MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland drivers frustrated by rising costs at the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) are watching a push in Annapolis to roll back recent vehicle registration fee hikes.

At the MVA on Reisterstown Road, motorists said the cost of driving has become too high.

“It’s too expensive to drive,” one driver said.

Another driver said, “The cost is ridiculous. They want me to pay almost $400 (for my vehicle registration).”

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Delores Howell, a Maryland motorist at the MVA, said the increases are hitting her hard.

“I think it’s awful. Who can afford it? It’s too much money,” Howell said.

She added, “I’m a senior citizen, and I’m on social security. I’m one person, live by myself. I can’t afford all this stuff. They keep going up, up, up, how high are they gonna go?”

Senate Republicans in Annapolis are pushing legislation this week to roll back the vehicle registration fee increases that were implemented in 2024. Those increases raised registration costs by about 60% to 70%, adding between $70 and $162 a year for many drivers.

The bill’s sponsor, Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey, said the higher fees are hitting families as the cost of gas, insurance and everyday essentials continues to climb.

Critics have warned the fees help fund transportation projects across Maryland and argue that reducing them could create new budget challenges for road maintenance and infrastructure.

During a recent hearing, Sen. Mary-Dulany James, D-Harford County, questioned how the state would meet transportation needs with less revenue.

“I’ve never had a hearing with the transportation department where we don’t have extraordinary demands and inadequate revenue,” James said. “So, that’s what I’m wondering about with this bill. How would you respond to that?”

Hershey responded by arguing there are competing views of what transportation funding should prioritize.

“There’s two different opinions on what transportation is in the state of Maryland,” Hershey said. “Many of us believe that it’s roads and highways, many of us believe that it’s transit.

The problem is transit is not sustainable on itself.”

James replied, “Well that’s true we should have a separate transportation trust fund for transit.”

“And that’s what’s important to get that conversation going… because the reality is you’re funding mass transit on the backs of motorists,” Hershey said.

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Back at the MVA, Howell said she hopes the proposed legislation could bring relief.

“Every time you look around, it’s not taxes. They put fees. Fees is a tax. So what can we do?” Howell said.

For now, the bill remains up for debate as lawmakers continue discussing the potential impacts on transportation funding.

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