1 day Ago By Teresa Mettela
DRIVERS could be slammed with a new tax that would require them to pay a fee for every wheel they purchase. With the new "tire tax" drivers would have to pay an extra $5 per tire. Maryland Senate Republicans proposed the idea as a way to generate money for state highway projects across the state, as reported by Maryland Matters .
Republicans rallied their colleagues during a budget debate when the Senate gave preliminary approval to a $67 billion budget for fiscal 2026. "I think that was an amendment that did make a lot of sense,” said Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr.
"You know, the $5 tire tax is new. They talked about it going to the Transportation Trust Fund. We just wanted to make sure that it actually goes to roads and bridges.
" Read More on Motors Next, the Senate will vote on the budget package before it goes to a conference committee. The budget package could be shot down when it reaches the conference committee. "That’s the tough part," said Hershey.
"It’s easy sometimes to get an amendment — not easy to get an amendment passed, but sometimes you get an amendment passed here, and it still has to survive that," he added. Most read in Motors With the proposed tire tax , drivers are looking into alternate ways to purchase and install their tires. "Won't be buying tires in md," said one Facebook user.
"Will buy them online and have them installed if that's possible to avoid the fee. Or just go across state lines to buy them." Others are concerned about the impact the law would have on Maryland car dealerships.
"This is going to hurt a lot of automotive businesses in Maryland," they said. One frustrated driver said he feels like "the hits just keep on coming," after the influx of taxes takes a toll on Americans. As a driver, it's important to be able to identify potentially dangerous problems with tires and how to spot precursors.
Here's what to look for: Regularly examine the tread depth of the tire. It is a great way to understand how much life there is in a tire before it needs to be replaced. You can use an upside-down quarter or a penny to check the depth.
If the president's head can be fully seen, start saving for new tires. Examine the sidewall for cracks or bubbles, especially after colliding with a curb or median. A bubble may not show up immediately, so it's important to keep an eye on it for a while before dismissing it.
When inflating a tire with a digital pressure reader, always zero it out before plugging it into the valve to ensure previous data is erased. Have your tires regularly balanced and rotated at the proper intervals, as tire inspections are a part of the service. Understand the warranty (if any) that came with the tires.
Many times new tires will have a warranty for certain types of damage, and that can help get a damaged tire replaced for free or at a discount. Learn to read the sidewall of a tire. Even if the tread is within spec, a tire can still be dangerous if it's too old.
Source: Columbus Nissan This comes after both the House and Senate agreed on additional funding for the Transportation Trust Fund which serves as a dedicated source of federal funding for highways and mass transit. The House wanted to increase the sales tax on vehicle sales from 6% to 6.8% while the Senate called for a 6.
5% car sales tax. Drivers are increasingly worried about the price of vehicles going up, especially after the threat of President Trump's tariffs. The 25% tariff on cars and car parts could have a massive impact on the auto industry.
Read More on The US Sun Many automakers are struggling to get ahead of the proposed fees. Consumers , on the other hand, are worried that they'll have to pay more for vehicles..
