North Carolina · NCDMV

North Carolina Vehicle Registration & Title Fees 2026 (Calculator)

North Carolina charges a 3% highway-use tax instead of sales tax, a $66.75 title fee and a $46.25 yearly registration for a passenger car.

Checked against official sources on September 24, 2026 · Sources

Due at the DMV

$1,013

Then about $46.25 a year to renew

Highway-use tax (3%)Source: NCDMV$900
Certificate of titleSource: NCDMV$66.75
Registration (private passenger vehicle)Source: NCDMV$46.25

Your county also bills vehicle property tax with each renewal (Tag & Tax Together); it is not included here.

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

North Carolina vehicle fees at a glance

Highway-use tax Dealer purchases: price minus trade-in. New residents: max $250.	3% of the price
Certificate of title	$66.75
Registration — passenger vehicle	$46.25/yr
Registration — motorcycle	$29.50/yr
Registration — private truck 4,000 to 6,000 lbs	$46.25–$83/yr
Electric vehicle fee On top of registration	$214.50/yr
Plug-in hybrid fee	$107.25/yr
Wake, Durham, Orange counties $7 county + $10 regional tax (Randolph: $2)	$17/yr

How North Carolina calculates it

Highway-use tax, not sales tax. North Carolina charges a one-time 3% highway-use tax (HUT) every time a title changes hands. Buying from a dealer, it's 3% of the price after your trade-in; buying from a private seller, it's 3% of what you paid.

Moving here? If you owned the vehicle more than 90 days before titling it in North Carolina, the HUT is capped at $250. If you owned it for less, you pay the full 3% but get credit for sales tax you already paid to another state.

Registration is $46.25 a year for a passenger car, plus $214.50 for an electric vehicle or $107.25 for a plug-in hybrid. Wake, Durham and Orange counties add $17 a year in county and regional transit taxes; Randolph adds $2.

Property tax is separate. NCDMV also collects your county's vehicle property tax with each renewal, based on the vehicle's value and your local tax rate. It isn't included in the calculator.

What to bring

The signed title (and lien release if there was a loan)
NC driver license or ID
Proof of NC liability insurance
A current vehicle inspection — North Carolina requires it before each renewal

North Carolina registration questions

How much does it cost to register a car in North Carolina?

For a $30,000 car bought from a dealer: $900 highway-use tax, $66.75 title and $46.25 registration — about $1,013, before any county taxes. Renewing afterwards costs $46.25 a year plus property tax.

How much is a title transfer in North Carolina?

The certificate of title fee is $66.75, plus the 3% highway-use tax on the sale price. Gifts between spouses, and between parents and children, are exempt from the highway-use tax.

Does North Carolina charge sales tax on cars?

No — it charges a 3% highway-use tax instead, collected when the title is transferred.

How much is the North Carolina EV registration fee?

$214.50 a year for an electric vehicle and $107.25 for a plug-in hybrid, on top of the regular $46.25 registration fee.

Is there a fee for paying online?

NCDMV’s online payment service (PayIt) adds $3 per transaction plus a 1.85% card processing fee.

Sources

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