Driver and Vehicle Services Updates Oct., Nov., Dec. 2016
Agents are required to ensure all their employees receive PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services Updates. Visit www.dmb.pa.gov/Information-Centers/Business-Partner/Pages/Driver-and-Vehicle-Services-Bulletin.aspx to get the latest information.
Bulletin No. 16-21 October 2016
Reminder Act 89 - Fee for Local Use - Montgomery County Fee Effective January 1, 2017
The ordinance to implement the $5 Fee for Local Use in Montgomery County is effective Jan. 1, 2017. PennDOT continues to maintain a list of participating counties on the fact sheet - "Fee for Local Use - Participating Counties," available on PennDOT's Web site.
Bulletin No. 16-22 November 2016
Act 164 - Bus Definition
Act 164, which became law on November 4, 2016, changed the definition of a bus. A bus is now defined as:
Bulletin No. 16-23 November 2016
Act 165 - Abandoned Vehicles
Act 165, which became law on November 4, 2016, amended the definition of an abandoned vehicle to read:
Newly-Designed Pennsylvania Street Rod Registration Plate
PennDOT announced a newly-designed street rod registration plate. Owners are not required to replace their old-style street rod plate but may choose to replace an old-style plate with the new plate using Form MV-44 - Application for Duplicate Registration Card, Replacement of Registration Plate, Renewal Sticker or Weight Class Sticker. Check the "other" reason box in Section B and write "new-style street rod plate requested." The replacement fee is $51.
The street rod plate may be personalized using Form MV-904SR - Application for a Personalized Street Rod Registration Plate.
Bulletin No. 16-25 December 2016
Elimination of Registration Sticker and Two-Year Renewal
Under Act 89 of 2013, effective December 31, 2016, PennDOT will no longer issue or provide registration expiration stickers to be placed on registration plates or issue replacement registration stickers. Vehicle owners are still required to maintain a valid and current registration and must present the registration card to law enforcement when asked. The valid registration card is also still required when having a safety inspection completed.
Also effective December 31, 2016, customers may elect to pay a two-year registration fee that is two times the amount of the registration fee payable for certain motor vehicle registrations. For initial issuance of registration plates after December 31, 2016, using Form MV-1, Form MV-4ST, Form MV-120 or Form MV-140, the customer may opt to choose a two-year registration period.
Bulletin No. 16-26 December 2016
PennDOT Web Site Online Registration Renewal Change
Effective Decembger 31, 2016, customers may renew their registraiton online, printing and signing their permanent registration credential. Customers will no longer print a temporary registration credential or wait for permanent credentials to be mailed from PennDOT. PennDOT will no longer mail a registration card for registrations that were renewed online through the Web site.
Bulletin No. 16-27 December 2016
Refund Policy Changes
Effective December 31, 2016, a refund request of unused registration must be made within 14 days of the expration of the previous/old registration expiration date, regardless of when the registration was renewed. The customer must return the registration plate and the registration card along with the completed Form MV-700 - Application for Refund of Motor Vehicle/Driver License Products. If the previous/old registration was renewed after its expiration date, no refund will be given.
Bulletin No. 16-21 October 2016
Reminder Act 89 - Fee for Local Use - Montgomery County Fee Effective January 1, 2017
The ordinance to implement the $5 Fee for Local Use in Montgomery County is effective Jan. 1, 2017. PennDOT continues to maintain a list of participating counties on the fact sheet - "Fee for Local Use - Participating Counties," available on PennDOT's Web site.
Bulletin No. 16-22 November 2016
Act 164 - Bus Definition
Act 164, which became law on November 4, 2016, changed the definition of a bus. A bus is now defined as:
- a motor vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or
- a motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, limousine or personal vehicle as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. 102 designed to transport not more than 15 passengers, including the driver, and used for the transportaiton of persons for compensation.
Bulletin No. 16-23 November 2016
Act 165 - Abandoned Vehicles
Act 165, which became law on November 4, 2016, amended the definition of an abandoned vehicle to read:
- A vehicle (other than a pedalcycle) shall be presumed to be abandoned under any of the following circumstances, bu the repsumption is rebuttable by a preponderance of the evidence:
- The vehicle is physically inoperable and is left unattended on a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours.
- The vehicle has remained unattended illegally on a highway or other public property for a period of more than 48 hours.
- The vehicle is left unattended on or along a highway or other public property for more than 48 hours and does not bear all of the following - a valid registration plate, a current certificate of inspection, an ascertainable vehicle identification number.
- The vehicle has remained on private property without the consent of the owner or person in control of the property for more than 24 hours.
- The vehicle has remained on the private property of a salvor for 20 days.
- Vehicles and equipment used or to be used on construction or in the operation or maintenance of highways or public utility facilities, which are left in a manner which does not interfere with the normal movement of traffic, shall not be considered to be abandoned.
- An unauthorized vehicle that has been left unattended and on private property includes a vehicle towed to a salvor's property that has remained on the salvor's property for a period of 20 days.
- After the 20-day period, the salvor may file a report as provided under subsection (a). If the salvor elects to file a report, the salvor shall retain and process the vehicle for which the report has been filed.
Newly-Designed Pennsylvania Street Rod Registration Plate
PennDOT announced a newly-designed street rod registration plate. Owners are not required to replace their old-style street rod plate but may choose to replace an old-style plate with the new plate using Form MV-44 - Application for Duplicate Registration Card, Replacement of Registration Plate, Renewal Sticker or Weight Class Sticker. Check the "other" reason box in Section B and write "new-style street rod plate requested." The replacement fee is $51.
The street rod plate may be personalized using Form MV-904SR - Application for a Personalized Street Rod Registration Plate.
Bulletin No. 16-25 December 2016
Elimination of Registration Sticker and Two-Year Renewal
Under Act 89 of 2013, effective December 31, 2016, PennDOT will no longer issue or provide registration expiration stickers to be placed on registration plates or issue replacement registration stickers. Vehicle owners are still required to maintain a valid and current registration and must present the registration card to law enforcement when asked. The valid registration card is also still required when having a safety inspection completed.
Also effective December 31, 2016, customers may elect to pay a two-year registration fee that is two times the amount of the registration fee payable for certain motor vehicle registrations. For initial issuance of registration plates after December 31, 2016, using Form MV-1, Form MV-4ST, Form MV-120 or Form MV-140, the customer may opt to choose a two-year registration period.
Bulletin No. 16-26 December 2016
PennDOT Web Site Online Registration Renewal Change
Effective Decembger 31, 2016, customers may renew their registraiton online, printing and signing their permanent registration credential. Customers will no longer print a temporary registration credential or wait for permanent credentials to be mailed from PennDOT. PennDOT will no longer mail a registration card for registrations that were renewed online through the Web site.
Bulletin No. 16-27 December 2016
Refund Policy Changes
Effective December 31, 2016, a refund request of unused registration must be made within 14 days of the expration of the previous/old registration expiration date, regardless of when the registration was renewed. The customer must return the registration plate and the registration card along with the completed Form MV-700 - Application for Refund of Motor Vehicle/Driver License Products. If the previous/old registration was renewed after its expiration date, no refund will be given.