Residents of the island looking to get a low-cost, one-time “Z tab” for their older vehicles will have to wait a bit longer to skip their biennial state registration fees.

While Division of Motor Vehicles Wrangell agent Jayme Howell was eager to begin offering the one-time permanent registration this year after the borough assembly approved joining the program, the state told her that car and truck owners will have to wait until January 2027.

“When we first looked into getting the permanent registration, we were told the borough would have to officially make the change. So when the assembly voted to do that, I tried to get the new tabs and they said they won’t change things in the middle of the year,” Howell said. “I have had a lot of calls about it already.”

The assembly gave the ordinance its unanimous approval March 24, following an initial review on Feb. 24. The municipal code change allows owners of older non-commercial vehicles and trailers to opt into a state system that replaces the standard $100 fee paid every two years with a single, one-time payment of $25.

State law requires that vehicles be at least eight years old to quality for the low-cost registration.

Although the state first adopted the Z tab for license plates in 2015, the law requires individual municipalities to adopt the provision before it can take effect within their borders.

Once issued, the registrations stay valid as long as the owner has the vehicle. The registration automatically expires if the title is transferred to a new owner, requiring the buyer to apply for their own registration.

“I know there are plenty of people that were just waiting for the new tabs to come in so they could update their registration. But that won’t happen this year,” Howell said.

“I was looking forward to doing the same thing for my vehicles. I was disappointed when I found out everyone will have to wait.”

Because of the delay, residents whose vehicle registrations expire before the end of 2026 will be required to pay the standard $100 fee one last time.

“But when the registration is close to expiring, we’ll contact and remind you about it and then you will just need to pay the one-time $25 fee,” she said. “I know it ruins the plans for a lot of people. I would say most vehicles on the island meet the criteria for permanent registration.”