Governments getting more fee-happy

Here's a sample of fees on cars:New York state now requires people to buy new plates when they register a car, and the cost of plates has risen from $15 to $25. Basic license and registration fees have increased 25%, with the cost of a basic driver's license going from $50 to $62.50.New Hampshire has doubled the registration fee for light cars and trucks, and raised registration fees by $30 for all other vehicles.Florida has raised new car-registration fees from $100 to $225 and boosted vehicle license fees and various other fees by 35%.Georgia has added a $10 motor vehicle registration fee and increased fines for people caught driving faster than 85 mph.Illinois has raised title fees from $65 to $105, boosted driver's license fees and increased the vehicle transfer fee from $15 to $30.How to cope: Avoiding these fees is tough, but you can avoid adding to your pain by making sure you renew your registration and license on time. Renewing late can significantly add to your costs. If your state bases registration fees in part on your vehicle's value, that could be a reason to hang on to your current car longer and consider buying used, rather than new, the next time around.Fees on tourists A typical hotel or car rental bill will be larded with "tourism" taxes and fees that pay for amenities you may never enjoy, such as a stadium or convention center or future improvements to the city's infrastructure.Again, the difference between taxes and fees is blurred, as the "taxes" target a defined group receiving a benefit (tourists buying a hotel room or renting a car), while the "fees" often pay for things that don't benefit the Rosetta Stone Hindi person paying.Rent a car in Seattle, for example, and, in addition to the state car rental tax of 5.9%, you'll pay a 1% sports facility tax, a 60-cent fee to help pay for the Seattle Mariners' stadium and a 24-cent regional-transit tax.Book a hotel room in New York City, meanwhile, and you'll pay an 8.9% state room tax, a 5.9% "room occupancy" tax, a $2 city tax and a $1.50 "fee tax" to help pay for the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.And governments continue to try to squeeze more from visitors. Colorado, Maine, Nevada and New York have raised rental car taxes, while Hawaii and Nevada recently raised hotel taxes. In addition:Hawaii has raised rental car surcharges and diverts some of the money into the state's general fund.Nevada has raised car rental fees in a move expected to generate $13 million annually.How to cope: Never book a car or hotel room based solely on the per-day rate. With rental cars, especially, the taxes and fees can double the cost. Make sure you're seeing all the added fees and taxes before you commit.Also, consider traveling to places that don't gouge tourists.

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