What are the car registration fees by state?
Individual states have their own way of working out car registration fees. This can be done using either a flat rate or by using other criteria such as your home address and the vehicle you drive.
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Written by
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Reviewed by
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UPDATED: Jun 1, 2022
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UPDATED: Jun 1, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single insurance company.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- You need to register your car in your state of residency
- The rates will vary from one state to the next
- Check whether your registration address needs to match that on your insurance policy
When it comes to a vehicle’s registration, there can be plenty of questions. Do your car insurance and registration have to be under the same name? Do you have to update your registration information if you’re moving out of state? Just how much will it cost to register your vehicle? If you are a first-time vehicle owner, helping someone to purchase a vehicle, or you’re moving to another state, you may wonder how much it costs to register a car.
There is no standard rate, and the fees will vary widely by individual state. As it can be difficult to come up with the answer, we’ve researched on your behalf and have the answers and a table beneath.
What are the auto registration fees by state?
Your vehicle registration fees will depend on your home address. They may also depend on your vehicle’s size, horsepower, or even its weight. It may also surprise you to learn that these fees can vary considerably, from as little as $15 per year on the low end to several hundred dollars at the other end of the spectrum. Read on to find out the costs in your state.
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What does my state require to register a car?
In all states, a motor vehicle must be registered and titled with either the DMV or state transportation agency. The title is basically proof of ownership and is a legal document that identifies you as the registered owner. Registration includes a license plate that must be attached to the vehicle for identification purposes. You will get a new sticker each time you renew, and it must be attached to the license plate so that law enforcement officers can immediately see whether you are up to date.
How do they calculate state auto registration fees?
Each state has a different way of calculating its fees. The title fee is usually assessed just once when you initially acquire the vehicle, but you’ll typically pay the registration fees once or twice per year. Some states find it easier to have a flat fee, while others make it very difficult to calculate. They may charge more if the vehicle is heavier or a gas-guzzler, and some use a sliding scale to come up with a calculation.
What about fees for electric vehicles?
If you own an electric vehicle (EV), you may be interested in the state fees to register a car like this. Again, there is no uniform rule, but some states will charge you less for an EV while others will charge more. Some seem to think that they should encourage you to buy a more sustainable vehicle, while others may want to gather extra money to deal with electric vehicle infrastructure. If you have an EV, check to see if you can get a green vehicle car insurance discount.
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Does the address used on your car registration matter to insurance companies?
You should check with your own company, but your policy details may need to match those of your vehicle registration. Underwriters might take your regular address into account when setting rates and base them on accumulated data from that area. For example, if there are more than the average number of accidents and claims, your rates may be higher.
What are the car registration fees in my state?
Below you find a table with the registration fees by state. If you would like to see another example, The National Conference of State Legislatures breaks down each state based on its main criteria in a color-coded map.
| State | Registration Fee |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $15-$23 = $50 Annually |
| Alaska | $100 |
| Arizona | $8 = $1.50 air quality fee = tax assessed at 60% of the MSRV |
| Arkansas | $17 for cars weighing 3,000 lbs or less, $30 for cars up to 4,500 lbs |
| California | $46 plus transportation improvement fee based on vehicle value (between $25 and $175) |
| Colorado | Charged by counties, plus ownership tax to the state between 2.1% and 0.45% of the vehicle's taxable value |
| Connecticut | $80 |
| Delaware | $40 |
| Florida | $225 plus between $14.50 for vehicles under 2,500 lbs to $32.50 for vehicles over 3,500 lbs |
| Georgia | $20 |
| Hawaii | $45 state fee plus tax starting at 1.75 cents per pound for vehicles up to 4,000 lbs |
| Idaho | $69 for vehicles one or two years old, $57 for vehicles 3 to 6 years old, $45 for vehicles older than seven years |
| Illinois | $151 |
| Indiana | $21.35 plus $15 infrastructure fee |
| Iowa | Percentage of the value of the vehicle plus $.40 for each 100 lbs of weight |
| Kansas | $39 for vehicles less than 4,500 lbs or $49 for others |
| Kentucky | $21 |
| Louisiana | Based on the selling price of the vehicle – 0.1% with a minimum base of $10,000 |
| Maine | $35 |
| Maryland | $135 for cars up to 3,700 lbs or $187 otherwise |
| Massachusetts | $60 for two years |
| Michigan | For cars registered since 1984, fees are based on MSRV |
| Minnesota | $35 plus an additional 1.25% of the base value |
| Mississippi | $14 |
| Missouri | Based on horsepower (HP), starting at $18 for less than 12 HP up to $51 for more than 72 HP |
| Montana | $217 for vehicles up to 4 years old, $87 for 5 to 10 years old, $28 for older |
| Nebraska | $15 |
| Nevada | $33 |
| New Hampshire | $31.20 for vehicles up to 3,000 lbs and a sliding scale thereafter |
| New Jersey | Based on the vehicle's age and weight, with a range from $33.50 to $84 |
| New Mexico | Based on weight and model year, ranging between $27 and $124 |
| New York | Starting at $26 for a vehicle under 1,650 lbs and increasing by $1.50 for every 100 lbs thereafter |
| North Carolina | $36 |
| North Dakota | Based on the weight and age of the vehicle, between $49 and $274 |
| Ohio | $34.50 |
| Oklahoma | Starting at $85 for the first year of registration and reducing to $15 after 17 years |
| Oregon | $43 |
| Pennsylvania | $36 |
| Rhode Island | Based on weight beginning at $30 |
| South Carolina | $40 |
| South Dakota | Based on weight, beginning at $36 for up to 2,000 lbs and $144 for all others |
| Tennessee | $23.75 |
| Texas | $50.75 |
| Utah | $43 for vehicles under 12,000 lbs |
| Vermont | $76 |
| Virginia | $40.75 for vehicles less than 4,000 lbs or $45.75 otherwise |
| Washington | Base rate of $30 but add for other factors such as vehicle type, weight, location, etc. |
| West Virginia | $30 |
| Wisconsin | $75 |
| Wyoming | $30 |
You can confirm that this information is still valid on your state’s DMV website.
Final Thoughts on Calculating Auto Registration Fees by State
You need to pay a vehicle registration fee before driving your car within your resident state. The fee will vary from state to state, with some offering a flat rate while others base the charge on various criteria, including the car’s weight, horsepower, or value. Some insurance companies may require the details on your policy to match the details on your car registration.
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by insurance experts.
|
Written by
Chris Tepedino |
|
Reviewed by
Laura Walker
|