LINDEN &8212; Consumers who have their cars or trucks registered in Marengo County now have another way to renew their licenses each year with a new online system.

Earlier this month the Marengo County Probate Office conducted trial runs on the system, which is now operational for anyone looking to renew online.

According to Probate Judge Cindy Neilson, the system has been a relatively simple process after working for the last several months with IMS Enterprises out of Florence.

The option can be used by anyone who had his or her vehicle registered in Marengo County by Dec. 31, 2007. To use the new renewal option, all consumers need to do is have their vehicle registration information handy and log on to www.renewyourtag.com. After a few short prompts, the system takes the information and payment for your vehicle registration. Consumers can print a receipt for their purchase and then their tag is mailed to them.

The new system is not funded out of the county&8217;s funds, but by each consumer who chooses to use the system. Each time a consumer uses the online renewal option for their tag, they are asked to pay a convenience fee &8212; which is about $3 per vehicle and $2.50 after the first vehicle &8212; to the company.

Neilson said many people &8212; and there are between 22,00 and 25,000 registered vehicles in the county &8212; will gladly pay the addition fee if it saves them a trip to the courthouse. Another benefit, she said, is that a tag can be renewed all the way until midnight of the last day of the month.

Janice Smith, who supervises the employees at the probate license division, said the transition to the new option has been very simple. Another option, Smith said, is to use the service&8217;s telephone number &8212; 1-800-348-2151 &8212; to renew over the phone.

For more information call the probate office at 334-295-2205.