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The cost of getting a driver's license in Washington state is about to go up.

Washington state driver licensing fees about to increase

BY KIRO Radio Staff  on September 27, 2012 @ 5:53 am (Updated: 7:28 am - 9/27/12 )

The cost of getting a driver's license in Washington state is about to go up.

Beginning October 1, a number of driver and vehicle fees will increase, some nearly doubling from current rates.

The driver license fee for new licenses and renewals will increase from $25 to $45.

A new driver applying for a license will also pay higher fees for permits and testing. The license application and examination cost is going up from $20 to $35. The permit fee is also increasing from $20 to $25. View the full list of cost changes.

The fee increases were passed by the 2012 Legislature and will go to fund roads, streets, bridges, ferries, transit systems and other services in the transportation system.

KIRO Radio Staff, Staff report
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Comments (47)


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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Im shocked
    September 27, 2012 6:24 am
    that SAYWA wants to raise FEE's (AHEM TAXES)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Glover W wrote...
    Never enough!
    September 27, 2012 6:26 am
    Do you know that in Oregon you can license your car for two years. And it costs less than it does here in Washington. Now I for the most part do not like Oregon but in this case they are getting it right. Washington is so screwed up with our driver's license's that of course we need a rate increase. And of course it is supposed to go to roads but in reality it will go to light rail and then back into the politicians coffers. That all light rail is about. It's not about moving people it's about power and control. And upping these rates is just one more place they can do it. I think we should all our repsresentatives out of office and then institute term limits on the new ones. Power corrupts and these politicians with thier little fifedoms love thier power!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Glover W
    September 27, 2012 8:35 am
    Do you realise that Oregon has a STATE TAX?Do you understand that Federal money coming back to the States is drying up and that means the money needs to be found elsewhere.If it makes you feel better call it the BUSH WAR TAX.You term limit folks are a funny group you believe in simple solutions to complex problems,perhaps complex solutions are required huh?FAce it politicans are NOT going to put themselves out of work
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sghouse wrote...
    or the Obama Failed Stimulus tax....
    September 27, 2012 11:14 am
    would be an equally valid name.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    messiah - do YOU realize that less PEOPLE have jobs?
    September 27, 2012 7:10 pm
    That means people have less money and the cost of everything, except purchase housing, is going up. That also means that ANY tax increase directly takes away from people's ability to buy other things. Like, say, FOOD.

    But I do agree that politicians are not going to put themselves out of work. ... And that the cost of government is the LAST thing any one of them would cut.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    ron p
    September 27, 2012 8:10 pm
    If twenty bucks makes that big of an impact in your life then perhaps you should sell the car and take the bus.Face it we are paying the BUSH WAR TAX now because he failed to raise taxes when he invaded Iraq,wars costs huge amounts of money and if you put them on the charge card for 8 years then eventually the bill comes due.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jerico1 wrote...
    jobless
    September 28, 2012 1:25 am
    it is a differn't breed that deed off ther own kind
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    09-27-2012 Washington state driver licensing...
    September 27, 2012 7:03 am
    Racism! That's what it is. The Demorat run state is showing its true colors... pardon the pun... they are disenfranchising minorities, the elderly and the poor. It's voter suppression (which makes no sense for the party of vote fraud) but there you are.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Vlastimil wrote...
    thieves
    September 27, 2012 7:05 am
    When S hits the fan, I will not feel bad for all the public employees who will be slapped upside the head by reality and are left high and dry.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Wonder if
    September 27, 2012 7:14 am
    They'll increase efficiency at the actual licensing facilities? BAWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    FISH
    September 27, 2012 8:38 am
    I have held drivers licenses in Massachusetts,Georgia,Colorado, California and Washington and the DMVs I have ealt with here in Washington are the BEST I have dealt with. Try California or Massachusetts sometime they are true nightmares. Massachusetts even had its own DMV police
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Beaten Down Dead Horse wrote...
    WHY DO WE EVEN BOTHER?
    September 27, 2012 7:21 am
    What good is it? Lawfull people have a valid/ current drivers license, Insurance, & Registration Guy that rams you on the road has: No Registration No Insurance No Ignition Interlock on Un-registered vehicle Uses previous owners ins. to avoid $400 UIM ticket Police Check NONE OF IT. Ticket & Blame all dumped on the law abiding whom has the insurance AND you get to pay for EVERYTHING the other guys PILawyer askes for because HE CAN and YOU have something to loose unlike The J- Hole that ran into you. Complete Failure Waste Of Plastic
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    I think
    September 27, 2012 7:29 am
    That the only one getting it right on this blog is Glover W. The fact that Oregon seems to have it right in terms of how they manage their money is right. By the time I need to renew my License it will triple. Sure it's 45 dollars now, but in 5 years it will be triple why because the politicians cannot spend public money. Term limits. That is the only way that we will ever get rid of this tax and spend mentality. By the way speaking of light rail. They need to figure out a better way to collect fares. I mean you pay by the distance travelled, so you scan your Orca card wen you get on, and then you are supposed to scan it when you get off, how STUPID. So now we have to PAY collection cops that roam the light rail and randomly profile you and ask for your ticket or scan your Orca card to see if you have done the initial scan. I mean really, it should be a flat fare like say THE BUS, distance travelled should not even matter. You pay a flat fare get on the bus then ride it as far as you need to get off simple. Light rail, you have to rely on the honesty of HUMAN BEINGS that by our very nature we are not as honest as we claim to be.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JustAnotherFish wrote...
    I'm still dumbfounded
    September 27, 2012 7:49 am
    ...that this state has separate offices for Driver Licenses and Vehicle Licensing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2shbag wrote...
    oh and dont forget
    September 27, 2012 7:55 am
    If you happen to have a valid motorcycle endorsement it will cost $90 now
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dicker wrote...
    licensing fees
    September 27, 2012 8:16 am
    And you just keep voteing for the same people over and over and over
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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