Car Registration and Title Fees by State
Car registration and title fees by state, verified September 15, 2026. A new title costs from $3 in New Mexico to $214.50 in Wisconsin. The state's annual registration fee for a passenger car starts at $8 in Arizona, before any value-based tax or county add-on; 19 states charge a flat fee, 3 base it on the car's value, 11 on its weight, 3 on its age, 1 on fuel economy, 13 combine a flat fee with a value or weight element. The table sorts by either fee and links each row to the state DMV page it came from.
Figures verified September 15, 2026; sources linked per row. Re-checked quarterly, next due December 15, 2026.
| Alabama | $15 to $18 | $23 | Flat feeStandard passenger plate $23 plus $1.25 issuance fee; the ALDOR fee page lists 'Passenger cars and pickup trucks $23 to $105' (the upper end is pickups by weight). Annual ad valorem (property) tax on the vehicle and county issuance fees are added by the licensing official. | revenue.alabama.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Alaska | $15 | $100 | Flat feeThe $100 is a biennial (24 month) state fee, i.e. $50 per year; registrations are valid for two years. Municipal MVRT is added on top where levied: $0 in non-taxable locations, up to $300 per two years for a new passenger vehicle in Kodiak; it falls with vehicle age. | dmv.alaska.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Arizona | $4 | $8+ | Flat plus value or weight$8 flat registration fee plus the annual vehicle license tax (VLT): value is 60 percent of the manufacturer's base retail price, reduced 16.25 percent each year; $2.80 per $100 of value in the first year and $2.89 per $100 thereafter (ARS 28-5801, https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/05801.htm). Air quality fee not verified (ADOT pages 403). | azleg.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Arkansas | $10 | $17 to $30 | By weightPassenger cars: 3,000 lb or less $17; 3,001 to 4,500 lb $25; 4,501 lb and over $30; each plus a $2.50 validation decal fee. Hybrids $50 and electric vehicles $100 on the same schedule. | dfa.arkansas.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| California | $15flat transfer fee; a title-only transaction is $28 | $143 to $341 | Flat plus value or weightRegistration fee $76 (includes a $3 alternative fuel/technology fee) plus CHP fee $34 plus Transportation Improvement Fee $33 to $231 by vehicle value; min/max here are those three flat items only. Add the vehicle license fee of 0.65 percent of the vehicle's value (falls as the vehicle ages) and county fees that vary by county. | dmv.ca.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Colorado | $7.20 | $37.50 to $59 | Flat plus value or weightComputed from statute text: base registration fee $6 for 2,000 lb or less, $6 plus $0.20 per 100 lb over 2,000 lb up to 4,500 lb, $12.50 plus $0.60 per 100 lb over 4,500 lb (CRS 42-3-306); road safety surcharge $16 / $23 / $28 for up to 2,000 / 2,001 to 5,000 / 5,001 to 10,000 lb (CRS 43-4-804); bridge safety surcharge $13 / $18 / $23 on the same bands (CRS 43-4-805); plus a $0.50 and a $2 fee (CRS 42-3-304). Min is a 2,000 lb car, max is a 5,000 lb car. The annual specific ownership tax is added on top: taxable value is 85 percent of MSRP, taxed at 2.10 percent in year 1, 1.50 percent year 2, 1.20 percent year 3, 0.90 percent year 4, 0.45 percent years 5 to 9 and $3 from year 10 (CRS 42-3-107). | colorado.public.lawSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| Connecticut | $25 | $40 | Flat fee$120 for a three-year registration, i.e. $40 per year (CGS 14-49(a): 'For the registration of each passenger motor vehicle, the fee shall be one hundred twenty dollars every three years'). Add-ons on the DMV fees page: $5 plate fee, $15 Clean Air Act fee, $15 Passport to the Parks fee ($24 from July 1, 2025 per the page), $10 administrative fee, $15 greenhouse gas fee if the vehicle has a certificate of origin, $10 lien fee if applicable. | portal.ct.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Delaware | $35 | $40 | Flat fee21 Del. C. 2151(2): passenger vehicles (motor vehicles commonly used for pleasure or for carrying persons, including station wagons) $40 per year; no weight formula for passenger cars. | delcode.delaware.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| District of Columbia | $30 | $70 to $300 | By weightAnnual fees effective March 30, 2026: Class I (3,499 lb or less) $70; Class II (3,500 to 4,999 lb) $175; Class III (5,000 lb or more) $300; Class IV $550 plus $75 per 1,000 lb over 10,000 lb. Same figures in DC Code 50-1501.03(b)(1)(A). | dmv.dc.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Florida | $70 to $85.75 | $14.50 to $32.50 | By weightFla. Stat. 320.08(2) base annual license tax by net weight: $14.50 under 2,500 lb, $22.50 for 2,500 to 3,499 lb, $32.50 for 3,500 lb and over. Statutory add-on fees raise the amount actually charged; Seminole County Tax Collector lists $28.10, $36.10 and $46.10 all-in for the same three classes. A one-time $225 initial registration fee (Fla. Stat. 320.072: 'A fee of $225 is imposed upon the initial application for registration pursuant to s. 320.06 of every motor vehicle classified in s. 320.08(2), (3), and (9)(c) and (d).') applies when a plate is first issued to an owner who is not transferring an existing plate. | flsenate.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Georgia | $18 | $20 | Flat feeStandard passenger car plate is a flat $20 per year. Vehicles that paid TAVT owe no annual ad valorem tax; vehicles bought before March 1, 2013 that stayed under the old system still pay a value-based annual ad valorem tax. Alternative fuel vehicles pay an extra annual fee and some counties add small local fees (not verified here). | dor.georgia.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Hawaii | $10 | $46+ | By weightState components: $46 flat annual registration fee (HRS 249-31) plus state vehicle weight tax of 1.75 cents per pound up to 4,000 lb, 2.00 cents per pound for 4,001 to 7,000 lb, 2.25 cents per pound for 7,001 to 10,000 lb and a flat $300 over 10,000 lb (HRS 249-33, https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0249/HRS_0249-0033.htm). Each county council adds a county registration fee and county weight tax (HRS 249-13). Honolulu example from https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/mvinformation.html: county registration fee $20, highway beautification fee $10, annual emblem $0.50, plate $5 when issued, and for a 3,320 lb vehicle state weight tax $58.10 and county weight tax $232.40, roughly $367 in total. min is the state flat fee only; max is left null because the total depends on weight and county. | data.capitol.hawaii.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Idaho | $14 to $32.75 | $45 to $69 | By agePassenger vehicles: $69 at 1 or 2 years old, $57 at 3 to 6 years old, $45 at 7 or more years old; counties add administrative fees on top. | itd.idaho.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Illinois | $165 | $148 | Flat feeStatutory annual registration fee for first-division motor vehicles (passenger cars) from the 2021 registration year onward. The Secretary of State's published all-in passenger plate fee may include small statutory surcharges on top of this base; ilsos.gov returned HTTP 403 so that figure was not captured. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| Indiana | $15 | $48.35 to $568.35 | Flat plus value or weightSum of three state charges: passenger motor vehicle registration fee $21.35, Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee $15, and the annual vehicle excise tax, which runs from $12 to $532 depending on vehicle class (manufacturer's original retail price) and age and falls as the vehicle ages (BMV excise tax page https://www.in.gov/bmv/fees-taxes/vehicle-registration-fees-and-taxes/excise-tax-information: 'The excise tax amount is based on the vehicle class and age'; model year 1980 or older pay a flat $12). Counties and municipalities may add a wheel tax or vehicle excise surtax; electric vehicles pay a $242 supplemental fee and hybrids $81. | in.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Iowa | $30 | $50+ | Flat plus value or weightAnnual fee is 1% of the value fixed by the DOT plus 40 cents per 100 lb of vehicle weight (Iowa Code 321.109(1)(a)). Under 321.113 (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.113.pdf) the value portion drops to 75% of the new rate once the vehicle is more than 7 model years old and to 50% once more than 9 model years old, with a $50 floor, and the fee is a flat $50 at 12 model years old or older. max is null because the value component is unbounded. | legis.iowa.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Kansas | $10 | $30 to $40 | By weightK.S.A. 8-143(a) as amended by 2025 HB 2122, effective January 1, 2026: passenger vehicles 4,500 lb or less $30, over 4,500 lb $40, electric hybrid $70, plug-in hybrid $100, all-electric $165. The county treasurers association lists the all-in amounts as $42.50 and $52.25 (base fee plus the $4 modernization fee and $3.25 of highway patrol and law enforcement surcharges). Annual personal property tax on the vehicle's value is also due at registration and is usually the largest component; it varies by county and value. | kslegislature.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Kentucky | $9 | $11.50 | Flat feeState fee under KRS 186.050(1), effective June 27, 2025. County clerk fees and an optional $2 hunger-relief donation are added at the counter, and electric vehicles pay an ownership fee under KRS 138.475. The widely quoted $21 all-in figure could not be verified on a state page (drive.ky.gov lists no amounts; county clerk fee pages returned 403). | apps.legislature.ky.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Louisiana | $68.50 | $20+ | By valuePassenger plate fee is 0.1% of the vehicle's value per year, issued for two years, with a $10,000 minimum value so the minimum is $20 per two-year period ($10 a year). Plate transfer is $3.00. Electric vehicles pay a $110 and hybrids a $60 annual road usage fee. | expresslane.la.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Maine | $33 | $35 | Flat feeState passenger plate fee. Before registering, the town collects a municipal excise tax on MSRP at 24 mills in year 1, 17.5 in year 2, 13.5 in year 3, 10 in year 4, 6.5 in year 5 and 4 mills from year 6 (https://www.maine.gov/revenue/taxes/property-tax/excise-tax, fetched), plus town agent fees. | maine.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Maryland | $200 | $80.50 to $151.50 | By weightClass A passenger annual fees from July 1, 2025: $80.50 (3,500 lb or less), $85.50 (3,501 to 3,700 lb), $151.50 (over 3,700 lb), plus a $40.00 per year surcharge under Transp. 13-954 (fetched: the owner of any motor vehicle registered under this title shall pay a surcharge of $40.00 per year for each motor vehicle registered). MVA issues two-year registrations, so the amount paid at once is double. | mgaleg.maryland.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Massachusetts | Not verified | Not verified | Flat feeNot verified for the same reason as the title fee: mass.gov 403, c. 90 s. 33 gives no figures, 801 CMR 4.02 truncated. Search results report $60 per two years for a passenger plate but no fetched page states it. | malegislature.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Michigan | $10 | $36+ | By valueAnnual fee for 1984 and later passenger vehicles is set from the manufacturer's list price under MCL 257.801(1)(p): $36 for list price up to $6,000, rising by band to $178 at $30,000 plus $6 for each additional $1,000 (about $298 on a $50,000 list price). The section reduces the fee to 90% of the prior year's amount for the second, third and fourth registrations. Read on FindLaw (current as of Jan 1, 2025) because state sites were unreachable. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| Minnesota | $8.25 | $20+ | By valueRegistration tax on a passenger automobile first registered on or after Nov 16, 2020 is $10 plus 1.575% of MSRP, applied to 100% of MSRP in year 1, 95% in year 2, 90% in year 3, 80% in year 4, 70% in year 5, 60% in year 6, 50% in year 7, 40% in year 8, 25% in year 9, 10% in year 10, then a flat $20 a year from year 11 (Minn. Stat. 168.013 subd. 1a, amended 1Sp2025 c 8). Plate, filing and technology fees and any county wheelage tax are added. | revisor.mn.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Mississippi | $9 | $12.75 to $14 | Flat plus value or weightState registration fee is $14.00 for a first-time registration and $12.75 for renewals; the county then adds an ad valorem tax on an assessed value of 30% of MSRP depreciated over 10 years (minimum assessed value $100) at the local millage rate (https://www.dor.ms.gov/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-ad-valorem-taxes, fetched), which is usually the larger part of the tag cost and varies by county. | dor.ms.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Missouri | $8.50 | $18.25 to $51.25 | Flat plus value or weightAnnual fee is set by taxable horsepower: under 12 HP (and electric or low speed) $18.25, 12-23 HP $21.25, 24-35 HP $24.25, 36-47 HP $33.25, 48-59 HP $39.25, 60-71 HP $45.25, 72 HP and over $51.25; every 1-year registration also carries a $9 processing fee ($18 for 2 years). Trucks are charged by weight instead. | dor.mo.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Montana | $12 | $28 to $217 | By ageAnnual light-vehicle registration fee under MCA 61-3-321(2)(a): $217 if 4 years old or less, $87 if 5 through 10 years, $28 if 11 years or more; vehicles with an MSRP over $150,000 that are 10 years old or less pay an extra $825 per year (61-3-321(2)(b)). On top of this the county option tax is up to 0.7% of the vehicle's value as determined under 61-3-503 (MCA 61-3-537), plus other small statutory fees. Permanent registration for vehicles 11 years or older is offered by the MVD but its fee could not be verified. | mca.legmt.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Nebraska | $10 | $15 | Flat feeBase registration fee $15.00 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-3,143) plus fixed add-ons of $0.50 (EMS fund), $2.00 (DMV Cash Fund), $1.50 (State Recreation Road Fund), $1.50 (County General Fund) and a $4.10 plate fee per plate. Separately, Nebraska charges an annual value-based motor vehicle tax (a percentage of MSRP that falls as the vehicle ages, until 14 years old) and a motor vehicle fee based on value, weight and use, plus $150 for electric vehicles. | dmv.nebraska.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Nevada | Not verified | $33 | Flat feeFlat $33 annual registration fee for passenger cars (NRS 482.480) plus the Governmental Services Tax of 4 cents per $1 of DMV valuation (NRS 371.040), where valuation is 35 percent of the MSRP (NRS 371.050) depreciated to 95% after 1 year, 85% at 2, 75% at 3, 65% at 4, 55% at 5, 45% at 6, 35% at 7, 25% at 8 and 15% at 9 years or more (NRS 371.060), minimum $16; some counties add a Supplemental Governmental Services Tax. Statute text taken from the public.law mirror because leg.state.nv.us returned 403. | nevada.public.lawSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Not verified | Not verified | Flat plus value or weightNot verified. New Hampshire registration is two-part: a state fee set by vehicle weight (RSA 261:141) and a municipal permit fee based on the maker's list price that declines with model year (RSA 261:153), paid to the town or city clerk. Neither figure could be fetched: dmv.nh.gov, gc.nh.gov and gencourt.state.nh.us returned 403 or hung, FindLaw/LawServer/Justia mirrors were 404/307/403, and town clerk pages for Fremont, Barrington, Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Bedford, Merrimack, Salem, Hudson, Dover, Londonderry, Exeter, Portsmouth, Keene, Hanover, Amherst, Goffstown, Newmarket, Pelham, Milford, Derry and Hollis were 403/404 or had no figures. | gc.nh.govSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| New Jersey | $60flat; $85 when a lien is recorded | $35.50 to $84 | Flat plus value or weightAnnual fee by weight class and model year. Current passenger cars: $46.50 (under 3,500 lbs, older than 2 years), $59.00 (under 3,500 lbs, within 2 years), $71.50 (over 3,500 lbs, older than 2 years), $84.00 (over 3,500 lbs, within 2 years). Pre-1980 vehicles pay $35.50 to $72.50. Plates included. | nj.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| New Mexico | $3 | $21 to $56 | Flat plus value or weightOne-year fee under NMSA 66-6-2 by gross factory shipping weight and age: $27 (2,000 lbs or less), $39 (2,001 to 3,000 lbs), $56 (over 3,000 lbs) during the first five registration years, falling to $21, $31 and $45 thereafter; plus a $1.50 tire recycling fee. Two-year registration is double. The MVD's current fee chart (unreachable, 403) may show slightly different amounts. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| New York | $50 | $13 to $70 | By weightNew York registers for 2 years; the 2-year fee runs from $26.00 (up to 1,650 lbs) to $140.00 (6,951 lbs or more), which is $13 to $70 per year. Add a $25.00 plate fee on a new registration, a vehicle use tax of $10 to $30 per 2 years depending on county, and a $50 per 2 years MCTD supplemental fee in the 12 MCTD counties. | dmv.ny.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| North Carolina | $66.75 | $46.25 | Flat feeAnnual private passenger plate fee from the July 2024 NCDMV chart. Wake, Durham and Orange counties add a Regional Transit Authority registration tax and a county vehicle registration tax (the older MVR-94 fee schedule Rev. 09/17, fetched, listed $8.00 and $7.00). Electric vehicle fee $214.50, plug-in hybrid $107.25 on the 2024 chart. | cms4files1.revize.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| North Dakota | $5 | $49 to $274 | Flat plus value or weightAnnual fee set by gross weight and years registered (N.D.C.C. 39-04-19(2)(a)): lightest band (under 3,200 lb) is $73 for years 1 to 6 falling to $49 from the 13th year; heaviest passenger band (9,000 lb and over) is $274 falling to $128. Example 3,200 to 4,499 lb: $93, $81, $69, $57. | ndlegis.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Ohio | $15 to $18 | $20+ | Flat feeORC 4503.04(B) sets the annual license tax for a passenger car at $20; the BMV collects additional statutory fees on top and counties and municipalities add permissive taxes, so the amount actually paid is higher. The BMV fee page rejected the request so the total and the permissive-tax range could not be verified. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| Oklahoma | $11 | $26 to $96 | By ageAnnual fee falls with years registered: $96 (years 1 to 4), $86 (5 to 8), $66 (9 to 12), $46 (13 to 16), $26 (17th year and later). | oklahoma.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Oregon | $101 to $192mpg | $63 to $188 | By fuel economyDMV fees are per two-year registration: $126 (0 to 19 MPG), $136 (20 to 39 MPG), $216 (40 MPG or higher, not in OReGO), $376 (all electric, not in OReGO); min and max here are the per-year halves. County fees per registration period: Multnomah $112, Washington or Clackamas $60. New vehicles get a four-year registration. HB 3991's $42 per year increase is on hold pending the referendum (see titleFee note). | oregon.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | $72 | $48 | Flat feePassenger class: $48.00 for one year or $96.00 for two years (MV-70S 4-26). Some counties add a Fee for Local Use at registration; electric vehicles pay a $250 per year Road User Charge flat fee and plug-in hybrids a separate flat fee. | pa.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Rhode Island | $50 | $30 to $40 | By weightR.I.G.L. 31-6-1: $30 per year for an automobile with gross weight not more than 4,000 lb and $40 for more than 4,000 lb up to 5,000 lb (heavier bands not captured); gross weight is vehicle weight plus 150 lb per adult seat. The DMV issues two-year registrations and adds a DOT surcharge and technology surcharge, which could not be verified because dmv.ri.gov returned 403. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| South Carolina | $15 | $20 | Flat feeBiennial private passenger registration fee of $40 for persons under 65 ($38 at age 64; $36 at 65 or older or handicapped), i.e. $20 per year (S.C. Code 56-3-620). Counties also bill annual vehicle property tax before registration, which is not captured here. | scstatehouse.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| South Dakota | $10 | $36 to $144 | Flat plus value or weightNon-commercial vehicle license fee for a 12-month registration: 1-2,000 lbs $36; 2,001-4,000 lbs $72; 4,001-6,000 lbs $108; over 6,000 lbs $144 for vehicles 0-9 years old. Vehicles 10 or more years old pay 70% of those amounts ($25.20 to $100.80). A county wheel tax may be added. | dor.sd.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Tennessee | $14 | $29 | Flat feeStandard passenger plate $29 per Knox County Clerk and Nashville/Davidson County Clerk ('Registration' $29.00). TN DOR Notice #22-12 (June 2022) states the state portion for Class B passenger vehicles is ordinarily $23.75, with other earmarked safety and system fees and county fees on top. County wheel taxes are added (Knox $36, Nashville $55). | knoxcounty.orgSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| Texas | $28 to $33 | $50.75 | By weightPassenger vehicles and trucks 6,000 lbs or less $50.75 (6,001 to 10,000 lbs $54.00), plus local county fees collected at registration ($0 to $21.50 by county on Fee Chart 1C; the TxDMV out-of-state page says 'Local county fees (up to $31.50)'). Fee chart effective January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026. | txdmv.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Utah | $6 | $51 to $201 | Flat plus value or weightRegistration fee under Utah Code 41-1a-1206: $44 for a motor vehicle of 12,000 lbs or less plus an additional $7 from January 1, 2024, adjusted each January 1 by CPI and rounded up to 25 cents, so the fee in force in 2026 may be somewhat above $51. Plus the age-based uniform fee in lieu of property tax under 59-2-405.1: less than 3 years $150; 3 to 6 years $110; 6 to 9 years $80; 9 to 12 years $50; 12 or more years $10. min = 51 + 10, max = 51 + 150; other small state fees may apply. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
| Vermont | $42 | $91 | Flat feeAuto (car) with internal combustion engine $91.00 for 1 year or $167.00 for 2 years; PHEV $135.50 and BEV $178.00 per year including the infrastructure fee effective January 1, 2025; $8.00 motor vehicle warranty fee on new vehicles. | dmv.vermont.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Virginia | $15 | $30.75 to $35.75 | By weightPassenger 4,000 lbs or less $30.75; 4,001 to 6,500 lbs $35.75; plus $2.00 emissions fee in Northern Virginia localities, local registration fees in Local Vehicle Registration Program localities, and the Highway Use Fee where applicable (electric vehicle $135.63). | dmv.virginia.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Washington | $15 to $40 | $65 to $112.50 | By weightRCW 46.17.350 vehicle license fee $30 for a passenger car plus RCW 46.17.365 motor vehicle weight fee of $35 (4,000 lb or less), $65 (6,000 lb) or $82.50 (8,000 lb) through December 31, 2028 (rising to $35, $75 and $90 from January 1, 2029); plus $6 filing fee and $11 service fee per the DOL page, and RTA or transportation benefit district fees where applicable. | app.leg.wa.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| West Virginia | $15 | $51.50 | Flat feeClass A (cars and trucks up to 10,000 lbs) standard plate $51.50 new and renewal, including the $1.00 litter fee and $0.50 insurance enforcement fee; hybrids add $100 per year and electric or alternative fuel vehicles add $200 per year (DMV brochure revised 05/2024). WV Code 17A-10-3(a)(1) sets the base at $50 with a CPI adjustment permitted every five years. | webapps.transportation.wv.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Wisconsin | $214.50 | $85 | Flat feeAutomobile $85 per year; $75 hybrid electric vehicle surcharge; $175 electric vehicle surcharge; wheel tax added based on where the vehicle is customarily kept. Chart is for registrations effective on or after October 1, 2025. | wisconsindot.govState source | September 15, 2026 |
| Wyoming | $15 | Not verified | Not verifiedNot verified. The WYDOT titles/plates/registration page directs users to county treasurers and gives no amounts; W.S. 31-3-101 on FindLaw returned only a table of contents; county treasurer pages fetched (Laramie, Natrona, Platte) gave no registration fee figures. | codes.findlaw.comSecondary source | September 15, 2026 |
Reading the registration column
The figure is the state-level fee for an ordinary passenger car. Where the state charges by value, weight or age, the range is the base band and the note says what moves it; county and local add-ons are extra everywhere they exist. For the full cost of a purchase, the out-the-door price calculator pre-fills your state's title and registration alongside sales tax and the dealer doc fee, and each state's sales tax page quotes the wording the DMV uses.
Common questions
What is the difference between a title fee and a registration fee?
The title fee pays for the certificate that records you as the owner; you pay it once, when the car changes hands. The registration fee pays for the plates and the right to drive the car on public roads; you pay it when you buy and then every year (or two, in some states) at renewal. Both are set by the state, not the dealer.
Why does registration cost so much more in some states?
Because of what the fee is based on. Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah include a charge based on the car's value, which is why a new $60,000 car can cost several hundred dollars a year to register there and far less once it ages. Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington scale the fee by weight. Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin charge one flat fee whatever you drive. County or local add-ons then vary within a state, which is why our figures are the state base.
Do I pay these fees when buying from a dealer?
Yes. The dealer collects the title and registration fees on the buyer’s order and files the paperwork with the state; the fees should match the state schedule, so compare the lines with this table. On a private sale you pay them yourself at the DMV or county office when you title the car, together with any sales tax due.
Are title and registration fees negotiable?
No. They are set by the state and passed through by the dealer. What you can check is that the amounts on the buyer’s order match the state schedule and that the dealer has not rolled its own charges into the “tag and title” line. The dealer’s own documentation fee is a separate line, and that one is worth checking against our doc fee table.
Which figures could you not verify?
As of September 15, 2026: title fee not verified for Massachusetts, Nevada and New Hampshire; registration not verified for Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Wyoming. Those rows say not verified rather than showing an estimate, and each links to the page we checked.
How current is this table?
Every row was checked on September 15, 2026 against the DMV fee schedule linked in the source column, and the table is re-verified quarterly, next due December 15, 2026. Registration fees change at the start of state fiscal years, usually July, so a figure dated before then may have moved.
Checking a specific car?