KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsNew fee will nearly triple truck registration in Iowa

New fee will nearly triple truck registration in Iowa

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - You might be faced with higher costs to register your pick-up truck, in Iowa.

However, those funds will then go directly towards critical roads and bridge infrastructure needs over the next 20 years.

"The legislature just realized that we are having problems raising enough money to fix roads and bridges. So, they had to come up with a plan to raise funds," said Mike Clayton, Woodbury County Motor Vehicle.

Their plan is to raise registration fees for newly purchased trucks in Iowa. For those pick-ups under 3-ton the fee will be increased from $65 to $150 per year, and brand new, 2010 trucks, when used for personal use, they will be assessed by weight and list price, just like a car.

These increasing fees will be effective on January 1st.

"If your registration is due in December or January you can renew before the beginning of the year," said Clayton.

If your registration is due after February, Clayton says you can't pay early to avoid the new bill.

Also increasing are title fees.

"Current title fees are $15 and after the first of the year title fees will go up to $25," said Clayton.

The registration fees on vehicles currently owned won't increase, but it will take longer to reduce to the minimum fee.

So will dealerships see an impact from these higher fees?

"I don't believe it'll affect it. We've been kind of spoiled that trucks have been so cheap for so long. I mean, trucks cost more money than cars do, for the most part, and we've been spoiled that they're cheaper. So, I don't think it'll affect us," said Jerry Felix, Knoepfler Chevrolet.

Those rising registration fees will also affect trailers.            

Those less than 2,000 pounds will increase from $10 to $20, and all trailers over 2,000 pounds will increase to $30.

According to Bob Knowler, Woodbury County Treasurer, the goal of this money is to raise $200,000,000 for roads and bridges over the next 20 years.           

Without this money, projects like Highway 20 could be in jeopardy of losing money.