MARYLAND (WBFF) — A Maryland state senator is calling for a sweeping review of Motor Vehicle Administration records after at least two drivers were overcharged for vehicle registration fees because the state had the wrong weight listed for their vehicles.State Sen. J.B. Jennings is now pressing the MVA to determine how many other Maryland drivers may have been affected — and whether those who overpaid will automatically receive refunds.“If you owe money to the government, trust me, they’re going to track you down and make sure you pay it,” Jennings told FOX45 News. “But if they owe you money, I think they’re a little less aggressive on that.”ALSO READ | Maryland residents react to soaring vehicle registration fees, rank fifth highest in U.S.In Maryland, vehicle registration fees are based, in part, on a vehicle’s weight. Jennings said his office became aware of two cases in which drivers were incorrectly placed into more expensive weight classifications. One driver received an $82 refund. Another received $71 after her Hyundai Elantra was listed as weighing more than 3,700 pounds — roughly 700 pounds more than its actual weight.Jennings said the cases prompted him to question whether the errors could be more widespread.“What we are hearing preliminarily is that it was certain cars that were, their classification numbers, were off in the system,” Jennings said. “We’re hoping it’s not too many of them, but of course, for the ones they find, they’re going to have a three-year backlog of having a higher rate.”Jennings said the issue appears to be connected to a statewide database update that began when the MVA enlisted a third-party database called VINtelligence in 2022 to help transition Maryland from two vehicle weight classifications to three.In the following statement sent to FOX45 News, the MVA did not say how many drivers may have been affected, saying the agency is conducting a “thorough review” of its systems:During the 2024 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly established a new weight division for most classes of vehicles, which increased the number of weight classes for most vehicles from two to three. With the introduction of the new weight categories, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) utilized a national database, VINtelligence, a system used by multiple entities including insurance companies, dealerships, and parts manufacturers, to ensure all registered vehicles were assigned into the appropriate weight classes. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is committed to providing premier customer service to Maryland drivers and addressing customer concerns as they arise. The agency does not currently have data suggesting this is a widespread pattern. We are happy to work with customers to ensure their records are accurate and they receive a refund where applicable for the current registration period. We encourage any customer with questions about their registration records to contact the MVA directly so the matter can be reviewed. MVA is conducting a thorough review and analysis of accurate industry supported weights with Mobility Global, the company offering VINtelligence. As the review is ongoing and in its early stages, it is premature to comment on its scope. We look forward to providing additional information once that review is completed in October. Customers with instances of overpayment that we identify during the review will be notified and issued a refund as warranted.ALSO READ | Maryland Senate Republicans push to roll back MVA fees as drivers complain of costsThe questions come as Maryland drivers are already paying higher registration fees — and on the heels of a separate MVA overcharging problem.Last month, FOX45 reported nearly 200 drivers were mistakenly charged twice for vehicle emissions tests following the rollout of new testing equipment.Jennings said the MVA should identify every driver who overpaid because of incorrect vehicle weight information and issue refunds automatically, rather than requiring drivers to discover the error and request their money back.“It’s a concern, and believe me, the MVA is now under a microscope,” Jennings said. “They’re being looked at closer now. They know it.”
