Maryland Republicans Propose Bill to Rollback Vehicle Registration Fee Hikes

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey says the increases have been especially harmful for low-income drivers and seniors on fixed incomes.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Maryland Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey said that Republicans in Annapolis have introduced legislation to rollback recent vehicle registration fee increases. Hershey stated the fees have gone from $70 to $162 per year, which he said is especially burdensome for low-income drivers and seniors on fixed incomes. The bill would bring the fees back to 2024 levels, and also lower costs for school buses and ambulances, though Hershey acknowledged it may face challenges getting a vote.

Why it matters

Vehicle registration fees are a significant cost for many Maryland drivers, and the recent sharp increases have made it more difficult for low-income residents and retirees on fixed incomes to afford to register their vehicles. This Republican-backed bill aims to provide relief and make vehicle ownership more accessible.

The details

Hershey said the Republican-sponsored bill would roll back the vehicle registration fees to the levels they were at in 2024, when they were around $70 per year. The current fees have risen to $162 annually, which Hershey described as an especially harmful increase for low-income drivers and seniors. The bill would also lower registration costs for school buses and ambulances, though Hershey acknowledged it may face challenges getting a vote in committee.

  • The vehicle registration fee increases went into effect in 2025.
  • The Republican bill to rollback the fees was introduced in the current 2026 legislative session.

The players

Steve Hershey

Maryland Senate Minority Leader who is sponsoring the bill to rollback vehicle registration fee increases.

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What they’re saying

“It's not just simply it went from you know $70 to $80 or $90. It went from $70 to $162 a year”

— Steve Hershey, Maryland Senate Minority Leader (WBAL)

What’s next

The bill will next be considered in committee, where Hershey acknowledged it may face challenges getting a vote scheduled.

The takeaway

This Republican-backed effort to rollback sharp increases in Maryland's vehicle registration fees aims to provide financial relief for low-income drivers and seniors, though the bill's path forward remains uncertain given the political dynamics in the state legislature.