Motor Vehicle: Registration Fee & EstimateRegistration FeeYour registration fee is comprised of three components: license fee, ownership tax, and sales/use tax.
- License fee: The license fee is based on the weight of the vehicle. It currently averages $25 per passenger vehicle and $90 for light truck vehicles. The monies collected goes into the Highway Users Tax Fund (HUTF) for constructing/repairing roads.
- Ownership tax. Ownership tax is a personal property tax based on the original taxable value of your vehicle. The taxable value of the vehicle is calculated as a percentage of the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). The percentage used is 85% on passenger vehicles and 75% on cargo vehicles. The taxable value always stays the same; the percentage of tax charged is reduced as the vehicle ages (see table below). These funds are distributed to the various taxing entities in accordance with established mill levies.
| Vehicle Age | Tax |
|---|
| 1st year of service | taxable value x .021 |
| 2nd year of service | taxable value x .015 |
| 3rd year of service | taxable value x .012 |
| 4th year of service | taxable value x .009 |
| 5th thru 9th year of service | taxable value x .0045 |
| 10th year of service & older | $3 minimum |
- Sales/use tax.Sales tax is payable only when a vehicle transfers ownership. For more information on sales/use tax, go to sales tax.
EstimateIf you need to estimate the fees you will pay to register your vehicle, please use the following chart. The chart assumes the vehicle is a passenger vehicle. Whereas the license fee can range anywhere from $15 to $90, for purposes of estimating, the chart uses $25. Note that this chart does not include sales/use tax.