Car Registration Fees by State 2026
United States
Delaware
ArkansasRegistration & Documentation Fees
States Ranked by Car Registration Fees
State | Registration & Documentation Fees↓ | Registration Fee | Average Documentation Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Delaware | $2,159 | $45 | $2,114 |
 | Florida | $1,296 | $297 | $999 |
 | Colorado | $1,294 | $595 | $699 |
 | Mississippi | $1,144 | $719 | $425 |
 | Wyoming | $1,116 | $616 | $500 |
 | North Carolina | $1,069 | $370 | $699 |
 | Arizona | $1,063 | $564 | $499 |
 | New Jersey | $966 | $271 | $695 |
 | Alabama | $882 | $393 | $489 |
 | Virginia | $835 | $36 | $799 |
 | Connecticut | $779 | $180 | $599 |
 | Oklahoma | $699 | $100 | $599 |
 | Maryland | $686 | $187 | $499 |
 | Missouri | $622 | $57 | $565 |
 | Georgia | $619 | $20 | $599 |
 | California | $609 | $524 | $85 |
 | Kansas | $579 | $80 | $499 |
 | Nevada | $548 | $49 | $499 |
 | Alaska | $544 | $245 | $299 |
 | Maine | $539 | $40 | $499 |
 | Montana | $536 | $237 | $299 |
 | Tennessee | $528 | $29 | $499 |
 | Idaho | $525 | $126 | $399 |
 | Massachusetts | $519 | $60 | $459 |
 | Iowa | $513 | $333 | $180 |
 | Illinois | $498 | $151 | $347 |
 | Louisiana | $489 | $64 | $425 |
 | Pennsylvania | $488 | $39 | $449 |
 | Kentucky | $476 | $26 | $450 |
 | Hawaii | $473 | $78 | $395 |
 | Rhode Island | $457 | $58 | $399 |
 | South Carolina | $440 | $40 | $400 |
 | New Hampshire | $426 | $51 | $375 |
 | North Dakota | $422 | $123 | $299 |
 | Oregon | $419 | $169 | $250 |
 | New Mexico | $399 | $60 | $339 |
 | Michigan | $388 | $128 | $260 |
 | Wisconsin | $384 | $85 | $299 |
 | Nebraska | $382 | $83 | $299 |
 | Utah | $356 | $57 | $299 |
 | South Dakota | $322 | $122 | $200 |
 | New York | $321 | $146 | $175 |
 | West Virginia | $302 | $52 | $250 |
 | Ohio | $281 | $31 | $250 |
 | Vermont | $278 | $78 | $200 |
 | Washington | $272 | $73 | $199 |
 | Indiana | $237 | $38 | $199 |
 | Texas | $224 | $74 | $150 |
 | Minnesota | $194 | $69 | $125 |
 | Arkansas | $157 | $28 | $129 |
- Rates shown are averages.
- Actual registration costs for individual vehicles can vary based on factors including (but not limited to) vehicle type, age, weight, use, the city or county in which it is registered, whether the vehicle is gas or electric/hybrid, if it has specialty plates, or the conditions of its financing.
- Many states, counties, and municipalities also charge additional fees, such as wheel taxes, local vehicle use taxes, or EV and hybrid fees, which may not be reflected in the data displayed.
- National average fee has been computed manually using data from state-level averages.
Key Findings
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Car?
Car registration fees average approximately $595.08 in the United States, though costs vary widely by state.
Registration fees range from $1,116 in Wyoming to $882 in Alabama, depending on how each state structures its fees, taxes, and documentation charges.
Most Expensive State to Register a Car
Alabama has the highest car registration fees at $882. The five most expensive states for car registration are Alabama ($882), Alaska ($544), Arizona ($1,063), Arkansas ($157), and California ($609).
Higher registration costs are often tied to states that rely more heavily on vehicle-related taxes and fees to fund transportation infrastructure and state services.
Cheapest State to Register a Car
Wyoming has the cheapest car registration fees at $1,116. The five cheapest states to register a car are Virginia ($835), Washington ($272), West Virginia ($302), Wisconsin ($384), and Wyoming ($1,116).
Lower-fee states are generally concentrated in regions with lower overall vehicle ownership costs and simpler fee structures.
States Ranked by Car Registration Fees
State Comparison
Car registration fees vary dramatically across the United States, with some states charging several times more than others for new vehicle registration. Differences are driven by how states structure taxes, documentation fees, and transportation funding systems.
