Car Title and Registration Fees by State (2026)
Flat title fees run from $4 in Arizona to $215 in Wisconsin. Registration is a flat fee in 14 jurisdictions and varies by county, weight or the car's value in the rest. Fees for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
By Matt Rum. Checked against state sources on .
Title and first registration fee in every state
For a standard passenger car. "From" means the fee can be higher, for example by county or weight. Tap a state for its out-the-door calculator.
| State | Title | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $15 | $23 |
| Alaska | $15 | $100 |
| Arizona | $4 | Depends on the car |
| Arkansas | $10 | From $20 |
| California | Depends on the car | Depends on the car |
| Colorado | $7 | Depends on the car |
| Connecticut | $25 | $120 |
| Delaware | $35 | $40 |
| District of Columbia | $30 | From $70 |
| Florida | From $77 | Depends on the car |
| Georgia | $18 | $20 |
| Hawaii | From $5 | Depends on the car |
| Idaho | From $14 | From $69 |
| Illinois | $165 | $151 |
| Indiana | $15 | Depends on the car |
| Iowa | $35 | Depends on the car |
| Kansas | $10 | Depends on the car |
| Kentucky | $9 | $21 |
| Louisiana | $69 | Depends on the car |
| Maine | $33 | $35 |
| Maryland | $200 | From $121 |
| Massachusetts | $75 | $60 |
| Michigan | $15 | Depends on the car |
| Minnesota | $8 | Depends on the car |
| Mississippi | $9 | $14 |
| Missouri | $18 | From $27 |
| Montana | $12 | From $217 |
| Nebraska | $10 | Depends on the car |
| Nevada | $28 | Depends on the car |
| New Hampshire | $35 | Depends on the car |
| New Jersey | From $60 | From $59 |
| New Mexico | $5 | From $35 |
| New York | $50 | From $13 |
| North Carolina | $67 | $46 |
| North Dakota | $5 | From $73 |
| Ohio | From $18 | From $44 |
| Oklahoma | $11 | From $96 |
| Oregon | From $101 | From $126 |
| Pennsylvania | $72 | $48 |
| Rhode Island | $54 | Depends on the car |
| South Carolina | $15 | $40 |
| South Dakota | $10 | From $36 |
| Tennessee | $11 | From $27 |
| Texas | From $28 | From $51 |
| Utah | $6 | Depends on the car |
| Vermont | $42 | From $91 |
| Virginia | $15 | From $31 |
| Washington | From $82 | From $43 |
| West Virginia | $15 | $52 |
| Wisconsin | $215 | From $97 |
| Wyoming | $15 | Depends on the car |
What each state's fee is based on
Alabama
Title: $15 title application fee for a motor vehicle; designated agents add a $1.50 commission, license plate issuing officials may collect an additional $1.50 commission, and some counties charge local fees.
Registration: $23 standard passenger license plate, plus $1.25 issuance fee. Local fees, ad valorem tax and sales tax may be added by the licensing official's office.
Alaska
Title: $15 title fee; recording a lien costs an additional $15.
Registration: $100 biennial (24 month) registration for a non-commercial passenger car, pickup or cargo van. A biennial Motor Vehicle Registration Tax applies by location and model year in taxable locations (for example $151 in Bethel for model years 2026 and 2027).
Arizona
Title: $4 title process fee charged when ownership changes.
Registration: $8 registration fee, $1.50 air quality fee for one year, plus Vehicle License Tax by assessed value: MSRP x 60% / 100 x $2.80 (new) or $2.89 (used), minimum $10 for one year, depreciating with each renewal. Alternative fuel vehicles differ.
Arkansas
Title: $10 title fee. Lien filing fee is $0.50. DFA charges an additional $10 for an expedited title.
Registration: Passenger cars by weight: $17 up to 3,000 lb, $25 for 3,001-4,500 lb, $30 for 4,501 lb and over; plus $2.50 validation decal. Hybrid $50, electric $100, plus decal.
California
Title: Depends on the transaction. The DMV lists $28 for a title only (VC 9254), a separate transaction for a title without registration, and $15 for a transfer (VC 9255). Neither is confirmed as a separate charge on a new car bought from a dealer and registered, so enter the title amount from the offer sheet.
Registration: $76 registration fee (including the $3 alternative fuel/technology fee) plus $34 CHP fee plus Transportation Improvement Fee by market value: $33 under $5,000, $66 to $24,999, $132 to $34,999, $198 to $59,999, $231 at $60,000 or more, plus a vehicle license fee of 0.65% of the price or value. County and other charges are extra.
Colorado
Title: $7.20 for a lien release and transfer of ownership title at a county motor vehicle office.
Registration: Annual total combines Specific Ownership Tax (first year 2.1% of taxable value, which is 85% of original MSRP, for Class C passenger vehicles), weight-based fees, county fees, the road safety surcharge ($19.30 for 2,001 to 5,000 lb until August 31, 2027), bridge surcharge and a $4 clerk hire fee. Electric vehicle fees are extra.
Connecticut
Title: $25 title fee; $10 lien fee if applicable.
Registration: $120 three-year registration fee for a regular passenger car, SUV or van, plus $5 plate, $10 administrative, $15 Clean Air Act and $24 Passport to the Parks fees (effective July 1, 2025), $40 emissions exemption if four years old or newer, and $15 greenhouse gas fee with a certificate of origin.
Delaware
Title: $35 without a lien or $55 with a lien for most passenger vehicles of 5,000 lb or less.
Registration: $40 per year for passenger vehicles.
District of Columbia
Title: $30 vehicle title; $20 per lien if financed.
Registration: Annual passenger fee by weight effective March 30, 2026: $70 up to 3,499 lb, $175 for 3,500-4,999 lb, $300 for 5,000-5,999 lb, $550 at 6,000 lb or more plus $75 per 1,000 lb over 10,000; new battery EVs under 5,000 lb $40 for the first two years.
Florida
Title: Electronic title: $77.25 original new, $85.25 original used, $75.25 transfer. Add $2.50 for a paper title and possibly $2 for lien recording.
Registration: Base tax for automobiles by net weight: $14.50 up to 2,499 lb, $22.50 for 2,500-3,499 lb, $32.50 for 3,500 lb or more. Other statutory fees apply; original plate fee $28 and, for a first registration, an initial registration fee of $225.
Georgia
Title: Original title application fee, within 30 days of purchase.
Registration: License plate registration or renewal for a regular passenger car or lightweight pick-up. Metro Atlanta counties also require an emissions inspection at varying cost.
Hawaii
Title: County ownership transfer fee: $10 in Honolulu, $5 in Hawaii County, $20 in Maui County, with a $50 penalty after 30 days. Kauai County amount not read.
Registration: Honolulu: state registration $46, county registration $20, state and county weight tax by vehicle weight, highway beautification $10, emblem $0.50, initial plate $5. Honolulu's example: a 3,320 lb vehicle costs $367. Other counties set their own county amounts.
Idaho
Title: $14 state fee plus a county title admin fee: for example $21.00 total in Ada, $14.00 in Bannock, $32.75 in Blaine.
Registration: Annual by vehicle age: $69 at 1-2 years old, $57 for the next band (ITD labels it '3 or 6 years old'), $45 at 7 or more years old. Plus a county registration admin fee (for example $9.50 in Ada, $7.00 in Bannock). Electric vehicles add $140 and plug-in hybrids add $75 per year.
Illinois
Title: Certificate of title for a standard vehicle, 625 ILCS 5/3-821.
Registration: Annual first-division fee of $148 plus $1 and $2 statutory surcharges, 625 ILCS 5/3-806.
Indiana
Title: Issue, duplicate or replace title, BMV fee chart (revised 1/1/26).
Registration: $21.35 registration for a passenger motor vehicle (BMV fee chart revised 1/1/26), plus annual vehicle excise tax, $15 Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Fee, any county and municipal tax or wheel tax, and $242 electric or $81 hybrid supplemental fee.
Iowa
Title: Title fee per county treasurer; lien recording is $20 extra.
Registration: Annual fee of 1% of value as fixed by the department plus 40 cents per 100 lb. Vehicles 12 or more years old pay a flat $50 per year (Shelby County Treasurer). Battery electric vehicles add $130, plug-in hybrids $65 (Iowa DOT).
Kansas
Title: Title fee; $3 extra for a repossession title. County tag offices may add their own fees.
Registration: Base fee for automobiles: $30 under 4,500 lb, $40 over 4,500 lb (Johnson County). Hybrids and electric vehicles pay $70-$165. Annual vehicle property tax is due with registration. Sedgwick County also lists a $5 facility fee, modernization fee and title and tag fee.
Kentucky
Title: $9 title fee per county clerk fee list. A $22 lien filing fee applies if there is a lien.
Registration: $21 registration/plate fee is the base amount; specialized plates and vehicles over 10,000 lb vary.
Louisiana
Title: $68.50 title fee. An $8 handling fee also applies, a local fee of up to $8 may apply, and lien recordation is $15 (UCC-1) or $10 (other) if financed.
Registration: Automobile plates cost 0.1% of the vehicle value per year, sold in two-year increments, on a $10,000 minimum base: $20 minimum, and for example $60 at $29,500-$30,499 of value and $82 at $40,500-$41,499. OMV's published table stops at $41,499.
Maine
Title: $33 title application fee on vehicle models 25 years old and newer.
Registration: $35 for a standard passenger (PC) plate. Municipal excise tax must also be paid at the town office before registering; vanity plates add $25.
Maryland
Title: $200 new/used title certificate; rental vehicle title certificates are $100.
Registration: One-year cost by shipping weight, including the $40 EMS surcharge: $120.50 at 3,500 lb or less, $125.50 at 3,500-3,700 lb, $191.50 over 3,700 lb. Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles pay an additional annual surcharge.
Massachusetts
Title: $75 certificate of title fee.
Registration: $60 RMV registration fee for a passenger plate, renewed every two years; specialty plates cost extra.
Michigan
Title: $15 title transfer fee; a $15 late fee applies if the title is not transferred within 15 days of the sale.
Registration: 1984 or newer passenger vehicles: a percentage of MSRP (base price) at first titling, reduced by a percentage for the following three years. Amounts are not published as one figure; SOS offers a fee calculator and information line.
Minnesota
Title: $8.25 title fee. Each title transfer also carries a $12 filing fee, $2.25 technology surcharge, $3.50 Public Safety Vehicle fee and $10 transfer tax.
Registration: Annual registration tax: 1.575% of MSRP for a vehicle first registered on or after November 16, 2020, adjusted for the vehicle's age, under Minn. Stat. 168.013. DVS provides an estimator; wheelage tax and EV or plug-in hybrid surcharges may apply.
Mississippi
Title: $9.00 motor vehicle title.
Registration: $14.00 for first-time registrations ($12.75 for renewals). Privilege tax and ad valorem tax are also due and depend on the vehicle's type and value and the city and county of residence.
Missouri
Title: $8.50 title fee plus $9 title processing fee at a license office. A $2 transfer fee applies when plates are transferred.
Registration: By taxable horsepower: $18.25 (under 12 HP or EV) to $51.25 (72 HP and up) for one year, plus $9 processing fee; two-year option $36.50 to $102.50 plus $18 processing.
Montana
Title: $12 for a light vehicle until June 30, 2028 (MCA 61-3-203); $7 from July 1, 2028.
Registration: Annual fee by vehicle age for light vehicles: $217 at 4 years or less, $87 at 5 to 10 years, $28 at 11 years or more; add $825 if MSRP exceeds $150,000 and age is 10 years or less. A county local option tax up to 0.7% of statutory value or a flat fee may be added.
Nebraska
Title: $10.00 titling fee paid to the County Treasurer.
Registration: $15 registration fee for passenger vehicles plus $5.50 in added state and county fees and $4.10 per plate when plates are issued; also an annual Motor Vehicle Tax based on MSRP and vehicle age and a Motor Vehicle Fee based on value, weight and use. Some localities add fees and taxes.
Nevada
Title: $28.25 for a first-time Nevada title. The DMV title page lists $28.50 for a complete change of ownership.
Registration: $33 registration fee plus Governmental Services Tax: 4% of depreciated DMV valuation (35% of MSRP, reduced 5% after year 1, then 10% a year to a 15% floor; $16 minimum). Clark and Churchill counties add a Supplemental GST.
New Hampshire
Title: $35 first certificate of title, sent in by the dealer with the application. Was $25 before January 1, 2026.
Registration: State fee by gross weight: $42 for 0-3,000 lb, $48 for 3,001-5,000 lb, $66 for 5,001-8,000 lb (RSA 261:141). Municipal permit fee: 18 mills per dollar of list price for a current model year, then 15, 12, 9, 6 and 3 mills by model year, $5 minimum (RSA 261:153).
New Jersey
Title: $60 title transfer, or $85 with a lien.
Registration: Annual basic fee for a car within 2 model years: $59.00 under 3,500 lb, $84.00 over 3,500 lb; older cars $46.50 and $71.50. Zero emission vehicles pay an extra annual fee from $250, rising $10 a year, with four years due at initial registration of a new ZEV.
New Mexico
Title: $5 title fee per MVD. Municipal offices may charge an additional fee that varies by location.
Registration: Per 12-month registration by gross factory shipping weight: up to 2,000 lb $33.75; 2,001-3,000 lb $48.75; over 3,000 lb $70.00. After five years of registration: $26.25, $38.75 and $56.25. Plus a $1.50 tire recycling fee.
New York
Title: $50 certificate of title application fee; $5 for each security interest noted.
Registration: Per registration year: 81 cents per 100 lb up to 3,500 lb, plus $1.21 per 100 lb above 3,500 lb; minimum $12.95, or $16.18 for 6, 8 or 12 cylinder and electric vehicles; maximum $70.08.
North Carolina
Title: $66.75 certificate of title.
Registration: $46.25 private passenger vehicle. Durham, Orange and Wake add $7 county and $10 regional taxes; Randolph adds $1 and $1. Property tax is separate.
North Dakota
Title: $5 fee with each certificate of title application, in addition to registration fees. The NDDOT registration manual also lists a $1.50 abandoned vehicle disposal fee with title applications.
Registration: Annual fee by weight and years registered, $49 to $274: under 3,200 lb $73 in years 1-6, $65, $57, then $49 from year 13; 3,200-4,499 lb $93, $81, $69, then $57; 9,000 lb and over $274 falling to $128. Prorated monthly in the first period. Electric vehicles add $120 and plug-in hybrids $50.
Ohio
Title: $18 statewide; $23 in counties whose officials approve an additional charge.
Registration: $36 annual passenger fee plus $8 deputy registrar fee for one year, plus local permissive tax in $5 increments up to $30 per vehicle. Annual fuel surcharge: hybrid $100, plug-in hybrid $150, electric $200.
Oklahoma
Title: $11 vehicle title fee. Service Oklahoma also lists additional initial fees: $17 transfer fee, $1.50 insurance fee, $4 VIN inspection fee, tire tax varies by vehicle.
Registration: Depends on registration year of the vehicle: 1st-4th year $96, 5th-8th $86, 9th-12th $66, 13th-16th $46, 17th onward $26.
Oregon
Title: Passenger vehicles by combined MPG: 0-19 MPG $101, 20-39 MPG $106, 40+ MPG $116, all electric $192. Late transfer: $25 after 30 days, $50 after 60 days.
Registration: Two-year registration by combined MPG: 0-19 MPG $126, 20-39 MPG $136, 40+ MPG not in OReGO $216, all electric not in OReGO $376; $86 if enrolled in OReGO. County fee where applicable: Multnomah $112, Washington or Clackamas $60.
Pennsylvania
Title: $72 original title issuance.
Registration: $48 annual passenger vehicle registration. Participating counties add a local use fee (see PennDOT's Fee for Local Use fact sheet).
Rhode Island
Title: $53.50 for a new or transfer title, including the $3.50 technology surcharge.
Registration: New passenger registration is based on vehicle weight and prorated by date, plus $3.50 technology surcharge, $20 DOT surcharge per year and any EV fee. Renewal runs two years.
South Carolina
Title: $15 title; $35 expedited title, available in person only.
Registration: $40 for most passenger cars, paid every two years. Hybrids add $60 and electric vehicles add $120. Reduced rates for owners aged 64 and 65 or older or with a disability.
South Dakota
Title: $10 title fee. DOR also lists $10 lien notation, $2 technology fee, $1 solid waste, $12 plate mailing, $2.50 registration mailing and $1 highway patrol fees.
Registration: By weight and age, per year (monthly rate times 12). Vehicles 0-9 years: 1-2,000 lb $36, 2,001-4,000 lb $72, 4,001-6,000 lb $108, over 6,000 lb $144. Vehicles 10 years or older: $25.20, $50.40, $75.60, $100.80. County wheel tax and administrative fees may apply.
Tennessee
Title: $11 title fee, as listed on the Department of Revenue's military registrations page; check the county clerk for added fees.
Registration: $26.50 standard passenger plate fee, plus additional county clerk fees and any county wheel tax, which vary by county.
Texas
Title: $28 or $33 depending on county; $33 in emissions-compliant counties such as Tarrant.
Registration: Base registration fee $50.75 for cars and lighter pickups, plus county local fee (TxDMV sample table shows $10) and inspection-related fees; amounts vary by vehicle type and county. Electric vehicles add $200 per year, or $400 for new EVs issued two years of registration.
Utah
Title: New title fee.
Registration: Varies by vehicle type, registered weight, county and other factors; DMV publishes no single amount and refers to its Fee Estimator. Components include an age-based uniform fee ($150 for model years 2024-2026, down to $10 for 2014 and older; separate table), $2.50 driver education fee, $1 uninsured motorist fee, $10 corridor fee in listed counties and $2-$3 air pollution control fee in listed counties. Alternative-fuel vehicles pay an added fee.
Vermont
Title: New certificate of title for a car, truck, trailer or motorcycle; each lien adds $14.
Registration: Auto (car), 1 year: $91 gas or diesel, $135.50 plug-in hybrid, $178 electric, $159.25 other fuel. 2 years: $167, $256, $341, $292.25. Amounts include the $2 Clean Air Fund fee and any EV Infrastructure Fee. New vehicles add an $8 warranty fee.
Virginia
Title: Original title fee.
Registration: Depends on vehicle weight: $30.75 for passenger vehicles of 4,000 lb or less, $35.75 for 4,001 to 6,500 lb. Add $2 for emissions inspections in listed Northern Virginia localities, plus any local registration fee and Highway Use Fee (electric vehicle $135.63).
Washington
Title: Dealership sale: $40 title application, plus filing fee ($6.50 title only or $12.50 title with registration) and service fee ($18 title or $29 title with registration).
Registration: Basic fee of $43.25 ($30 license tab fee plus filing and service fees), plus vehicle weight fee varying by weight (see RCW 46.17.355), $10 additional weight fee, $50 per plate for original plates, and location-based fees such as transportation benefit district and Regional Transit Authority excise tax. Electric cars add a fee; new vehicles add a $3 arbitration fee collected by dealers.
West Virginia
Title: Title fee; a $10 lien recording fee applies if there is a lien.
Registration: Regular registration fee, as stated on the DMV new residents page.
Wisconsin
Title: Original title or title transfer; lien listing adds $10.
Registration: $85 annual automobile registration fee statewide, plus $12 plate issuance fee, plus wheel tax that depends on where the vehicle is kept. Hybrid electric vehicles add $75 and electric vehicles add $175.
Wyoming
Title: Wyoming certificate of title, as listed by a county office; lien filing adds $20 and VIN inspection, required for out-of-state titles, adds $10.
Registration: State fee $30 for cars, plus county fee of factory cost x year-of-service rate x 0.03. The rate is 60% in the first year, then 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, and 15% from the sixth year. Example: $20,000 factory cost in the first year gives a $360 county fee.
What else the state may charge when you register
Title and registration are the fees almost every state charges, but the bill at the motor vehicle office can include more: plate fees, county or city fees, lien recording if you finance the car, inspection or emissions fees, and in some states a yearly tax based on the car's value. These vary by county and by car, so they are not in the table.
Registration depends mainly on the car in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Utah and Wyoming. For an exact figure, check with the state agency named as the source on the state page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a title fee and a registration fee?
The title fee pays for the certificate of title, which records who owns the car. You pay it once, when ownership changes. The registration fee pays for plates and the right to drive the car on public roads, and you pay it when you buy and then again each year or two.
Which state has the lowest title fee?
Among states with a flat title fee in our data, Arizona has the lowest, at $4.00, and Wisconsin the highest, at $214.50. Some states add county or lien fees on top.
Why does registration cost more in some states?
Many states charge a flat fee, but others base registration on the car's value, weight, age or fuel type, and some add county fees or a yearly tax on the car's value. In 17 jurisdictions we could not give a single starting amount because the fee depends mainly on the car.
Does the dealer pay these fees for me?
When you buy from a dealer, the dealer usually collects the title and registration fees and files the paperwork, then passes the money to the state. They appear on your offer sheet as government fees, separate from the dealer's own doc fee.
Do electric cars pay more to register?
Many states add a yearly fee for electric and some hybrid cars to make up for the fuel tax they do not pay. Where we found such a fee, it is noted on the state's out-the-door page.
Where these figures come from
Each fee comes from the state's motor vehicle agency, revenue department or statute, with its source and check date on the state's out-the-door page. Where a state publishes no single amount, we say so instead of estimating. See our methodology.