Car Registration Fees by State 2025
State | Approximate Average Yearly Car Registration Fee↓ | Base Registration Fee | License Plate Fee | Title Fee | Average Annual Insurance Cost | Additional Car Registration Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | North Dakota | $162 | $49 to $274 based on age and weight | $5 transfer | $5 | $1,334 | |
 | Illinois | $151 | $151 | $150 | $1,261 | $251 annual EV fee | |
 | Oregon | $137 | $122 to $152 depending on model year and MPG | $24.50 new, $6 transfer | $98 to $113, depending on model year and MPG | $1,677 | $110 annual fee for plug-in hybrid vehicles |
 | Montana | $127 | $30.57 to $225.24, based on vehicle age, plus a 3% fee | $10.30 | $10.30 | $1,811 | County option tax based on vehicle value; $10 Montana Highway Patrol fee |
 | District of Columbia | $114 | $72 to $155 based on weight | $12 transfer | $26 | $2,176 | |
 | Alaska | $100 | $100 | $5 transfer | $15 | $1,744 | $15 lien recording |
 | Oklahoma | $96 | $96 for a new registration, decreases over time | $11 plus $17 transfer fee | $1,628 | Excise tax of 3.25% for a new vehicle; for used cars, $20 on the 1st $1,500 of value + 3.25% of the remainder; $10 lien processing fee | |
 | Washington | $91.75 | $68.25 to $115.25 based on weight | $10 per plate | $15 | $1,740 | $75 hybrid fee, $150 annual EV fee |
 | Wisconsin | $85 | $85 | $4 | $164.50 | $1,202 | $10-$30 wheel tax (varies by county);$100 annual EV fee, $75 hybrid fee |
 | South Dakota | $82 | $36-144 based on weight | $5 transfer | $10 | $1,504 | Wheel tax (varies by county) |
 | Maryland | $80 | $135 to $187 (depending on weight) for two years | $10 transfer | $100 | $1,682 | $14.50 annual EMS fee |
 | Vermont | $76 | $76 for 1 year; $140 for 2 years | $35 | $1,375 | ||
 | Alabama | $67 | $15 to $23 + $50 annually | $23 new, $1.25 transfer | $18 | $1,418 | |
 | California | $64 | $64 plus extra fees like CHP and Transportation Improvement | $23 | $23 | $1,731 | $100 EV fee;$27 CHP fee |
 | New Jersey | $60 | $35.50 to $84 based on weight and age of vehicle | $6 | $60 or $85 with lien | $1,587 | |
 | Idaho | $57 | $45 to $69, depending on vehicle age | $14 | $1,535 | $140 annual EV fee;$75 plug-in hybrid fee; $5 VIN inspection | |
 | Texas | $51.75 | $51.75 plus local fees | $28 to $33, depdending on county | $2,207 | $90 tax when moving vehicle to Texas | |
 | West Virginia | $51.50 | $51.50 | $10 replacement | $15 | $1,576 | $200 annual EV fee, $100 plug-in hybrid fee; $10 lien fee |
 | Louisiana | $51 | $20 to $82, depending on value | $3 transfer | $68.50 | $1,623 | Use taxes set by parish/county |
 | Rhode Island | $45 | $30 for up to 4000lbs (increases based on weight) + $15 surcharge | $8 | $52.50 | $2,672 | |
 | New Mexico | $45 | $27 to $62 based on weight and age of vehicle | Included ($5) | $2,040 | ||
 | Kansas | $44 | $39 to $49, depending upon county | $10 | $2,498 | $20 inspection fee for new title | |
 | Utah | $44 | $44 for up to 12k pounds; $69.50 for over 12k pounds + $19 for each 2k pounds over 14k | $6 | $1,646 | EV and hybrid fees (increase each year) | |
 | New York | $42 | $26 to $140 (based on weight) for 2 years | $25 | $50 | $1,005 | Vehicle use tax/MCTD fees (NYC and some counties) |
 | New Hampshire | $41.20 | $31.20 and up based on type and weight plus $10 transfer fee plus local fees | $8 + $15 new registration fee | $25 | $1,931 | Local fees based on age and value of vehicle |
 | Arizona | $40 | $8 + $32 Public Safety Fee | $12 transfer | $4 (for new vehicles) | $1,997 | |
 | Connecticut | $40 | $120 for a new registration, $80 to renew for two years | $5 | $25 | $2,030 | $10 admin fee; $10 parks fee; $10 lien fee; $15 parks fee; $40 Emissions Exemption fee; $10 Greenhouse Gas fee |
 | Delaware | $40 | $40 | $35 | $3,095 | ||
 | South Carolina | $40 | $40 | $15 | $1,402 | $46-$116 Gross Vehicle Weight Fee; $250 infrastructure fee if transferring registration; $60 biennial hybrid fee; $120 biennial EV fee | |
 | Pennsylvania | $39 | $39 | $55 | $1,970 | $26 lien fee | |
 | North Carolina | $38.75 | $38.75 | $21.50 to transfer | $56 | $1,466 | $130 EVE fee; regional transportation tax in some counties |
 | Maine | $35 | $35 | $33 | $2,721 | ||
 | Minnesota | $35 | $35 and up, based on vehicle value | $8 (double plates) | $20.50 (with tax and technology surcharge) | $1,567 | $10 and up wheelage tax; $75 annual EV fee |
 | Virginia | $33.25 | $30.75 for less than 4,000 pounds; $35.75 for over 4,000 pounds | $15 | $1,590 | $64 annual EV fee | |
 | Nevada | $33 | $33 | $8 | $28.25 | $1,138 | Supplemental Governmental Services Tax based on vehicle value |
 | Ohio | $31 | $31 | $6 transfer, $13.25 replacement | $15 | $1,839 | $100 annual fee for hybrid car; $200 fee for EV; optional $5 permissive tax in some counties |
 | Massachusetts | $30 | $60 for two years | $25 transfer, $10 replacement | $75 | $3,360 | |
 | Wyoming | $30 | $30+ (varies by county) | $15 | $1,444 | $200 EV fee | |
 | Tennessee | $26.50 | $26.50 | $95 (includes plate fee) | $2,207 | $100 annual EV fee; wheel tax (varies by county) | |
 | Missouri | $24.75 | $18.75 and up (based on taxable horsepower) plus processing fee of $6-$12 | $8.50 | $1,751 | $75 annual fee for alt-fuel vehicles; $37.50 for plug-in hybrids | |
 | Arkansas | $24 | $17 to $30 | $1 transfer | $10 | $1,909 | $2.50 decal fee; 50-cent lien filing fee; extra $100 annual fee for registering a hybrid vehicle and $200 for an EV |
 | Florida | $23.50 | $14.50 to $32.50, plus $225 for new vehicle fee | $28 new, $7.35 transfer | $75.25 to $85.25 | $2,287 | |
 | Indiana | $21.35 | $21.35 | $9.50 | $15 | $1,394 | Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee of $15; excise tax of $12-$532;$150 EV fee; $50 hybrid fee |
 | Kentucky | $21 | $21 | $6 | $2,864 | $22 lien filing fee | |
 | Nebraska | $20.50 | $15 (+ $5.50 in additional fees) | $3.30 per plate | $10 | $2,971 | $5-$30 motor vehicle fee; $75 alt-fuel fee; $7 lien fee |
 | Georgia | $20 | $20 | $18 | $1,031 | $200 annual alternative-fuel fee | |
 | Mississippi | $12.75 | $12.75 for renewals, $14 for first time registrations | $9 | $1,985 | %150 EV fee; $75 hybrid fee | |
 | Hawaii | $12 | $12 and up, based on weight | $5 | $5 | $1,345 | $1 beautification fee; 50-cent emblem renewal |
 | Colorado | Based on weight | $25 | $7.20 | $3,141 | $50 annual fee for plug-in vehicles | |
 | Iowa | Up to 1% of list price (depending on age) plus $0.40 per hundred pounds of vehicle weight | $25 for replacement | $1,516 | $65 annual EV fee; $32.50 annual plug-in hybrid fee (both rise each year) | ||
 | Michigan | Based on vehicle value or weight depending on age | $5 | $15 | $1,880 | $135-$235 annual EV fee;$47.50-$117.50 hybrid fee |
Vehicles can be expensive. When purchasing a vehicle, one should expect to pay a lot more than just the sticker price. When budgeting for a new car, one should include a down payment, monthly payments, insurance, gas, and registration fees. Because these all vary significantly between states, some states are better to buy cars in than others.
A vehicle registration plate, commonly known as a license plate, is required for every vehicle for identification purposes. A vehicle’s title is a legal document that provides proof of ownership of a vehicle. Every state requires motor vehicles to be registered and title with the state’s transportation agency or department of motor vehicles (DMV). Motor vehicles may not be driven legally if either or both of these are expired. Title fees are typically a one-time expense when the owner purchases the vehicle for the first time. License plate fees are often charged annually and can vary between states. Some states assess a flat fee, while other states assess the registration fee based on vehicle weight, horsepower, or vehicle age.
For example, Colorado assesses the registration fee based on the age and weight of the vehicle. Michigan and assesses registration fee based on the MSRP of the vehicle. Registration fees in Utah are based on the weight of the vehicle. Registration fees in Iowa are based upon the price and weight of the vehicle. Some states may require you to pay an additional registration fee if you own an electric vehicle or a hybrid.
Oregon has the highest registration fees in the U.S.: between $268.50 and $636.50 for new vehicles and $122 and $306 to renew for two years. Florida follows with a new vehicle registration fee of $225. This is a one-time fee, and there are separate additional fees based on the vehicle’s weight.
Registration fees following the first fee are $14.50-$32.50. Arizona has the lowest registration fee of $8, but the state adds a $32 public safety fee.
Below is a table of each state’s registration and title fees. States may have specific charges in addition to the registration and title fees below; therefore, you should check your state’s transportation agency or DMV website when determining the total cost of registering your car.
