Code of the District of Columbia

§ 50–1501.03. Fees classified and use of proceeds designated.

(a)(1)(A) There shall be levied, collected, and paid for each registration year for each motor vehicle or trailer required to be registered under this subchapter, the registration fee provided in this section, except that in the event the Council of the District of Columbia prescribes and the Mayor of the District of Columbia issues as the official identification tags for the District of Columbia tags treated with special reflective materials designed to increase the visibility and legibility of such tags, the Council may charge a fee not exceeding $.50 in addition to all other fees which may be required.

(B) Any person ordering a tag with special markings unique to that person shall pay a one-time application fee of $100, and may obtain a replacement if a tag is lost or stolen upon payment of a fee of $25 per tag.

(C) Any person displaying a tag already approved for use by a member of an organization other than Disabled American Veterans shall pay a one-time application fee of $100, and may obtain a replacement if a tag is lost or stolen upon payment of a $25 fee per tag.

(D) Any person ordering Anacostia River Commemorative License Plates shall pay the fees as set forth in § 8-102.07(b).

(E) Any person ordering veterans identification tags pursuant to § 50-1501.02a shall pay the fees as set forth in § 50-1501.02a(b)(2).

(F) Any person ordering a women veterans identification tags pursuant to § 50-1501.02b shall pay the fees as set forth in § 50-1501.02b(b)(1).

(G) Any person ordering bicycle awareness identification tags shall pay the fees as set forth in § 50-1501.02c(b)(1).

(H) Any person ordering a "We Demand Statehood" identification tag designed and made available pursuant to § 50-1501.02d(a) shall pay the fees established pursuant to § 50-1501.02d(b)(1).

(I) Any person ordering an arts and humanities motor-vehicle identification tag issued pursuant to § 50-1501.02e(a) shall pay the fees established pursuant to § 50-1501.02e(b).

(J) Any person ordering a breast cancer awareness identification tag shall pay the fees as set forth in § 50-1501.02f(b)(1).

(K) Any person ordering a parks and recreation identification tag shall pay the fees as set forth in § 50-1501.02g(b)(1).

(L) Any person ordering a Washington Capitals identification tag shall pay the fees as set forth in § 50-1501.02h(b)(1).

(M) Any person ordering a Washington Mystics identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in § 50-1501.02i(b)(1).

(N) Any person ordering a Washington Nationals identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in § 50-1501.02j(b)(1).

(O) Any person ordering an End Gun Violence identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in § 50-1501.02k(b)(1).

(P) Any person ordering a Protect Local Wildlife identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in § 50-1501.02l(b)(1).

(Q) Any person ordering a Washington Wizards identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in § 50-1501.02m(b)(1).

(R) Any person ordering a LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tag shall pay the fees set forth in § 50-1501.02n(b)(1).

(b)(1)(A) Class A. — For each passenger vehicle, including a motor vehicle classified by the Mayor or his or her designated agent as a class F(I) historic motor vehicle that meets the criteria established under § 50-1501.01(10A), except for passenger vehicles licensed under § 47-2829, based upon the manufacturer's shipping weight, as follows:

Weight Class Registration Fee
Class I (3,499 pounds or less) $72
Class II (3,500 — 4,999 pounds) $175
Class III (5,000 — 5,999 pounds) $250
Class IV (6,000 or greater) $500
Class V (A new electric vehicle, other than a motorcycle and motorized bicycle, less than 5,000 pounds.) (This provision shall only apply to the first 2 years of the vehicle's registration, after which the vehicle shall be treated as Class I or Class II, whichever is applicable.) $36
Class VI (vehicles 3,500 pounds or greater that have been issued a disability license tag by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to 18 DCMR § 2704, if the vehicle weight above 3,499 pounds is due to the accommodation of a disability) $72

(B) As of October 1, 2023, an electric vehicle with a manufacturer's shipping weight less than 5,000 pounds may subtract 1,000 pounds from its manufacturer's shipping weight for the purposes of this paragraph.

(C) Class IV shall only apply after September 30, 2023.

(D) Class VI shall only apply after September 30, 2023.

(2)(A) Class B. — For each commercial vehicle, tractor, and passenger carrying vehicle for hire, including vehicles licensed under § 47-2829, based upon the manufacturer's shipping weight, as follows:

Weight Class Registration Fee
Class I (3,499 pounds or less) $125
Class II (3,500 — 4,499 pounds) $175
Class III (5,000 — 6,999 pounds) $250
Class IV (7,000 — 9,999 $500
Class V (10,000 pounds or greater) $700 plus $50 per each additional 1,000 pounds over 10,000 pounds

(B) As of October 1, 2023, an electric vehicle may subtract 1,000 pounds from its actual weight for the purposes of this paragraph.

(3) Class C. — For each trailer, based upon the manufacturer's shipping weight, as follows:

Weight Class Registration Fee
Class I (1,499 pounds or less) $50
Class II (1,500 — 3,499 pounds) $150
Class III (3,500 — 4,999 pounds) $275
Class IV (5,000 — 6,999 pounds) $500
Class V (7,000 — 9,999 pounds) $700
Class VI (10,000 pounds or greater) $850 plus $75 per each additional 1,000 pounds over 10,000 pounds

(4) Class D. — For each motorcycle, $52.

(5) Class E. — For each motor-driven cycle, $30.

(6) Class F. — For each motor vehicle classified by the Mayor or his or her designated agent as a class F(II) historic motor vehicle which meets the criteria established under § 50-1501.01(11), $25.

(7) Class G. — For dealer’s identification tags, dealer transport identification tags, and manufacturer identification tags, per tag, $75.

(8) Class H. — For each motor vehicle propelled by fuel not subject to taxation under Chapter 23 of Title 47, and motor vehicles propelled by any means other than motor fuels as defined in said chapter, double the fees provided in this subsection for classes A through D.

(b-1) Non-resident taxi and limousine driver vehicle registration. — In addition to any fees that may be due under any other statute or regulation, a driver who was exempted from the residency requirements to register a vehicle within the District of Columbia under § 50-1501.02(c)(5)(B) shall be charged an additional fee of $100.

(c) The Mayor may prorate the fee for registration by an owner or dealer if the registration is issued by the Mayor for a period not to exceed 23 months.

(d) The proceeds from fees payable under this chapter shall be paid into the General Fund of the District of Columbia as established by the Revenue Funds Availability Act of 1975, effective January 22, 1976 (D.C. Law 1-42; 22 DCR 6318); provided, that:

(1) The fees collected under subsection (b-1) of this section shall be paid into the Out-of-State Vehicle Registration Special Fund established by § 50-1501.03a;

(2) The fees collected for Anacostia River Commemorative License Plates shall be deposited in the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund established by § 8-102.05(a);

(3) The fees collected for veterans’ motor vehicle identification tags under § 50-1501.02a shall be deposited in the Office of Veterans Affairs Fund established by § 49-1004;

(4) The fees collected for women veteran identification tags shall be deposited in the Office of Veterans Affairs Fund, established by § 49-1004;

(5) The fees collected for bicycle awareness identification tags shall be deposited in the Vision Zero Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Fund, established by § 50-921.20;

(6) The fees collected for "We Demand Statehood" identification tags shall be deposited in the New Columbia Statehood Fund, established by § 1-129.32;

(7) The fees collected for arts and humanities motor-vehicle identification tags shall be deposited into the Arts and Humanities Enterprise Fund, established by § 39-205.01;

(8) The fees collected for breast cancer awareness identification tags under § 50-1501.02f shall be deposited in the Community Health Care Financing Fund, established by § 7-1931;

(9) The fees collected for parks and recreation identification tags under § 50-1501.02g shall be deposited into the Recreation Enterprise Fund, established by § 10-303;

(10) The fees collected for the Washington Capitals identification tags under § 50-1501.02h shall be deposited into the General Fund of the District of Columbia;

(11) The fees collected for the Washington Mystics identification tags under § 50-1501.02i shall be deposited into the General Fund of the District of Columbia;

(12) The fees collected for the Washington Nationals identification tags under § 50-1501.02j shall be deposited into the General Fund of the District of Columbia;

(13) The fees collected for the End Gun Violence identification tags under § 50-1501.02k shall be deposited in the Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Fund, established by § 7-2413;

(14) The fees collected for the Protect Local Wildlife identification tags under § 8-102.05;

(15) The fees collected for the Washington Wizard identification tags under § 50-1501.02m shall be deposited into the General Fund of the District of Columbia; and

(16) The fees collected for the LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle identification tag under § 50-1501.02n shall be deposited into the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Affairs Fund, established by § 2-1385.

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subchapter, special equipment mounted on a motor vehicle or trailer and not used primarily for the transportation of persons or property shall be taxed as tangible personal property as provided by law. For the purpose of determining the fees authorized by subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(2) and subsections (b)(3) and (b)(8) of this section, the weight of special equipment taxed in accordance with the provisions of this subsection (e) shall be excluded in computing the weight of the vehicle or trailer on which it is mounted.

(f) No annual motor vehicle registration fee shall be required for a noncommercial motor vehicle owned by any veteran who has been classified by the United States Veterans Administration as having a total and permanent disability as a result of a service incurred or aggravated condition; provided, that no more than 1 such vehicle per qualified veteran shall receive this fee exemption.

(g) The Mayor shall direct the Director of the Department of Transportation to design and provide application forms for the exemption provided in subsection (f) of this section. The application shall be accompanied by a statement that the veteran has been classified as having a total and permanent disability by the Veterans Administration so as to meet the requirements of this subsection, and that such disability is the result of a service incurred or aggravated condition.

(h) To synchronize inspection and registration due dates, the Mayor may declare that a vehicle’s inspection or registration shall expire prior to the date originally established; provided, that the Mayor shall reduce the fee for the vehicle’s next registration or inspection renewal by a percentage equal to the percentage of the reduction of the original time period.

(i) The Mayor may require a 2 year registration period for any registrant.

(j) The Mayor may refund any portion of the registration fee if the registrant does not maintain the registration for the entire registration period established.

(k) The Mayor may allow any person to pay registration fees in installments, as determined by the Mayor.

(l) The Mayor may charge an additional fine of $100 for any motor vehicle whose inspection or registration is not renewed by the expiration date, unless the owner surrenders the tags on or before that date.