County vehicle registration fee starts July 1

Media release

Posted April 23, 2018

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Sponsored by: Department of Land Use and Transportation, Administrative Services/Office of the Director Division

People registering vehicles in Washington County through the state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) will be paying a new County fee for renewals and new registrations starting on July 1, 2018.

The Washington County vehicle registration fee (VRF) will be $30 per year ($60 for two-year renewals) for most vehicle owners. The fee for motorcycles/mopeds will be $17 per year ($34 for two-year renewals). Owners of trailers eligible for permanent registration will pay a one-time fee of $10. For more information, visit Washington County Vehicle Registration Fee Amounts .

Revenues from the VRF are expected to total $13.5 million in FY 2018-19. The County's share of VRF revenue is expected to total $8.1 million (60 percent). The County has committed to use its share of the funding only for local maintenance to improve the safety and condition of County roads, bridges and culverts. Cities within the County are expected to receive a total of $5.4 million (40 percent), which will be divided based on population.

Anticipated VRF annual revenue for cities:

Hillsboro $1.6 million
Beaverton $1.5 million
Tigard $800,000
Tualatin $390,000
Forest Grove $380,000
Sherwood $310,000
Cornelius $190,000
King City $60,000
Wilsonville $40,000
Banks, Durham, North Plains, Portland $30,000 each
Gaston $10,000

The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the VRF in Ordinance 817 in September 2016 after public testimony from law enforcement, emergency service providers, city representatives and members of the business community in support of the measure. The County's maintenance funding, which comes primarily from state vehicle fees and state and county gas taxes, has not kept pace with increasing maintenance costs. Fuel sales per registered vehicle have been declining, due to hybrid and electric cars, and fewer miles traveled per vehicle. At the same time, maintenance costs have increased significantly.

For more information on the County VRF, visit https://www.co.washington.or.us/vrf.

Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and operating the County roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Media Contact:

Melissa De Lyser, Public Affairs and Communications Manager
503-846-4963
[email protected]