Pennsylvania · PennDOT

Pennsylvania Vehicle Registration & Title Fees 2026 (Calculator)

Pennsylvania charges 6% sales tax (7% in Allegheny County, 8% in Philadelphia), a $72 title fee and $48 a year to register a car.

Checked against official sources on September 24, 2026 · Sources

Due at the DMV

$1,920

Then about $48 a year to renew

Sales tax (6%)Source: PennDOT$1,800
Certificate of titleSource: PennDOT$72
Registration (passenger)Source: PennDOT$48

Annual safety inspection (and emissions testing in some counties) is paid at the inspection station and isn’t included.

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

Pennsylvania vehicle fees at a glance

Sales tax 7% Allegheny County, 8% City of Philadelphia; trade-ins reduce it	6%
Certificate of title	$72
Recording a lien If you finance	$36
Registration — passenger car $96 for two years	$48/yr
Registration — motorcycle	$25/yr
Registration — truck Up to 11,000 lbs registered gross weight	$82–$278/yr
Road user charge — electric Plug-in hybrid: $63/yr (2026)	$250/yr
Registration plate transfer	$11

How Pennsylvania calculates it

Sales tax is 6% of the purchase price — 7% if you live in Allegheny County and 8% in the City of Philadelphia. When a dealer takes a trade-in, you're taxed only on the difference. Private sales are taxed too; PennDOT can check the price against market value.

Title and registration: the title is $72 (plus $36 if a lien is recorded) and a car's registration is $48 a year. Trucks are registered by weight, from $82 a year up to 5,000 lbs.

Electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles pay a road user charge instead of gas tax: $250 a year for an EV and $63 for a plug-in hybrid in 2026. From 2027 PennDOT adjusts it with inflation.

Moving to Pennsylvania? You have 20 days to title and register. No sales tax is due if you've owned the vehicle at least six months and have an out-of-state title; otherwise you'll need proof you paid tax elsewhere.

What to bring

The title, assigned to you (or an out-of-state title for new residents)
Form MV-1 (Application for Certificate of Title), usually completed by a PennDOT agent
Proof of Pennsylvania insurance
A valid safety inspection — or have the vehicle inspected within 10 days of buying it

Pennsylvania registration questions

How much does it cost to register a car in Pennsylvania?

A year of passenger registration is $48 ($96 for two years). A $30,000 car from a dealer adds $1,800 sales tax and the $72 title, about $1,920 total outside Allegheny County and Philadelphia.

How much is a title transfer in Pennsylvania?

The certificate of title fee is $72. Recording a lien adds $36, and transferring your registration plate to the new vehicle costs $11. Sales tax is due on the purchase too.

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

Yes. Private sales are taxed at 6% (7% Allegheny County, 8% Philadelphia) of the purchase price or current market value. The tax is paid when the title is transferred through a PennDOT agent.

What do electric vehicles pay in Pennsylvania?

A road user charge of $250 a year for battery-electric vehicles and $63 for plug-in hybrids in 2026, on top of registration.

Do new residents pay sales tax in Pennsylvania?

Not if you have an out-of-state title and owned the vehicle for at least six months before moving. Otherwise, you need to prove you paid sales tax in another state.

Sources

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