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Senate committee favors keeping DMV authority to require $29 road‑test deposit pending new system
Summary
The Senate Transportation hearing on March 21 included an amendment to S.123 that preserves DMV authority to charge a $29 reservation/deposit for driver road‑tests to discourage duplicate bookings; the committee gave a favorable straw poll and asked for a draft amendment (3.1).
Senator Thomas Chitenden (Chittenden County) asked the committee on March 21 to restore language in S.123 that preserves the Department of Motor Vehicles’ authority to require a $29 reservation or deposit for scheduled road tests, saying the fee would discourage duplicate bookings and no‑shows.
"There was a concern that this is potentially sacrificing $120,000 in revenue," Senator Chitenden said while summarizing the amendment; he noted the committee’s estimate of about 3,200 no‑shows last year and an illustrative revenue figure if the fee were collected on duplicates.
Andrew Collier, commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, told the committee the agency did not view the fee as a revenue generator but as a means to reduce duplicate bookings and missed appointments. "We're not looking at this as any sort of revenue generator," Collier said. He added that the DMV plans to limit users to one slot per applicant when the agency’s new licensing system is launched and that the department will retain discretion to waive the deposit for good cause.
The amendment preserves the $29 authority, permits the agency to establish a process to apply the deposit (including waivers for good cause), and includes flexibility on an implementation date tied to the DMV’s new computer system. Committee members discussed feasible start dates: Collier said a January‑timeframe implementation was realistic, and sponsors agreed to language that allows the authority to be implemented earlier but no later than July 1, 2026. The committee completed a favorable straw poll and requested a formal draft 3.1 of the amendment for the record and subsequent action.
Why it matters: Committee members said the deposit could reduce wasted appointment capacity and that the DMV’s new booking system should prevent duplicate bookings. The agency committed to limit multiple bookings and to apply waivers for legitimate no‑shows.
Key details
- Fee amount: $29 reservation/deposit for road‑test appointments, as discussed in S.123 language.
- No‑show counts and estimated revenue: Committee testimony referenced roughly 3,200 no‑shows last year and an illustrative maximum revenue figure near $120,000 if the deposit were collected for all no‑shows; Collier cautioned that the DMV does not plan the fee as a revenue source.
- Implementation and waivers: Commissioner Collier said the DMV will restrict applicants to one booking slot in the new system and that staff will retain discretion to waive forfeiture for "good cause" (illness, emergency, etc.). The committee agreed that the authority may be implemented earlier but set a firm no‑later‑than date of July 1, 2026, to allow the DMV time to deploy its new system.
- Committee action: The panel conducted a favorable straw poll to accept the amendment with the revised implementation timing and asked sponsors to submit a draft 3.1 amendment for the committee record.
Ending
The DMV will provide the committee with a draft amendment (3.1) reflecting the agreed changes and continue coordinating implementation timing while completing its new licensing system.
