Vehicle registration & title
What will the DMV charge you?
Pick your state for a calculator built from its official fee schedule — tax, title, plates, EV fees and yearly renewal, with a source for every line.
Choose a state
Tile shows the $30k dealer example
AK Alaska (not covered yet) ME Maine (not covered yet) WI Wisconsin (not covered yet) VT Vermont (not covered yet) NH New Hampshire (not covered yet) WA Washington (not covered yet) ID Idaho (not covered yet) MT Montana (not covered yet) ND North Dakota (not covered yet) MN Minnesota (not covered yet) IL Illinois MI Michigan NY New York MA Massachusetts OR Oregon (not covered yet) NV Nevada (not covered yet) WY Wyoming (not covered yet) SD South Dakota (not covered yet) IA Iowa (not covered yet) IN Indiana (not covered yet) OH Ohio PA Pennsylvania NJ New Jersey CT Connecticut (not covered yet) RI Rhode Island (not covered yet) CA California UT Utah (not covered yet) CO Colorado NE Nebraska (not covered yet) MO Missouri (not covered yet) KY Kentucky (not covered yet) WV West Virginia (not covered yet) VA Virginia MD Maryland (not covered yet) DE Delaware (not covered yet) AZ Arizona (not covered yet) NM New Mexico (not covered yet) KS Kansas (not covered yet) AR Arkansas (not covered yet) TN Tennessee (not covered yet) NC North Carolina SC South Carolina (not covered yet) DC District of Columbia (not covered yet) OK Oklahoma (not covered yet) LA Louisiana (not covered yet) MS Mississippi (not covered yet) AL Alabama (not covered yet) GA Georgia HI Hawaii (not covered yet) TX Texas FL Florida
14 states covered so far; gray tiles are next. Checked against official sources through 2026-09-24.
Buying a $30,000 car from a dealer
Tax, title and first registration at each state's default settings.
Colorado $2,711
California $2,612
New York $2,532
Ohio $2,257
Florida $2,216
Illinois $2,191
Georgia $2,138
New Jersey $2,107
Texas $2,048
Michigan $2,018
Massachusetts $2,010
Pennsylvania $1,920
Virginia $1,291
North Carolina $1,013
Compare states
| State | Tax when you buy | Title | Registration (car) | EV fee | $30k example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7.25%–10.75% | $15 | $110 + VLF | $121 RIF | $2,612 |
| Colorado | 2.9% + local | $7.20 | By MSRP + weight | $89.05 | $2,711 |
| Florida | 6% + surtax | $75.25 | $28.10–$46.10 | None | $2,216 |
| Georgia | 7% TAVT | $18 | $20 | $238.59 | $2,138 |
| Illinois | 6.25% + local | $165 | $151 | +$100 | $2,191 |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | $75 | $60 / 2 yrs | None listed | $2,010 |
| Michigan | 6% | $15 | By MSRP | $267 | $2,018 |
| New Jersey | 6.625% | $60 | $46.50–$84 | $270 | $2,107 |
| New York | 7%–8.875% | $50 | $56.50 / 2 yrs | None | $2,532 |
| North Carolina | 3% HUT | $66.75 | $46.25 | $214.50 | $1,013 |
| Ohio | 6.5%–8% | $18 | $36 | $200 | $2,257 |
| Pennsylvania | 6% (7–8% local) | $72 | $48 | $250 RUC | $1,920 |
| Texas | 6.25% | $33 | $51.75 | $200 | $2,048 |
| Virginia | 4.15% (no trade credit) | $15 | $30.75 | $135.63 HUF | $1,291 |
Example: $30,000 dealer purchase, no trade-in, gas car, state default local rates. Yearly local property or excise taxes (e.g. Virginia, Massachusetts, North Carolina) aren't included.
Registration fee questions
Which state has the cheapest car registration?
Among the states we cover, the smallest yearly renewals are in Georgia ($20), New York ($28.25), Virginia ($30.75) for a typical car. The one-time tax when you buy matters far more than the yearly fee.
Which state charges the most to register a car?
For a $30,000 car bought from a dealer, the highest upfront total in our coverage is Colorado at about $2,710.70, mostly sales tax. States with value-based yearly fees — California, Colorado, Michigan and Massachusetts — also cost more every year after.
Are these numbers official?
Every fee comes from the state agency’s own fee schedule, statute or published table, and each state page lists its sources and the date we checked them. Local fees and taxes can vary, so confirm with your DMV or county office before you pay.