Tag Agencies Worried about Future

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- When the legislature gave the go ahead earlier this year for the state's tax commission to begin allowing Oklahomans to renew their car tags online, some feared it may have spelled the beginning of the end for tag agencies.

A big portion of tag agencies' money comes from people renewing their tags inside their store, but a large portion of that money may dry up as more and more Oklahomans begin renewing their tags with a few simple clicks online.

In fact, the tax commission in a recent press release announced since Oklahoman's official Convenient Auto Renewal System (CARS) first kicked off February 17 they said, "more than 10,000 Oklahomans have enjoyed the convince of renewing their vehicle registration tag online."

In addition to the CARS site, vehicle owners can also utilize the site to remind them when their vehicle registration is due.

But what the tax commission sees as a plus, tag agencies fear could be their demise.

"We are afraid of what this means for us. We are just a little tag agency, but the bigger ones are already feeling the effects," said Mary Limber, Warwick Tag Agency in Oklahoma City.

Those effects include laying people off or choosing not to refill positions.

Even though the cards appear stacked against tag agencies they are holding out hope. A bill recently passed by the legislature will force the tax commission to provide a link to the tag agencies that have or are building Web sites online.

"If we work together, I think it will work for the tag agents, the tax commission and the citizens of Oklahoma," said Paula Ross, Oklahoma Tax Commission spokesperson.