Senate News Update
From Senator Jane Earll
October 5, 2011

PennDOT News

For the first time in quite a few years, the Photo License Center, also known as the Driver Exam Center, has moved. Formerly located in the Eastway Plaza on Buffalo Road in Harborcreek, it has re-located to Summit Towne Center, 7200 Peach Street, on the north side of the plaza. The new center is larger, with improved queue management. The days and hours of operation remain the same: Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. for exams, licensing and photos; extended hours are on Thursday until 6 p.m. for photos only.

I would now like to review how senior citizens may save money on vehicle expenses, as misinformation has been circulating about PennDOT's programs. My staff is ready to assist you with any of these procedures.

First, if you are retired (on Social Security or pension income) and your income is under $19,200, you could qualify for a discount on your registration renewal for vehicles weighing less than 9,000 pounds. If there are two vehicles (e.g., you and your spouse each own one), you may use your individual total income from all sources when applying. If not, the entire household income from all sources is considered. ("All sources" includes 100 percent of your Social Security income.)

Request form MV-371 when submitting your renewal. If you have already qualified for this benefit, check your renewal form. It should contain boxes for your income and your date of birth below the insurance information. If those boxes are not there, it is time to re-qualify and submit a new MV-371.

If you store a vehicle during the winter or when you are out of town, you may wish to drop the insurance coverage to save money. When this is done, the insurance company is required to notify PennDOT and you may receive a letter about "suspending" the registration if you do not turn in the plate. Our insurance law says that if a vehicle is on the road, insurance must be in force at all times. But if you want to avoid having to turn in your plate every year, the "Seasonal Registration" is for you. Form MV-140SV will allow you to renew as usual but specify what months you won't be driving.

PennDOT will not request the plate, but simply issue you a registration card and sticker that show the plate as expired during the storage period. Insurance is not required on an expired plate, and of course, law enforcement will cite those caught driving with an expired registration/plate. When you are ready to bring the car out of storage, you submit a renewal and receive a new, valid registration and sticker, good until the vehicle is scheduled to go back into storage.

If you trade in a car and purchase a different one, don't trade in your plate. A valid plate can be transferred to another vehicle for only $6. The plate should not be held for over 30 days, but the paperwork used for the title transfer of the newly-purchased vehicle (form MV-4ST) has a space for plate transfer information. You must have your insurance transferred (show the VIN of the vehicle being acquired) and provide a copy when the MV-4ST is submitted.

Even if your current plate is about to expire, you can submit the renewal fee along with the transfer fee and still keep your own plate. If you change vehicle types, for example, from car to truck, there will be an increase fee due to the weight difference, but PennDOT will send the appropriate plate as part of the registration fee. If you downsize from a truck to a car, you would pay a lower renewal fee (if applicable) and receive a car plate in the mail. In both cases, the old plate can be turned in to my office for return to Harrisburg.

There is no discount on driver licenses. The four-year renewal fee is $29.50 for a passenger license, and $49.50 if you also have a motorcycle license. You can renew for two years at $19 for the passenger license and $29 for the passenger with the motorcycle license.

My District Office staff can transmit your driver license or registration renewal, as well as other PennDOT paperwork, to Harrisburg. My Harrisburg staff will direct the output, i.e., your camera card, registration card, placard, etc. to your home address. When you bring your forms to the Erie office, PennDOT fees are payable by check or money order only.

PennDOT forms are available online at www.dot.state.pa.us. I also keep them in the Erie office for use there or for mailing out to you as needed. I hope you will check into the benefits offered to older citizens by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Contact: Senator Jane M. Earll's office – 814-453-2515 or jearll@pasen.gov.