Vehicle registration to increase to $94 starting this month

By Eddie West

Staff Writer

Collection of the county’s new $50 wheel tax was expected to begin this month.

Vehicle registration renewal notices mailed out from the state for the month of April included the new $50 wheel tax fee.

As of this past Friday, March 28, the cost to renew vehicle registration was still $44 because the computer software in the county clerk’s office had not been updated to reflect the added $50 wheel tax fee.

In order to collect the added $50 wheel tax fee, the update to the county clerk office’s software had to take place in White Pine (Tennessee), County Clerk Cliffa Norris explained.

Since the April vehicle registration renewal notices sent out by the state included the additional $50 fee, the county clerk anticipated the office’s software could be updated as soon as April 1.  

 With the added wheel tax fee, the cost to renew vehicle registration in Smith County will be $94.

Included in the fee is two county wheel tax fees. One is the new $50 wheel tax fee and a second is an existing  $15 county wheel tax fee.

Also, the cost of a vehicle registration renewal includes a $29 state renewal fee.

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