HOUSTON — Need to renew your license plates or registration soon, but you don’t want to stand in a long line with other drivers?
Millions of drivers since the pandemic hit have decided to renew online, but beware.
Facing long lines when DMV and BMV motor vehicle offices reopened this summer, many drivers decided to opt for online renewals instead. In many cases, it was their first time not renewing in person.
Many drivers, like Ted Hicks, have lost money to lookalike state websites.
"So I go in and just click all the buttons and renew," Hicks told us.
He discovered on his credit card bill that he was charged over $100 extra by some out-of-state company he had never heard of.
The Better Business Bureau says more people are ending up on copycat state sites when they Google license plates or registration renewals.
You may get your plates renewed, but you can be charged another $25 to $100 for them to do it for you.
The FTC recently sued a Florida company behind dozens of lookalike websites, ordering them to post prominently that they are not official state sites.
After settling the case in 2022, they are now sending refunds to many people who overpaid to have their plates renewed.
So how can you protect yourself when renewing your plates or registration online? Look for the fine print that says it is "not affiliated with any government agency."
That way, you don't waste your money.