ELECTRIC CARS: DOT To Ask For Higher Fees

Electric car owners in Iowa could face higher registration fees this spring.

Currently all electric car owners pay a flat registration fee of $25. The DOT is considering replacing that fee with a variable fee similar to the one paid by regular car owners.

The DOT is expected to ask lawmakers to eliminate the flat fee in favor of fee based on weight and value of the vehicle. For example, the owner of a $36,000 Nissan Leaf would have to pay about $360 to register their car.

A lobbyist for the DOT says the legislature approved a fee change bill last session, but it was vetoed by Governor Branstad for unrelated reasons.