In the States, we have to renew our car registration every year, but I'm not even sure if there is a fee involved (it is probably a small-ish fee; my partner takes care of that). We also have to do a yearly inspection, which costs around $40, and we are required to pay for car insurance (this is quite expensive, usually, unless you have the fortune to be living or were born in one of the relatively cheap States; some pay $500/mo, but since I'm from PA, I pay $1700 for the year).

It's funny; I lived in the UK for nearly two years, but I was a student and I didn't drive, so I never picked up on this phenomenon...