described in Subsection (1)(b):
49          (i) for each electric motor vehicle:
50          (A) $90 during calendar year 2020; [and]
51          (B) $120 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter]; and
52          (C) $300 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter;
53          (ii) for each hybrid electric motor vehicle:
54          (A) $15 during calendar year 2020; [and]
55          (B) $20 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter]; and
56          (C) $50 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter;
57          (iii) for each plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle:
58          (A) $39 during calendar year 2020; [and]

59          (B) $52 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter]; and
60          (C) $260 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter; and
61          (iv) for any motor vehicle not described in Subsections (1)(h)(i) through (iii) that is
62     fueled exclusively by a source other than motor fuel, diesel fuel, natural gas, or propane:
63          (A) $90 during calendar year 2020; [and]
64          (B) $120 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter.]; and
65          (C) $300 beginning on January 1, 2022, and thereafter.
66          (2) (a) At the time application is made for registration or renewal of registration of a
67     vehicle under this chapter for a six-month registration period under Section 41-1a-215.5, a
68     registration fee shall be paid to the division as follows:
69          (i) $34.50 for each motorcycle; and
70          (ii) $33.50 for each motor vehicle of 12,000 pounds or less gross laden weight,
71     excluding motorcycles.
72          (b) In addition to the fee described in Subsection (2)(a)(ii), for registration or renewal
73     of registration of a vehicle under this chapter for a six-month registration period under Section
74     41-1a-215.5 a registration fee shall be paid to the division as follows:
75          (i) for each electric motor vehicle:
76          (A) $69.75 during calendar year 2020; [and]
77          (B) $93 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter]; and
78          (C) $232.50 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter;
79          (ii) for each hybrid electric motor vehicle:
80          (A) $11.25 during calendar year 2020; [and]
81          (B) $15 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter]; and
82          (C) $38.75 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter;
83          (iii) for each plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle:
84          (A) $30 during calendar year 2020; [and]
85          (B) $40 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter]; and
86          (C) $201.50 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter; and
87          (iv) for each motor vehicle not described in Subsections (2)(b)(i) through (iii) that is
88     fueled by a source other than motor fuel, diesel fuel, natural gas, or propane:
89          (A) $69.75 during calendar year 2020; [and]

90          (B) $93 beginning January 1, 2021[, and thereafter.]; and
91          (C) $232.50 beginning January 1, 2022, and thereafter.
92          (3) (a) (i) Beginning on January 1, 2019, the commission shall, on January 1, annually
93     adjust the registration fees described in Subsections (1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c)(i), (1)(c)(ii), (1)(d)(i),
94     (1)(e)(i), (1)(f)(i), (1)(g), (2)(a), (4)(a), and (7), by taking the registration fee rate for the
95     previous year and adding an amount equal to the greater of:
96          (A) an amount calculated by multiplying the registration fee of the previous year by the
97     actual percentage change during the previous fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index; and
98          (B) 0.
99          (ii) Beginning on January 1, [2022] 2023, the commission shall, on January 1, annually
100     adjust the registration fees described in Subsections [(1)(h)(i)(B), (1)(h)(ii)(B), (1)(h)(iii)(B),
101     (1)(h)(iv)(B), (2)(b)(i)(B), (2)(b)(ii)(B), (2)(b)(iii)(B), and (2)(b)(iv)(B)] (1)(h)(i)(C),
102     (1)(h)(ii)(C), (1)(h)(iii)(C), (1)(h)(iv)(C), (2)(b)(i)(C), (2)(b)(ii)(C), (2)(b)(iii)(C), and
103     (2)(b)(iv)(C), by taking the registration fee rate for the previous year and adding an amount
104     equal to the greater of:
105          (A) an amount calculated by multiplying the registration fee of the previous year by the
106     actual percentage change during the previous fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index; and
107          (B) 0.
108          (b) The amounts calculated as described in Subsection (3)(a) shall be rounded up to the
109     nearest 25 cents.
110          (4) (a) The initial registration fee for a vintage vehicle that is 40 years old or older is
111     $40.
112          (b) A vintage vehicle that is 40 years old or older is exempt from the renewal of
113     registration fees under Subsection (1).
114          (c) A vehicle with a Purple Heart special group license plate issued in accordance with
115     Section 41-1a-421 is exempt from the registration fees under Subsection (1).
116          (d) A camper is exempt from the registration fees under Subsection (1).
117          (5) If a motor vehicle is operated in combination with a semitrailer or trailer, each
118     motor vehicle shall register for the total gross laden weight of all units of the combination if the
119     total gross laden weight of the combination exceeds 12,000 pounds.
120          (6) (a) Registration fee categories under this section are based on the gross laden

121     weight declared in the licensee's application for registration.
122          (b) Gross laden weight shall be computed in units of 2,000 pounds. A fractional part
123     of 2,000 pounds is a full unit.
124          (7) The owner of a commercial trailer or commercial semitrailer may, as an alternative
125     to registering under Subsection (1)(c), apply for and obtain a special registration and license
126     plate for a fee of $130.
127          (8) Except as provided in Section 41-6a-1642, a truck may not be registered as a farm
128     truck unless:
129          (a) the truck meets the definition of a farm truck under Section 41-1a-102; and
130          (b) (i) the truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 12,000 pounds; or
131          (ii) the truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,000 pounds or less and the owner
132     submits to the division a certificate of emissions inspection or a waiver in compliance with
133     Section 41-6a-1642.
134          (9) A violation of Subsection (8) is an infraction that shall be punished by a fine of not
135     less than $200.
136          (10) Trucks used exclusively to pump cement, bore wells, or perform crane services
137     with a crane lift capacity of five or more tons, are exempt from 50% of the amount of the fees
138     required for those vehicles under this section.