New York · NY DMV

New York Vehicle Registration & Title Fees 2026 (Calculator)

New York registers cars for two years at a time by weight — $56.50 for a 3,500-lb car — plus a $50 title, $25 plates, sales tax at your local rate and county fees in NYC and the suburbs.

Checked against official sources on September 24, 2026 · Sources

What are you doing?

Purchase price

$

Trade-in value

$

Leave at 0 if you're not trading in.

Fuel

County

Sets the county use tax and the MCTD fee.

Vehicle weight

lbs

Shown on the title or registration; most cars are 3,000–4,500 lbs.

Sales tax rate where you live

4% state plus local tax. NYC is 8.875%.

Due at the DMV

$2,531.50

Then about $28.25 a year to renew

Sales tax (8%)Collected by the dealerSource: NY DMV$2,400
Title certificateSource: NY DMV$50
License platesSource: NY DMV$25
Registration (2 years, 3,500 lbs)Source: NY DMV$56.50

New York registrations run for two years, so the registration and county amounts cover two years.
A safety (and in most areas emissions) inspection is required and paid at the inspection station.

Estimate only. Fees from New York's official fee schedules; confirm the final amount with the agency before you pay.

New York vehicle fees at a glance

Registration (2 years) By weight: $48.50 at 3,000 lbs, $69 at 4,000 lbs	$26–$140
Title certificate	$50
License plates Original registration	$25
Sales tax 4% state + local; NYC 8.875%	7%–8.875%
NYC vehicle use tax	$30 / 2 yrs
MCTD supplemental fee NYC, Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Westchester	$50 / 2 yrs
County use tax (most upstate counties) $10 up to 3,500 lbs, $20 above	$10–$20 / 2 yrs

How New York calculates it

Registration is by weight and lasts two years. The fee runs from $26 for the lightest cars to $140 for vehicles of 6,951 lbs or more. Electric vehicles pay at least $32.50.

County fees depend on where you live. NYC charges a $30 vehicle use tax per two-year registration; Nassau $30; Suffolk and Westchester $30 or $60 by weight; many upstate counties $10 or $20. The 12 counties of the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District add a $50 supplemental fee.

Sales tax is 4% state plus the local rate where you live — 8.875% in New York City. Dealers subtract your trade-in. Private purchases pay sales tax at the DMV on Form DTF-802; purchases from a family member are exempt.

Moving to New York? If you weren't a New York resident when you bought the vehicle, you can claim a non-resident exemption from sales tax (Form DTF-803).

What to bring

The title or proof of ownership signed over to you
Vehicle Registration/Title Application (MV-82)
Sales tax form: DTF-802 (private sale) or DTF-803 (exemption)
New York insurance card and proof of identity

New York registration questions

How much does it cost to register a car in New York?

For a 3,500-lb car: $56.50 for two years of registration, plus $25 for plates and $50 for the title on a first registration. County use taxes and the $50 MCTD fee apply in NYC and nearby counties.

How is New York registration calculated?

By vehicle weight, in 100-lb steps, for a two-year period. A 3,000-lb car pays $48.50 and a 4,000-lb car pays $69.

Do you pay sales tax on a private car sale in New York?

Yes, at the DMV when you register, at your local rate on the purchase price. Purchases from a family member are exempt using Form DTF-802.

What is the MCTD fee?

A $50 supplemental fee per two-year registration for residents of the 12 Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District counties: the five NYC boroughs, Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester.

Sources

All figures on this page were checked against these sources on September 24, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.