If you renew your license tabs or register a vehicle after Jan. 1, brace yourself to pay more. New weight fees -- approved by lawmakers last spring --are about to kick in.

In addition to the current $30 basic state license tab fee, vehicle owners will pay extra, depending on the weight of what they drive. For light cars -- under 4,000 pounds -- the fee is an extra $10. For vehicles ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds, it's $20. From 6,000 to 8,000 pounds, it's $30.

In addition, motor home owners will now pay $75 to register, regardless of weight. But the license fee for private-use, single-axle trailers weighing 2,000 pounds or less will drop from $30 now to $15.

Other increases: replacing a license plate, which now costs $3.50 a plate, will rise to $12.

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