Maryland residents question new paint can fee amid growing costs

MARYLAND (WBFF) — A trip to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) left some drivers stunned by higher costs that they say are piling up across the state.

Tony Joshua said he walked away when he saw what it would cost to register his vehicle.

“Sticker shock? (laughs),” he said. “I turned right around and got out of the line. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have it.”

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The cost of registering, titling and inspecting a vehicle in Maryland doubled last year, but the fee increases don’t stop at the MVA. The Maryland legislature has approved more than 300 new fees in the past two years including a tire tax, a tech tax and a vending machine tax.

“It’s just like greed more than anything,” Baltimore resident Clifton Parrot said.

Baltimore resident Sheila Bowling questioned how the additional funding is being used.

“This is the million dollar question. Nobody knows what those fees are doing. Everything is high in the city,” she said.

If I’m dodging potholes, where is the money going?” Joshua asked.

One of the latest fees will be attached to every gallon of paint sold in Maryland and will go to a nonprofit organization that will manage Maryland’s paint recycling program. But FOX45 News has learned that the nonprofit, PaintCare, isn’t registered as a nonprofit in the state of Maryland, even though it’s set to receive a dollar fee for every gallon of paint sold in the state.

Joshua said the growing costs have him questioning whether he can stay in Maryland.

“It flabbergasts me where the money is going. Sometimes I’m like ‘dude, do I stay here?’” he said.

Bowling said, “This shouldn’t be happening in 2026 this shouldn’t be happening.”

For many Marylanders, the rising fees have strained budgets and morale, with some saying they can no longer afford the increasing price of driving.

“I’m just at my wits end about it. I’m like when do we, the taxpayers get a break?” Joshua asked.